The Voice officially returned on Monday, February 3, bringing familiar faces back to the iconic red chairs. Michael Bublé, John Legend, and Adam Levine are once again coaching, joined this season by country star Kelsea Ballerini, who is making her debut as a full-time coach.
As the newcomer, Ballerini has plenty to prove. Her fellow coaches are all past winners of the competition, with Bublé most recently claiming victory in Season 26 alongside Sofronio Vasquez. Still, Ballerini has a powerful supporter cheering her on from the sidelines: former Voice coach Reba McEntire.
McEntire, who coached during Seasons 24, 25, and 26 before stepping away to focus on other projects like her sitcom Happy’s Place, made a heartfelt appearance in the Season 27 premiere—without ever sitting in a chair. She left Ballerini a handwritten letter and a meaningful gift to welcome her into the role.
In the note, McEntire expressed her excitement about Ballerini representing country music on the show. “Dear Kelsea, I heard you would be the new coach this season and I’m just so excited for you,” she wrote. “It’s up to you to keep country alive on the show and I know you’ll do a terrific job. Now go out there and show those boys who’s the boss.”
Along with the encouraging words, McEntire passed down her famous crown—worn last season when she was dubbed “Queen Reba.” Ballerini happily accepted the symbolic gesture, joking, “I feel so fancy,” as she placed the crown on her head.
This season also comes with a scheduling change for viewers. Unlike previous seasons that aired twice weekly, NBC announced that The Voice will air only once a week for most of the competition. New episodes will premiere Mondays at 8/7c throughout the Blind Auditions and Playoff Rounds, with select Tuesday episodes returning later during the live shows.