Author: Ms Bich

Real reason Meghan Markle is ‘isolating herself from Buckingham Palace’ by snubbing UK trip

Meghan Markle will not be joining Prince Harry when he returns to the UK next week, and one expert believes she is trying to “isolate herself from Buckingham Palace”.

Meghan Markle won’t be joining Harry (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is believed to want to “further isolate herself from Buckingham Palace” as she opts to not accompany her husband, Prince Harry, on his visit to the UK, according to one expert.

The duke will be in London for a special Invictus Games event at St Paul’s Cathedral whereas Meghan will only be joining him later in Nigeria.

Meghan’s decision comes shortly after launching her first product for her new business venture, American Riviera Orchard. Ryan McCormick, a PR expert, suggests that this move signifies Meghan’s aim of carving out an “independent presence”, separate from the Royal Family, reports the Mirror.

In an exclusive chat with The Mirror, Ryan said: “Meghan choosing not to join Harry in the UK may have to do with her focusing more efforts on her new company American Riviera Orchard. At the same time, the Duchess may wish to further isolate herself from Buckingham Palace.”

“Why? Markle could be tired out from the Royals or see the close association as an obstacle towards further establishing an independent business and personal presence in the US.”

After much speculation it was confirmed by royal correspondent Chris Ship on X on Monday that Meghan won’t, in fact, accompany Harry back to the UK.

He said: “Additional confirmation this morning that Meghan will not be joining Harry for the Invictus Anniversary service at @StPaulsLondon in London. But the Duchess of Sussex will join the Duke for an Invictus-inspired visit to Nigeria immediately after Harry leaves the UK.”

Harry is set to attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, May 8. This significant event commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, with actor Damian Lewis slated to perform a reading.

Meghan Markle will not be joining Prince Harry in the UK (Image: Getty Images)
The Invictus Games Foundation announced: “The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th. We will be joined by our Patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the worldwide Invictus Community to mark the occasion.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip to Nigeria in May focuses on the Invictus Games.

Their itinerary includes engaging in cultural events and interacting with service personnel and their families.

RICHARD EDEN: Instead of pretending to be royals in Nigeria, Harry and Meghan should address the scandal they’re embroiled in elsewhere in Africa…

Seeming, once again, to present themselves as an alternative royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will undertake a very regal visit to Nigeria next week.

Invited by the West African nation’s highest-ranking military official, the Chief of Defence Staff, Prince Harry and Meghan are guaranteed to receive the sort of security which they expected British taxpayers to provide.

Harry, you might recall, sought a judicial review of the Home Office’s decision to strip him, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, of their automatic right to police security in Britain after they chose to quit royal duties and seek their fortune across the Atlantic.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their royal tour in South Africa in 2019

King Charles’s younger son lost the case in February, with the action estimated to have cost him about £1million, including his own legal costs and those due to the Home Office.

There will be no such worries for Harry and Meghan next week, when the security tab will be paid by the government of Nigeria, a country where an estimated 87million people live below the poverty line.

Why are they making the trip? It seems the Duke struck up a conversation with defence chief General Christopher Gwabin Musa, during September’s Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

No one is challenging the good work of the Games, Harry’s Paralympics-style venture for wounded servicemen and women, which are a subject scheduled for discussion on the Nigeria trip.

No doubt the visit will be good for Brand Sussex, too, and will highlight what the couple could have achieved for the Commonwealth had they stuck with the Windsors.

The Sussexes had been given key roles working with young people through the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust before they decided to step back from royal duties.

But I do wonder if Harry’s time in Africa could be better spent addressing a scandal at a charity hit with allegations of abuse.

African Parks, a conservation charity of which he is a director, is facing further accusations of human rights abuses that include extra-judicial killings and violent beatings.

Claims of brutality by rangers who are jointly managed by the charity first emerged in January, when a front-page report in The Mail on Sunday revealed claims that armed guards had beaten, raped and tortured Baka tribal people in the Republic of the Congo.

The charity, which manages reserves in 12 African countries – although not Nigeria – is a considerable enterprise.

Claiming that it saves wildlife by working with local communities, African Parks helps manage 1,400 guards patrolling protected land almost the size of Britain.

Harry, who was the president for six years until he joined the governing board of directors last year, has been effusive in his praise, saying previously: ‘The African Parks model is exactly what conservation should be about – putting people at the heart of the solution.’

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take selfies with fans during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf in Germany last September, where they struck up a conversation with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa

But in March, The Mail on Sunday uncovered fresh allegations of brutality by rangers, this time in Zambia’s Bangweulu Wetlands, including claims of extra-judicial killings and violent beatings.

A conservation area almost the size of Devon, the Wetlands are home to 50,000 indigenous people who have the right to ‘sustainably harvest’ natural resources such as fish, antelope and rabbits.

According to Fiore Longo, campaign director of Survival International, which fights for the rights of indigenous people: ‘This is another case of abuse and violence supposedly in the name of conservation.’

Her group wrote to Harry last year about ‘appalling human rights abuses’ in Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

At the time, Harry’s spokesman said he had ‘immediately escalated’ the allegations to the chairman and chief executive of African Parks.

There is no suggestion that Harry had any knowledge of the allegations about what happened in Zambia.

Responding to these, the charity said: ‘While there have been incidents that we condemn, suggesting African Parks is responsible for structural misconduct in the area would be false.’

Perhaps, on his next foreign visit, Harry could consider spending time in the Bangweulu Wetlands of Zambia – and seeing for himself. The claims are extremely serious.

To sign up for Richard Eden’s Palace Confidential newsletter, click on this link.

There is ‘not a chance’ Prince William will meet up with his brother Harry when the Duke is in London next week, according to the Mail’s talk show, The Reaction. 

The Daily Mail’s Andrew Pierce told this week’s episode it seemed unlikely with Princess Kate receiving treatment for cancer and the stress that had been caused by Harry’s book ‘Spare’.

But Mr Pierce and his co-host Sarah Vine both wanted the Duke of Sussex to use the visit to see his cancer-stricken father King Charles.

It is believed Harry will fly to London next Wednesday for the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary ceremony as it is his son Prince Archie’s fifth birthday the day before.

Mr Pierce did predict father and son will meet during the visit but was adamant the brothers would not.

He put this down to ‘Spare’ Harry’s controversial account of his and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal life.

He said: ‘Kate is still being treated and recovering. I think a lot of her stress I would directly associate with Prince Harry and the book.

‘I think it has been very difficult for her and the King. He is not getting any younger.’

Whether Harry and Charles will meet is the subject of ‘huge speculation’ even after the welcome news the 75-year-old monarch’s condition is responding to treatment with his return to public duties this week.

The King marked his return by visiting a chemotherapy ward in a London hospital and spoke to a number cancer patients.

It is unclear whether it would be advisable for father and son to meet given their troubled past and Harry’s acrimonious split from his brother Prince William and his wife Princess Kate.

When Harry arrives, it is understood he will stay in a hotel and not one of the royal palaces.

Mr Pierce said: ‘I hope the King sees him [Prince Harry]. The relief is she [Meghan] is not coming. She is staying in American with the children.’

Ms Vine agreed: ‘I hope he sees his father. I hope it is nice for them. I hope it is not too stressful for the King because after all he is undergoing cancer treatment.

‘People ask me often; do I ever think there is going to be a reconciliation? I think it is quite hard to see how, after all the things that he has said and done.

‘I would like to think it was possible.

‘I don’t know, I think sometimes when families go through difficult illnesses it can really bring them together, but it does not seem to be doing so.

‘If I was the King and my son was coming over for an event, I would expect him to stay with me, I would not be putting him in a hotel. That is the thing.

‘Clarence House has got about three anterooms you could just him in one of those on a put-up bed.’

Both Mr Pierce and Ms Vine agreed problems could arise if Harry arrives and complains about perceived slights to the King.

The Reaction is available every Wednesday on the Daily Mail’s YouTube channel.

Meghan Markle Won’t Join Prince Harry in the U.K. Next Month Before Heading to Nigeria Together

The Duke of Sussex is visiting London in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany in September 2023. Photo:Joshua Sammer/Getty

Meghan Markle will not join Prince Harry on his upcoming trip to London to mark a milestone anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, will not accompany her husband during his trip to the U.K. in early May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Prince Harry founded the adaptive sports tournament for service personnel and veterans in 2014, and the inaugural Invictus Games were held in London. On May 8, the anniversary will be celebrated with a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of the city, with the Duke of Sussex, 39, set to deliver a reading.

Prince Harry and Meghan relocated to her home state of California after stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, and the Duchess of Sussex was last in the U.K. in September 2022. The couple was in Europe for a series of events with some of their longtime charities when Queen Elizabeth died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stayed abroad for the funerary events that followed before returning home to the U.S. and reuniting with their son, Prince Archie, 4, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, 2. Prince Harry has made several solo trips to England since, including for various court cases against British newspaper groups, the coronation of his father King Charles in May 2023 and most recently to visit his dad following the news of the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.

Prince Harry arrives for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in London on May 6, 2023.Andy Stenning – WPA Pool/Getty

The Invictus Games anniversary service on May 8 at St. Paul’s Cathedral is expected to be attended by representatives from across the tournament’s participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community. Community members, supporters and beneficiaries will also give readings and participate in the service, which will be led by The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St. Paul’s.

The cathedral is where the future King Charles and Princess Diana married in 1981.

Following the Duke of Sussex’s May visit to the U.K. for the Invictus Games anniversary, which will include multiple other Invictus Games Foundation-related events, he will be joined by Meghan in Nigeria. PEOPLE confirms that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accepted an invitation to visit the African country next month on behalf of its Chief of Defense Staff, the highest-ranking military official.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose for photos at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sept. 14, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

During the visit, Prince Harry and Meghan will meet service members and participate in a variety of cultural activities.

The trip will highlight Harry’s Invictus Games, which welcomed 500 athletes to the 2023 games in Düsseldorf, Germany, and doubled as Nigeria’s event debut. Nigeria was a new entrant at the latest games alongside Colombia and Israel, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time with the Nigerian team. Nigerian Minister of Defense, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Badaru also attended the competition in Germany and has expressed willingness to host the games should the country be granted the opportunity.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak on stage at the third day of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sept. 12, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty for the Invictus Games Foundation

In his opening speech in Germany, Prince Harry even revealed that his wife was rooting for the squad after discovering that she has Nigerian heritage.

“Now, I’m not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year,” Harry joked at Invictus kickoff in September 2023.

The comment followed the Duchess of Sussex’s revelation on a 2022 episode of her podcast, Archetypes, that she learned she was 43% Nigerian through a genealogy test.

(Center) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photo with athletes at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sept. 13, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty

At the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Prince Harry and Meghan posed for a photo with Team Nigeria and the national flag. The athletes presented them with a plaque from the Chief of Defense, plus a new nickname for the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan was given the name “Amira Ngozi Lolo,” which has a royal meaning. Amira is the name of a warrior princess from a legend, while Ngozi means “blessed” and Lolo means “royal wife.”

In February, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to Canada for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebrations, counting down to the games there next year. At the winter kickoff, returning Team Nigeria athlete Peacemaker Azuegbulam opened up about what it meant to have Meghan’s support.

“It makes me feel good. It makes me feel loved that she really cares about Team Nigeria,” Azuegbulam told PEOPLE in Whistler. “We are happy for the love being shown by them and appreciate the efforts to bring the Invictus Games to Nigeria.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025’s One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on Feb. 14, 2024 in Whistler, British Columbia.Andrew Chin/Getty

Canton singer makes history on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

Canton native Grace (Rembinski) West performs Tuesday night on The Voice.

Following 23 seasons that have unfolded since 2011, country superstar and popular “The Voice” coach Blake Shelton’s  absolute final blind audition selection on NBC’s hit singing competition show was Grace West, better known as Grace Rembinski to those who knew her during her formative years growing up in Canton.

Shelton announced prior to the March 6, 2023 “The Voice” debut this season would be his last — and West, who moved to Nashville with her parents after graduating from Plymouth High School in 2021, impressed the performing legend with her smooth voice and poised performance.

“I would be honored,” Shelton said, “if you would be the last person I ever hit this freaking, worn-out button for.”
Blake Shelton prepares to hit his button as Grace West performs during The Voice blind auditions

Easy choice

Coach Niall Horan, a former member of the boy band “One Direction”, also wanted West on his team, saying, “America is going to love you”, but West chose Shelton with little hesitation.

“The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson endorsed Shelton as West’s coach.

West is one of 40 performers who will advance to battle rounds, knockouts and playoffs before an ultimate winner is chosen.

“Grace is the perfect female country singer,” Shelton said.

Success story

Prior to her performance, West talked about how she was approached by a Nashville recording company when she was 12 years old after they were impressed with her talent at a singing competition.

She signed a contract with Mucho Love Music when she was 16 and moved to Nashville just weeks after graduating from Plymouth.

In addition to performing in Nashville clubs (and working as a part-time dog walker, she revealed on the show), West is a song writer.

“It’s probably the most vulnerable thing a person can do,” she said, referring to her song-writing career. “Here’s all my secrets and here’s everything about me and I’m going to write about it all.”

West’s parents — Daryl and Jill Rembinski — were overcome by emotions as Shelton hugged their daughter.

Niall Horan gets a birthday surprise from his fellow Voice US crew to mark milestone birthday

IRISH star Niall Horan was left with a sweet surprise from his fellow Voice US crew on his big day.

The One Direction singer celebrated his 30th birthday while recording for the popular NBC show – and his team made sure it was a day to remember.

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Niall is currently recording season 24 of The Voice US

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The Slow Hands singer was surprised by his fellow Voice US crew members for his milestone birthday

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As Niall arrived on set musicians on the show played him a bagpipe rendition of happy birthday
In a video posted by @nbcthevoice, the Mullingar native can be seen walking onto the set of the show as a massive surprise unfolds.

A piano player begins to play the classic happy birthday tune in the style of the Scottish bagpipes as Niall puts his arms in the air, realising what is happening.

A guitar player then joins in on the tune as Niall starts to burst into fits of laughter.

The Nice To Meet Ya singer beamed at the musicians as they finished up their tune and followed with a round of applause for their nice gesture.

The Instagram page captioned their post: “Help us wish our Irish lad a huge HBD!!!”

Niall shared the video on his Instagram Story after it was posted captioning it: “My crew”.

The Irish heartthrob is currently recording season 24 of The Voice US, this will be his second year as a judge on the show, following his huge win last year.

Meanwhile, the Slow Hands singer was left emotional and blown away while performing at Electric Picnic.

The Mullingar star took to the stage in Stradbally where he sang to thousands of fans.

He hit the Main Stage ahead of Billie Eilish and performed some of his biggest hits.

The 29-year-old became emotional as he spoke about his surreal experience playing at the gig just an hour from his home.

HAPPY HORAN

Speaking to the crowd, the One Direction star said: “I cannot believe I’m here. This is just absolutely ridiculous.

“I haven’t played a show in Ireland in five years. It’s good to be back to the midlands and to be here at the famous Electric Picnic with all of you beautiful Irish people.

“I can’t even put into words how much this means to me for being here tonight.”

Niall admitted to the crowd that he was nervous to perform for a local crowd.

He continued saying: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous for a gig in my whole f*cking life. But I know you’ve got my back.

“I’ve been waiting for this night for the last year and a half and I want it to be one of the nights of my life and I’ve a sneaky suspicion it might be.

“Thank you so much for coming out. Really appreciate it. There’s a lot of Irish people here on stage with me and we’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

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The One Direction singer got emotional after his headline set at Electric Picnic last month

Why Kelly Clarkson Is Happy Blake Shelton Is Leaving ‘The Voice’?

Kelly Clarkson admitted that she’s happy about Blake Shelton leaving The Voice. She shared her true feelings in a new interview. Late last year, Blake sent fans into a tizzy when he said his time is coming to an end. Some have vowed to boycott the show after he’s gone. Find out why Kelly doesn’t mind seeing him go.

Kelly Clarkson talks about Blake’s The Voice exit

In her interview with NBC Insider, Kelly Clarkson Clarkson says she doesn’t mind that Blake is leaving. She gets to have an upper advantage. Fans know that the two love to duke it out on the show.

The two still talk even outside of the show. There’s no doubt that Kelly and Blake’s friendship will last long after The Voice. She told him that he was not going to feel it until it happens. Everybody involved is feeling that way at this moment.

 
[Source: Instagram]
“I actually have been talking to Blake a bit about this being his last season,” Kelly Clarkson admitted. “And I’m like, ‘It’s not gonna hit you until afterward. It’s gonna hit you. It’s been a part of your life for so long. And it’s gonna hit you after.’” 

She joked that she “can’t stand him, but I also love him.” Kelly said it was a “really cool way” for him to go out on the show. The Voice coach called him “the ultimate coach.” While it’s a “loss for The Voice,” she feels that it’s a gain for her.

“But it’s a gain for humanity because we get to see less of him,” Kelly Clarkson joked. “So there’s that.”

https://twitter.com/NBCTheVoice/status/1625695897291030528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1625695897291030528%7Ctwgr%5E9dc413fa6ae33064715f4d3878fc6a39f5b5a0e6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftvshowsace.com%2F2023%2F02%2F20%2Fkelly-clarkson-happy-blake-shelton-leaving-the-voice%2F

Is there drama on the NBC show?

Rumors have been swirling about why Blake is leaving The Voice. Some fans assumed it was because he wanted to settle down and have kids with his wife Gwen Stefani. She was the subject of pregnancy rumors last season.

Others claim there’s behind-the-scenes drama on the show. It’s unlikely that Blake has any drama with Kelly Clarkson. However, an insider told Radar that there has been friction with the show itself. The demands for filming have become too much for the country musician.

 
[Source: YouTube]
“He’s been suffering from burnout,” the alleged source told Radar. “He loves being the star of The Voice, but there’s so much drama going on behind the scenes — allegations of racism last season, competing with other coaches over singers, backstabbing, and the tight filming schedule combined with his tour dates — it just all became overwhelming for him.”What are your thoughts? Do you think Kelly Clarkson will have an upper advantage after Blake Shelton leaves? Why do you think he’s leaving The Voice? Sound off below in the comment section.

Check back with TV Shows Ace for more news on Kelly Clarkson.

The Voice Season 23 premieres on Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Voice fans furious over ‘rigged’ season as Gina Miles wins on divisive finale that ended Blake Shelton’s 12-year run

BLAKE Shelton has finished his last season of The Voice, and fans are furious over the outcome.

The Voice’s 23rd season is over, and Gina Miles won the competition by the skin of their teeth.

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Blake Shelton has officially finished his final season of The Voice, and he didn’t winCredit: NBC

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Contestant Gina Miles on Team Niall was shocked to hear her name called out as the winnerCredit: NBC
There were four finalists for season 23: Gina Miles from Team Niall, Grace West from Team Blake, NOVIAS who was also from Team Blake, Sorelle from Team Chance, and D.Smooth from Team Kelly.

They all held hands and had hopeful looks in their eyes before Carson Daly, 49, announced the runners-up and the winner.

Gina is one of the many contestants who was featured in The Voice’s 23rd season.

Originally from Paxton, Illinois, she relocated to Sacramento shortly before auditioning for the program.

Regarding her inspiration to try out for The Voice, she often credits her father’s DJing career as her primary influence.

During the blind audition rounds of the show, Gina impressed judges Kelly Clarkson and Niall Horan with her rendition of Katy Perry’s The One That Got Away.

Ultimately, she chose to compete as a member of Niall’s team.

Throughout the season, she continued to win over the judges and audience.

“It was a big step for me, moving from a small town to California, and I really wanted to take music in a more serious way,” Gina told KCRA.

“My dad always talks about if you can make a career out of something that you love, then you win in life. I really took that to heart with music.”

FANS GONE WILD

Fans of the competition show went wild on Twitter and Reddit after Gina was announced as the season 23 winner.

Many thought the vote was inaccurate and Blake’s contestant Grace should have won.

One said, “The only reason Gina won the voice was that people like Niall and obviously voted for her because they like him, this show is so rigged :(( so sad Blake didn’t win in his last season, Grace or Novais deserved it way more.”

Another wrote, “Well, my top 2 finished top 2. I think it should have been flipped, though, had it been based on the voice.”

“Huh, figured with it being Blake’s final season they would have just given him the win,” added a third.

A very upset fan said, “Welp that just confirmed that The Voice is most definitely RIGGED. Ain’t no way Gina won over D Smooth or Sorelle… not to mention Noivas in 5th? Literally, the most boring two were first and second? Boooo!”

IT WAS ‘RIGGED’

Prior to the finale, fans were convinced that long-time coach Blake Shelton will fraudulently win this season.

Blake has been a coach on The Voice for 12 years, and back in October, he confirmed that season 23 will be his last.

After appearing in every season of the show, Blake’s stepping down so the iconic Reba McEntire, 68, can take his place.

Reba will join Chance The Rapper, 30, former One Direction member Niall Horan, 29, and Gwen Stefani, 53,

Carson will continue in his role as host – which he has held for all 23 seasons.

In the time Blake has been on the competition television show, he has won The Voice nine times.

Since it is the country singer’s last season, fans believe the show’s finale will be rigged to give Blake his tenth and final win.

Fans of the show, and critics of Blake, again took to Twitter to express their frustration with the show and their thought on the upcoming finale.

One wrote, “My conspiracy theory mind thinks this season is rigged for Blake, but Gina Miles is excellent and deserves to win. She’s got my vote.”

Another tweeted, “If Blake’s team wins tonight, it’s rigged because the amount of people voting for Gina is insane!!”

“The Voice is clearly rigged for Blake to win his last season,” added a third.

A fourth fan said, “If Blake wins the voice this season then the show is absolutely rigged.”

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Some bitter fans called the show ‘rigged’ after Gina was announced as the winnerCredit: NBC

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Gina and Grace West were the top two contestants, and some fans were positive Grace would winCredit: NBC

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Before the finale aired, other fans thought the show would be rigged in Blake’s favorCredit: NBC

Meet The Voice star John Legend’s famous brother

The Ordinary People singer is a judge alongside Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan

Having been in the music industry for over two decades, working both behind the scenes with some of the biggest artists and as a leading star, John Legend has become a giant in the business.

So, it’s only fitting that the R&B singer-songwriter and producer has a seat on the judging panel of The Voice, which recently returned for its 23rd season.

WATCH: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s daughter Esti says “Dada”

The “Green Light” hitmaker sits alongside other legends of the game including country music icon Reba McEntire, global pop star Gwen Stefani and world-famous boyband album Niall Horan.

But away from John’s work and his peers, it seems musicality runs in his family. Find out more about John’s early life and family, including his famous brother, below…

Who is John Legend’s famous brother?

John has three siblings, Ronald Stephens II, Vaughn Anthony and Phyllis ‘Missy’ Stephens. Not a huge amount is known about his brother Ronald and sister, Phyliss. Howver, Vaughn, like John, ventured into music and has become an artist in his own right.

In 2007, John signed his brother Vaughn to the label, HomeSchool, and since then, Vaughn has gone on to enjoy his own success. He’s provided backing vocals for his brother and toured with John, and he’s released his own albums. Some of his songs include, Swag All Day, Hold me Down, Curiosity and 3 AM.

© Charles Sykes/Shutterstock
Vaughn Anthony sings at the ‘John Legend Presents Vaughn Anthony’ Concert, 2009

John Legend’s early life

John Legend was born John Roger Stephens in Springfield Ohio and his the eldest of four children. John’s parents were musical; his father, Ronald Stephens, who worked as a factory worker, was a drummer while his mother, Phyllis, a seamstress, was a singer and director at their church choir. Not to mention John’s grandmother, who was a church organist.

John began playing piano at age four and by age seven was a singer in his family church’s choir. Later on in life, the musician continued sharpening his artistic skills while studying English and the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the president and director of the college’s jazz and a cappella pop group.

© Shutterstock
John Legend attends the HBO Original documentary ‘Stand Up and Shout: Songs from a Philly High School’ world premiere during the 32nd Philadelphia Film Festival in Philadelphia

By age 19, John scored his first major commercial appearance when he played piano and provided vocals on the track Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill. The song appeared on the 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill which went on to receive the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

© NBC
John Legend is back as a coach on ‘The Voice’

What else is there to know about John Legend?

John Legend has opened up in the past about the struggles he and his family faced growing up, including his mother dealing with drug addiction. John also revealed he was mostly raised by his brothers.

John Legend’s father, Ronald, with his grandchildren

In an essay for TIME, he wrote: “As a teenager growing up in Ohio, I watched my mother disappear into more than a decade of drugs and despair after my maternal grandmother — a person who filled our whole family with love — passed away. My mother’s addiction didn’t just tear her life apart; it tore me and the rest of our family apart, too.”

John and his mother later reconciled. He told The Guardian: “It’s an amazing story because she came back and now she is healthy and not addicted to drugs any more. She’s a good grandmother and is in such a good place.”

The Voice’s Camila Cabello reveals internal struggles just days before new season

The Havana singer is a new coach

Camila Cabello is no stranger to talent competitions having found fame on one – but come Monday she’ll have a starring role on the new season of The Voice.

The 25-year-old will make her debut as a coach alongside Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, and John Legend. However, Camila confessed that the incredible moment has been tinged with feelings of self-doubt.

“I do get a little bit of imposter syndrome sometimes,” she told People. “I do want to do right by the contestants and sometimes I’m like…

“There’s some people that are 40, they’ve been doing this for so long and I’m like, ‘I think you should do it like this.’”

Thankfully, despite her internal struggles, Camila has realized that she has plenty to offer the singing hopefuls despite her young age.

“I’m like, you know what? No, because I have been doing this for ten years now and I had extreme situations where it hasn’t been a slow journey either.“

© Photo: Getty Images

Camila was announced as Ariana Grande’s replacement in May

She added: “So, I’ve had to gather a lot of knowledge in a short burst of time. I do have something to offer.”

Camila knows more than anyone on the coaching panel how the contestants are feeling having made a name for herself on The X Factor in 2012, which led to the formation of the girl group Fifth Harmony.

© Photo: Getty Images

Camila has plenty to offer her team on The Voice

Now, with a decade in the business under her belt, Camila believes she can really help the contestants who join her team.

“A lot of what I took from [The X Factor] that was really helpful is the psychological nerves tricks,” she explained.

“If you look at it this way, if you reframe it this way, if you feel your body tightening up, if you loosen your jaw, that’s going to make the note not come out as… all these little tips and tricks that didn’t just come from the competition show but from my whole vibe, my whole ten-year vibe.”