The latest episode of The Voice showcased another batch of performers hoping to move forward in the competition beyond the Blind Auditions round. Between the performances on stage and the banter between the coaches, there was a lot going on, but the episode did take a moment to air a tribute to Janice Freeman, the former competitor who recently passed away. At the end of the episode, a card showed up on screen to honor Freeman:
The tribute wasn't elaborate and it didn't show Janice Freeman herself or showcase her contributions to The Voice, but it was a nice way for the show to honor her in the wake of her death. Freeman passed away on March 2, with an official statement released via Freeman's Twitter account confirming the sad news on March 3.
The Voice didn't have a ton of time before the pre-taped March 4 episode was set to air. The folks at the show evidently decided that this card was the fitting way to honor the woman who made an impression on viewers and coaches alike, even if she did not take the top prize.
Janice Freeman was a crowd favorite when she competed on The Voice back in Season 13. She was a strong competitor in the earlier rounds of The Voice, and coaches Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Hudson both wanted her on their team. She almost but didn't quite made it to the top 10 of Season 13.
The experience created a lasting bond between Janice Freeman and MIley Cyrus. They remained in contact, and Cyrus helped her family find a place to stay when they began to financially struggle in 2018. The Voice showcased Freeman to millions of people all around the country and introduced Freeman to somebody who would become a friend.
Janice Freeman passed away on March 2 due to an extreme case of pneumonia and a blood clot that travelled to her heart. She was at home with her husband, who performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterward. Freeman was open with her struggles with lupus and cervical cancer. She is survived by her husband Dion, daughter Hannah, mother Janice, and brothers and sisters.
In case you missed it the first time around or just want to experience the stellar performance all over again, check out Janice Freeman's rendition of "Radioactive" in the Season 16 Blind Auditions:
Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend go out to the friends, family, and loved ones of Janice Freeman in this difficult time. We can't say at this point if The Voice will mention Freeman in any further capacity moving forward, but you can catch new episodes of Season 16 on Mondays at Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC this midseason.
