When we look at the history of The Voice, we see solo winners hoisting the trophy after the finale, standing alongside their celebrity coach. Only once has there ever been an act that was not a solo singer. And it took 21 seasons for it to happen. When Girl Named Tom, a trio of siblings from Pettisville, Ohio, won alongside their coach, Kelly Clarkson. It was a monumental moment in the show’s trajectory. Not just because they were the best act of the season, but because it proved that the coaches and voters have faith in music that goes beyond a solo artist.

The beauty of The Voice lies in its ability to showcase a diverse range of voices across every genre of music. But when two or three voices emerge in harmony, you simply light up. With countless exceptional duos and trios throughout the show’s 27 seasons in America, there’s something to say about their lack of success. And we’re going to try to analyze just why these groups can’t win The Voice.

The Coaches Don’t Know How to Work With Non-Solo Acts on ‘The Voice’

American Idol is strictly a solo show. While some pairs have arrived to audition, they’ve been split up to fight for their dream on their own. They serve a brief storyline, but American Idol‘s mission is to find a superstar. The X Factor was specifically formatted to feature groups. While some are formed from solo acts combined, such as One Direction and Little Mix on the UK version and Fifth Harmony on the US series. So, when The Voice rolled around, they opted to allow both solo and group acts to participate in the Blind Auditions.

In the first season, The Thompson Sisters became the first duo to arrive on the show. Tori and Taylor took on Sugarland‘s “Stuck Like Glue.” The coaches heard one voice, but the moment the second came in, the entire room shifted to pure joy and intrigue. It was two for the price of one for CeeLo Green became the only coach to turn. They were mediocre compared to some other major acts, but they still managed to reach the Top 16. From that point forward, the show saw some other acts arrive and try their hand to reach the top.

Season 4’s The Swon Brothers defied the odds and made it to the finale, earning third place. Perhaps they could have won the season, but Blake Shelton‘s constant push to get Danielle Bradbery the season’s victory. From there, many acts advanced to the Battles and Knockouts, but it wasn’t until Season 19, with Worth the Wait, that a trio made it to the live episodes. It wasn’t until Season 21 that Girl Named Tom followed in The Swon Brothers’ footsteps to reach the finale and won. It was a triumphant season as it saw multiple non-solo acts emerge.

While we can place some blame on the voting public, the reality is that only four group acts have made it to the voting rounds of the competitions. So, coaches, this is on you. For whatever reason, the coaches don’t have faith in groups or duos. Or, maybe they don’t know how to work with them to their full potential. A significant problem inherent to the show’s format is that, following the Blind Audition, it transitions to the Battles, which are duets.

So, if you’re a group, you’re competing against a solo act. Perhaps the coaches feel bad for the solo singer for not having the ability to harmonize with themselves, but being at an advantage has proven to be a disadvantage to groups. Getting eliminated in the Knockouts? It’s likely the coaches’ fear about how the audience will react.