INTERVIEW: Madison Curbelo Talks Resilience and Returning to The Voice

Season 25 of NBC’s The Voice is well underway, and contestants like Madison Curbelo are ready to tackle the next challenge. If Curbelo’s sweet yet strong voice sounds familiar to you, it’s because this isn’t her first time on the stage. 

In season 20, the artist didn’t receive a single chair turn during her “Blind Audition” round. Instead, Coach Blake Shelton told her to go out, sing, and garner more experience. So, she did. Now, five seasons later, the Massachusetts native earned herself a four-chair turn, making the illustrious coaches battle it out.

Ultimately, she chose Dan + Shay, and has made her way from the “Playoff Round,” and is advancing to the live competition. Ahead of the next phase, Curbelo sat down with Glitter to discuss facing rejection, working with Dan + Shay, and her advice for emerging artists. 

Check out the full interview below.

BRITTANY: Madison, thank you so much for sitting down with Glitter today. How are you doing?

MADISON: I’m doing so good. Thank you guys for having me. I’m excited to talk about all things The Voice today.

BRITTANY: We’re so excited to have you. Let’s get into it. Congratulations on advancing from “The Playoffs.” How are you feeling about that?

MADISON: Oh my goodness, it still feels like a dream. It doesn’t feel like that last show happened. I’m floating on cloud nine right now. It was awesome.

BRITTANY: During your round, you performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” one of my favorite songs, and you did it in honor of your dad. Can you tell us a little bit about what that was like and what that moment meant to you?

MADISON: That moment really meant everything to me. That was a song that I wanted to do on the show since the beginning. So, getting to do it, felt just like the most special moment ever, and getting to have that connection to my dad. It’s literally our song, like one of the songs that we love, that we have to listen to in its entirety every time it comes on. So, getting to think about him when I sang it, everything felt right, and it was just like a really, really special moment that I’m glad is now going to be out in the world forever, and I’m just so grateful for it.

BRITTANY: I have to say, that song has been covered so many times. I mean, we saw it on Glee, and we’ve seen it on The Voice a few times. I loved your rendition of it, and I think it’s something I’m going to be going back to because it was so amazing. So congratulations on that performance.

MADISON: Thank you so much. I know there was so much pressure going into it, like knowing that so many great people had sung it before. So, I’m just glad that people are resonating with the version that I made. So thank you so much.

BRITTANY: Of course, it’s funny, it’s one of those songs that it’s like iconic, that it’s like, I can’t mess this up because like you said, so many people before me have come and they’ve done it. So, it’s like, I have to be perfect. So, that’s also just an ode to your skill, your talent and your confidence to be like, you know what, “I’m going to do this iconic song, I’m going to kill it.” And you did.

MADISON: Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. I feel bad this morning. Thank you so much.

BRITTANY: Now, you know, this wasn’t the case. This isn’t your first time on The Voice stage back in season 20; at the time, Blake Shelton, who was with the series, told you, “You know, let’s not rush.” You didn’t get, any chair turns that particular season, and Blake Shelton told you to get some experience and then come back. So, tell me a little bit about what you did during this time, and why did you feel now was the right time to come back?

MADISON: After Blake had said that, I think it made a lot of sense to me because I was just freshly graduated from high school when I did that season, and I wanted it so bad. But, I had a feeling that it maybe it just wasn’t the right timing. When I went on stage, I just tried my best and hearing his comment to say, “Go sing everywhere that you can.” I was like, “Okay, that’s my next challenge. That’s the next thing that I want to do.” I really went and I sang at a bunch of restaurants. Since then, I sung the national anthem anywhere anyone would have me sing, like, even karaoke. I’m like, “Guys, I’m here, I’m ready.” I really just took that moment to try to learn as much as I can about myself and the kind of music that I want to make. I think this time around, I was just so much more confident in who Madison was and the kind of music that I want to put out in the future that I want to call my own. I think finding myself was the greatest thing that I could have done throughout this entire process, and even still finding myself. So, finding the new parts of myself throughout this journey. But I look back on little 18-year-old Madison and I’m like, “Don’t worry, you’ll be okay. Just wait a minute and you’ll be fine.”

BRITTANY: Isn’t that so great when you take some time and then you look back and it’s like, “Wow, this wasn’t the moment. This is where I’m meant to be now.” You realize why everything in the past didn’t work out.

MADISON: Exactly. I know at the moment I was of course sad. I really was like, “Oh, this was like my one chance to do something great.” I, I took that to heart when, when he [Shelton] said, “You are really good.” Then Kelly Clarkson said there was something special about me. It just needed a little more of that refinement in that growth. So, if something doesn’t happen today, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in a couple years from now or even tomorrow. So, that’s what I live by. That’s my mantra now.

BRITTANY: Listen, if Kelly Clarkson tells you you have something special, you have something special. I mean, come on. But tell us a little bit about what you learned most from that experience in that time off?

MADISON: Oh my goodness. I really learned that if you’re going to sing and you are singing a song again that’s sung by so many different people, it’s really just about making it your own. And every single song since that moment, I’ve like broken it down. I’ve tried to add riffs and runs to it and add that like “Madison Flair” to it. I think that’s what I learned the most: if you’re going to sing a song that’s by someone else or if you’re going to write your own song, make sure that it’s something that really resonates with you and something that you can connect to. I think all the songs I’ve done this time around have been songs that I’ve really fallen in love with and songs that I could connect to people, to places, to things that I love. I think that’s the greatest advice that I could give to anyone too, that either tries to show or is rejected in some other form is to go back and learn about yourself, learn about how you can be better, and always strive to be better.

BRITTANY: Let’s talk about your season 25 journey. Now, like we said, in season 20, there were no chair turns. But in the season 25 “Blind Audition,” you got a four-chair turn, which means that John Legend, Reba McEntire, Dan + Shay, and Chance the Rapper all fought for you to be on their team and ultimately you chose. You chose Dan + Shay. How come?

MADISON: I wasn’t expecting any of that to even happen in my mindset for this one. I was like, “Okay, one chair and then I’ll just go with that person. That’ll be meant to be.” Then, when I had all the options, I was like, “Oh my goodness, this is crazy.” So, I was honestly like, “I think any one of them could have given me the best advice in watching all of them on the show, working with their respective teams.” It’s like they are all wise in their own ways and they all know so much. But, the thing about Dan + Shay that made me really pick them was when I think it was Dan, he said, “There’s something special about what you’re doing and we have no one like you on our team.” And I was like, “That’s it. That’s where I have to go.” I had another one of those feelings where it felt right, and I felt like that’s where I was supposed to belong, even though John drove a hard bargain. I love you, John Legend. I was really close to picking him, but just hearing that I would have my own lane and it just felt like they were really passionate about helping me figure out what that lane was and developing me further. I found my home on Team Dan + Shay and it’s been amazing.

BRITTANY: Within that development, what is something they have taught you? What is one of the best lessons so far, that the coaches have taught you?

MADISON: I tell this to everyone every time someone asks me. They’re so genuine and they have been so kind throughout this process. A lot of the times when you think about the music industry and about any like entertainment industry, you think, “Oh, maybe you have to put on this personality like you have to become this character,” but they’re truly the same way that they are on camera, as they are just talking to me in private when there’s no one around and it’s just us. I think that’s the most important lesson is to be yourself. Whether you’re in front of millions of dollars worth of cameras or you’re just at home sitting on your couch, be that same person, because people will resonate with that and they will they will come to love you through that. Dan + Shay have loyal fans and people have loved them since the beginning. So, I really take it to heart how, if they could be the super nice guys they are and have really beautiful things happen to them, I could still be the same person I am and hope amazing things come to me. So, I think that’s the most important thing.

BRITTANY: I think that’s such a beautiful sentiment, and I think that’s such a great lesson, is that in yourself, in your being, you are exceptional. You don’t have to portray this persona to get attention and garner success and satisfaction. I think that’s amazing in and of itself. And so, as you move into the live competition, what are some of your main focuses?

MADISON: My main focus throughout this entire competition, and it’s still going to be true for the live [round], is to always show people different sides of me. I love it whenever people suddenly think that maybe this is something that I would do. I love to flip it and do something else. So, I’m just excited to sing really cool songs and change them up and cool new ways and create my own version. So, yeah, I’d say I’m looking forward to more “Madisonified” songs going forward.

BRITTANY: That’s always the best though, because anybody can do a cover. But, to then take a cover and make it their own and make it something that people are like, “Wow, I like this equally and sometimes better than the original song” I think is amazing in itself. Oher than winning, of course, that’s everybody’s goal when they get on the series What is a takeaway you’re looking forward to or a main goal that you’re working toward?

MADISON: Something that I really want to do once the show is over, winning or not, is to put out the music that I’ve been working really hard on for the past couple years. You know, I talked about finding a sound, but I started to produce my own music and I write my own music, and I really want to put that into the world, because I think it is a great reflection of what I want to do. It’s that, like a stripped-down acoustic pop feel. So, I want to put out as much music as I can and meet as many people that have become fans of me from the show as possible. So, maybe there’s like a “Finding Madison” tour in the works. Who knows?

BRITTANY: We’ll see. That sounds so fun. I think that is such a great idea and this is the perfect launching pad to do it.

MADISON: 100%. I’ve connected with so many people, even across the world, like some people from Brazil and the Philippines. It’s amazing that people all over the globe now know who I am and love what I’m doing. It’s the best, it is.

BRITTANY: As we wrap up, you spoke about your advice for somebody who’s been rejected before or who’s going through the voice. What is your advice for somebody who may be hesitant to do The Voice?

MADISON: Oh my goodness, don’t be. Do it. 100,000,000%. It’s even if you don’t make it, like I didn’t make it the first time, but I learned so much and everyone that’s a part of The Voice is like Angel sent from above. They really, like, coddle you throughout the whole process. Even working with, like, the vocal coaches, the band, and, of course, the amazing celebrity coaches. Everyone part of that process really helps you. I think if you want to learn about yourself as an artist and want a glimpse into what that like, industry life is like, I’d say do The Voice but do it on your own terms. Sing songs that you love. Make them your own. I’d say go for it. Please do.

BRITTANY: That’s it, that’s the message: Go for it. Madison, thank you so much for sitting down with Glitter today. We are so excited for you and we wish you the best of luck on your journey.

MADISON: Thank you so much.

Catch The Voice on Mondays at 8:00 P.M. on NBC and Peacock.