BY KELSEY PURCELL, FEATURES ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Pop singer, Ariana Grande joins NBC’s popular singing competition show, “The Voice.” Grande is a new coach on the show.
The other returning coaches are John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton. Shelton is the only original coach remaining on the show; he has been there for all 21 seasons. This is Clarkson’s eighth season coaching. Legend returns for his sixth season as a coach. Carson Daly is still the original host of the show, returning for season 21.
Ariana Grande is replacing Nick Jonas, who coached for two seasons. Grande is currently one of the biggest pop singers right now. She has six studio albums and two Grammys. The singer has a lot of experience and talent to pass onto the contestants on her team.
Grande started her career on Broadway in 2008. She was in the musical “13.” Grande went on to play Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon show “Victorious” and the spin-off “Sam and Cat.” Grande released her debut studio album, “Yours Truly,” in 2013.
Grande is coaching contestants Katie Rae, Katherine Ann Mohler, Vaughn Mugol, Chavon Rodgers, Raquel Trinidad, Hailey Mia, Bella DeNiapoli, David Vogel, Ryleigh Plank, Sophia Bromberg, duo Jim and Sasha Allen and trio KCK3.
“The Voice” starts with blind auditions where contestants audition for the show by singing live for the coaches, but the coaches have their backs turned to the singers. If a coach likes the contestant’s voice or thinks they have potential, the coach will turn around in hopes of coaching the contestant. If multiple coaches want to have that contestant on their team, they have to persuade the contestant to choose them. Each coach has 12 contestants on their team by the end of the blind auditions.
Every week the coaches help contestants develop their singing skills. During Battle Rounds, two contestants on each team sing the same song and their coach decides who advances to the Knockout Round. During Knockout Rounds contestants are still competing against members of their own teams but they get to choose their own songs and perform on their own. The winners of the Knockout Rounds advance to the Playoffs. During the Playoffs, six contestants per team compete for spots in the Live Performance shows. Only 12 performers make it to the Live Performance rounds. Live Performance rounds continue for 10 episodes, eliminating contestants until a winner is chosen.
Consider watching the show on NBC every Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. to see talented singers compete for a recording contract and a cash prize and see if Grande has what it takes to win her first season coaching.
