Yahoo Lifestyle New 'Voice' Coach Kelsea Ballerini Credits Kelly Clarkson For Launching Her Music Career
The Voice returns for its 27th season on February 4 on NBC with both new and returning coaches.
Returning OG coach is Adam Levine, who previously spent 16 seasons coaching artists on The Voice and has three wins to his credit. This will be the tenth season for John Legend, who to date, only has one win with Maelyn Jarmon. And this will mark Michael Bublé's second season as a coach, having won his first season with Sofronio Vasquez.
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Making her debut as a full-time coach is Kelsea Ballerini, who served as Season 16 battle advisor for Kelly Clarkson, and filled in as a substitute coach during Season 20’s battle rounds when Kelly was ill.
Each season before filming begins, the coaches get together to get comfortable with each other and figure out the dynamics of their relationships.
At the Season 27 get-together, each of the coaches shared how they knew for real that music was their career, and Kelsea had an interesting story in which she credits Kelly for inspiring her to pursue music.
“I was seeing her in Knoxville at the arena, and it was her Behind These Hazel Eyes Tour. And so she had these two video screens above her stage of her eyes the whole show,” Kelsea recounts to Adam, John and Michael.
Related: Get the Details on The Voice Season 27, Including a Photo of the New Coaches
“So depending on the song, they would close, they would cry, they would wink, or whatever. I was just at the age where I knew I loved music . Bbut I was like, ‘Do I want to do this? I don't know how to, but I think I really love this.’
“I was having this moment as a little kiddo, and I looked up to these screen eyes of Kelly Clarkson, and they winked. In my soul, I really believed that Kelly Clarkson told me I was supposed to move to Nashville.”
Michael asks her if Kelly knows the story, and Kelsea reassures him that she does, adding, “She's weirdly kind of been consistent throughout my whole career. She started it for me.”
And John points out, “Her first time coaching on The Voice she subbed for Kelly Clarkson."
Related: The Voice Winner Sofronio Vasquez Reveals Big Plans With Michael Bublé
Michael realizes, “Oh, my God. It's a full circle moment."
To which Kelsea replies, “She's my girl.”
Kelly and Kelsea also have toured together. Kelsea opened up for the American Idol winner for her 2019 Meaning of Life Tour. The two also collaborated on a 2022 country tune titled "You're Drunk, Go Home" along with Carly Pearce.
The Voice premieres its 27th season at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
