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OFFSTAGE: 'The Voice' Picks a Country Winner

(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

Country singer Danielle Bradbery won The Voice on Tuesday (June 18) night, and right away, she heard from the past three winners. How classy is that?

Javier Colon tweeted, "Spoiler alert! Don't read this if you haven't watched the voice finale yet! Big congrats to @DBradbery on her win. Welcome to the club girl!" And Jermaine Paul said, "Congrats to @blakeshelton for yet another win on @NBCTheVoice!! Happy birthday coach!! God don't make No mistakes!"

Then Cassadee Pope wrote, "Congrats @blakeshelton for ANOTHER win! And to @dbradery for your graceful journey to the top. Extremely happy to pass the torch over to ya!" Even Blake Shelton, who was Bradbery's coach, gave her his congratulations in the form of a hearty bear hug.

What impressed me about Bradbery was her song choices throughout the season. She wasn't content to only sing today's country. She went back and took stuff from Pam Tillis, Jo Dee Messina, the Judds, Jessica Andrews and Patty Loveless. (But yes, she did plenty of Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood too.) I'd have voted for her on that alone. But obviously, its Bradbery's big voice that won her this show. So, will that be enough to make her a star at just 16?

It's not like the show has produced overnight sensations. Colon, in fact, parted ways with his record label about a year after winning. I think the trouble with reality shows is that a show isn't reality. Reality is selling concert tickets long after your win. And entertaining a crowd for 90 minutes at a time instead of just three minutes at a time. And finding songs that will climb the charts on iTunes as well as on the radio. And recording entire albums people want to buy. So sure. A great voice is essential. But it's really just the beginning.

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