The Voice is going back to basics for its milestone 30th season, bringing back six weeks of live shows after the format was largely scaled back in recent seasons. The NBC singing competition will also introduce real-time voting, a new First-In button and two new coaches, including country star Riley Green, whose dry Southern humor is already drawing comparisons to former coach Blake Shelton.
The Voice is bringing back live shows
Fifteen years and 29 seasons after its debut, The Voice is entering Season 30 with a format that executive producer Audrey Morrissey describes as a “full circle” moment.
“We’re bringing back live shows,” Morrissey said. “We’re going to have six weeks of live shows.”
Live shows were absent from Season 29, which was significantly shortened compared with earlier seasons. This time, Peacock support will allow viewers to vote for their favorite artists in real time during the final six weeks.
Unlike previous overnight voting, viewers will find out the results on the same night the artists perform.
“Everybody performs, and we find out that night who’s moving on,” Morrissey explained.
The Blind Auditions will remain at the heart of the competition, with coaches choosing artists without seeing them perform.
Riley Green brings his own brand of humor
Season 30 will introduce Grammy winner Queen Latifah and country singer Riley Green to the coaching panel. They will join returning coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson, both four-time champions, with Carson Daly back as host.
According to Morrissey, the chemistry among the four coaches was strong from the beginning, despite having two newcomers.
Queen Latifah quickly became a major draw for artists. Morrissey described her as having an energy that “just beams” and said she was “like a magnet” for singers considering their options.
Green, meanwhile, may remind longtime viewers of Blake Shelton because of his country background and Southern personality. However, Morrissey stressed that Green has his own style rather than simply filling Shelton’s role.
“He is his own brand of humor,” Morrissey said. “He brings that Southern gentleman with a razor sharp, dry wit about him.”
“He is just so funny,” she added.
Green has also admitted that Clarkson has been the coach talking the most trash. Morrissey believes the country singer could become a serious challenge for Clarkson when country artists begin choosing their teams.
“Kelly’s got her work cut out for her,” she said. “If anybody knows who Riley is, it’s the country people. They are well aware of him. He’s really riding high.”
The Block button is being replaced
The Blind Auditions will also receive a major gameplay change in Season 30.
The familiar Block button is being removed and replaced by a new First-In button. Each coach can use it only once during the Blind Auditions.
The idea comes from coaches frequently pointing out that they were the first to turn their chairs for an artist. Now, that first turn can become a real advantage.
“If you use your First-In button and you did turn first, you automatically get [that artist],” Morrissey explained.
Guest advisers will join the coaches
The four coaches will also bring major guest advisers into the Battle Rounds.
Queen Latifah has chosen someone she considers her mentor, while Levine will work with a “young, very big pop star.” Green has brought in a major country artist with whom he has recorded songs and who currently has a big song out with him.
Clarkson’s adviser is described as an award-winning multi-hyphenate.
Both Green and Latifah are already set to return for Season 31’s The Voice: Celebrity spinoff next year, with Keke Palmer serving as host.
When does The Voice Season 30 premiere?
The Voice Season 30 premieres on Monday, September 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.
The first week will include three episodes:
- Monday, September 21: 8–10 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, September 22: 8–9 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, September 23: 8–9 p.m. ET
The season will begin with the Blind Auditions, giving viewers three nights of chair turns before the competition continues.
Fans react to the Season 30 changes
The return of live shows has already sparked discussion among fans. One viewer said they were wondering who the coaches’ Battle advisers would be, while another predicted that Clarkson’s adviser could be someone “VERY famous.”
Some fans also questioned how real-time voting will work for viewers on the West Coast, while others welcomed the return of a longer live-show format.
“Great News! I felt cheated last season with shortened season and highly edited episodes,” one fan wrote.
Another viewer admitted they were interested to see how the new format plays out, despite having known about the six-week live-show plan for some time.
After a scaled-back Season 29, The Voice is now betting on a return to the format that made it a longtime NBC favorite. With live shows, real-time voting, new gameplay and two new coaches, Season 30 is set to bring the competition closer to its original formula.