'The Voice' winner

'The Voice' winner: Why season 10 champ may be the first fans actually remember.

"Curly Sue" star Alisan Porter, right, performs with Christina Aguilera on "The Voice." Porter was crowned the season 10 winner. (NBC video still)

Can you name three past winners of "The Voice?" (Without cheating with Google or Wikipedia?)

Even the most die-hard fans of the NBC singing competition may have trouble with the answer, and it's not surprising after 10 seasons. Unlike the first few seasons of "American Idol," the show has always focused on the star power of the judges, mentors and guest performers.

Want proof? Name five past judges on "The Voice."

Even someone who doesn't watch the series could likely name Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, country star Blake Shelton, singer Christina Aguilera and hitmaker Pharrell Williams. Other celebrities who have turned their chairs around include CeeLo Green, Shakira, Usher, Gwen Stefani and, next season, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.

Judges were similarly popular on "Idol," but many former contestants have gone on to find careers in music, movies, theater and more. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson and others have continued to be successful long after Ryan Seacrest dimmed the lights for them.

But the season 10 winner of "The Voice" could change that pattern for an unusual reason: Many people already knew her.

Alisan Porter made history on the show Tuesday night when she was crowned -- it was the first time a Team Xtina member took home the final prize. But it was also the first time a contestant might not need "former 'The Voice' contestant" in front of their name every time they're mentioned.

That's because Porter appeared in Steve Martin's 1989 movie "Parenthood" and, more memorably, starred as the title character in 1991's "Curly Sue," with Jim Belushi. She also had roles on stage in "Footloose," "A Chorus Line" and the smash "Ten Commandments: The Musical," opposite Val Kilmer and Adam Lambert.

Porter, 34, was the favorite from the beginning of the season (sorry Ryan Quinn and Abby Celso) because viewers recognized her. They were also impressed by her vocal talents, but when fan voting is involved, reality shows always become popularity contests -- a flaw Sanjaya nearly exposed in "Idol" a decade ago -- and other performers may never get a chance if producers focus on someone more recognizable.

Still not convinced that "The Voice" winners don't get enough attention after they appear on the show? If you watched Tuesday's star-studded finale, you know the highlights weren't any of the contestant's performances -- cameos by Sia, Little Big Town, Zayn Malik and a duet by Aguilera with Ariana Grande (instead of a planned-then-canceled Whitney Houston hologram) were the most memorable parts.

More proof: Upstate New York's Sawyer Fredericks won "The Voice" season 8 last year and few noticed that he released his debut studio album this month. "A Good Storm" debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard charts, behind months-old albums by Adele, Kanye West, Mike Posner, Taylor Swift, Drake, twenty one pilots, Rhett Miller, Panic! At the Disco and three Prince releases.

Fredericks is only 17, though, and still has plenty of talent to make a career for himself long after "The Voice" fans fade like "Idol."

But how will other past contestants fare? Here are all 10 past "The Voice" winners, along with who their coach was:

• Season 1 winner: Javier Colon (Team Adam Levine)
• Season 2 winner: Jermaine Paul (Team Blake Shelton)
• Season 3 winner: Cassadee Pope (Team Blake)
• Season 4 winner: Danielle Bradbery (Team Blake)
• Season 5 winner: Tessanne Chin (Team Adam)
• Season 6 winner: Josh Kaufman (Team Usher)
• Season 7 winner: Craig Wayne Boyd (Team Blake)
• Season 8 winner: Sawyer Fredericks (Team Pharrell Williams)
• Season 9 winner: Jordan Smith (Team Adam)
• Season 10 winner: Alisan Porter (Team Christina Aguilera)

source: www..syracuse.com