'The Voice' Contestant Alex Whalen Drops Out of Competition for 'Personal Reasons' (2023)

Blake Sheltonlast battle ofagreeit was a little disappointing - but not the cowboy's fault; This is what happens when a head-to-head race turns out to be a solo act. This is exactly what happens when the hostCarson Dalycomes to announce that Team Blake artist Alex Whalen has left the competition ahead of his performance in the Battle Round against Neil Salsich.

You may remember Alex Whalenby the Blinds as the London-born country rocker who managed to win Blake overwith her interpretation of Sammi Smith's "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Or you might remember him as the guy with the spectacular beard. We don't have any real details as to why Whalen decided to leave for reasons other than "personal reasons," and the show is leaving it at that.

But the show must go on as they say, and so introduces CarsonNeil Salsich, who will still be able to play the Battles song he was rehearsing - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. Neil isn't wasting his big solo moment - having screen time on this show and being face-to-face with the coaches is important - and he's enjoying it on stage with no pressure. Blake loves the "charisma" Neil displays on stageNiall Horanis impressed that Neil, who sang "Honky Tonk Blues" to earn a foursome in the blinds, can do as much as Hank WilliamseMarvinGay. It shows a reach that will serve you well in this type of competition.

Though it may not have been a totally pressure-free fight: Blake jokes before Neil took the stage, telling his artist that if he "loses this fight, it's going to be the worst failure in history [...] that would be something."Adam LevineDegree of failure," he says, citing the name of his formerVoiceCohort. Of course, after Alex Whalen's surprise departure, there was no doubt that Neil Salsich would be heading to the knockouts with Team Blake.

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