MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / REALITY TV

Who is Rob Cole? Internet calls out 'The Voice' coaches' hypocrisy on praising singers with zero chair turn

'The Voice' fans call out coaches' hypocrisy for praising Rob Cole yet not turning for him

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rob Cole gave it his best on the 'The Voice' Season 25 stage, but none of the coaches turned for him. As the coaches continued to laud the singer following the audition and suggested he try again, viewers chastised the judges for their hypocrisy.

The 33-year-old Evans Crossroads community native was raised surrounded by music, with a guitarist father and a singing mother, as well as the owners of a music business, but he didn't start singing until his senior year. However, his rendition of "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" failed to impress any of the coaches.

Chance the Rapper stated that he had a "studio voice," but he wanted something different for his squad. John Legend expressed a "welcoming vibe" in his tone, while Reba McEntire apologized for not turning because she already had three male country vocalists on her squad.

On X, fans asked, "no one turned for Rob?? I’m genuinely confused….what is up with the coaches & not turning, but then feeling bad & praising the artists voice…like you had an opportunity & did nothing about it." Another person chimed in, "WHAT IS UP WITH THESE COACHES LATELY Rob was so good!"

One user tweeted, "All these bullshit excuses translate to “not good enough”" A fourth person commented, "He wasn’t bad at all. I’m shocked nobody turned for him." 

One X user also wrote, "I’m surprised no one turned for Rob." Another fumed, "AND THEY DIDNT EVEN TURN A CHAIR ??"

'The Voice's Rob Cole won at Carolina Country Music Awards

Rob's music career has begun. At the Carolina Country Music Awards last month, the independent Pembroke artist won Christian Country Single of the Year for the song "Jesus & a Woman."

The awards ceremony took place on January 20 at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Rob was nominated for a prestigious award for the second consecutive year.

Rob did not win the 2022 Songwriter of the Year award. However, he rebounded with the prize for "Jesus and a Woman."

'The Voice's Rob Cole calls Charly Lowry and Mark McKinny & Co. his influences

According to his web biography, Rob's country music career took off around two years ago with the publication of his track "Luckiest Man Alive." The song landed him a nomination for Songwriter of the Year from the Carolina Country Music Association.

In 2023, he released the follow-up album "Jesus & a Woman". According to his web biography, he was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year in Modern Country by the Josie Music Association of Nashville.

Rob lists Robeson County products Charly Lowry and Mark McKinny & Co. as influences.

His late father, Kenneth Cole, operated the Triple R Music business in Pembroke, and his mother, Lori Locklear Cole, was a Southern gospel singer before moving into country music. According to her son, she performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

He remarked that music gradually took over his life.

'The Voice's Rob Cole performs at weddings, festivals, and other events

Rob is a popular performer in the neighborhood. He performed live at The Credentials Social Club in Pembroke and will appear at Happenings on Elm in Lumberton.

His forthcoming performance schedule includes three area gigs in North Myrtle Beach. Aside from his regular appearances at restaurants and clubs in Robeson County and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Rob often plays at weddings, festivals, and other special occasions.

He is a modern-day troubadour who brings both fans and new listeners through a venue's front door when he performs. Rob, a three-sport athlete at Purnell Swett High School before graduating in 2009, grew up on a small dirt road farm as part of a musical family.

'The Voice' Season 25 airs on NBC at 8 pm on Mondays and 9 pm on Tuesdays. The episodes will be available on Peacock on demand the next day. The streaming site also includes entire episodes from the show's prior seasons.