The new season of The Voice hasn’t even started yet, and Queen Latifah has already cast a royal spell on the show’s audience. In a preview of the upcoming 30th season of the reality singing competition, the hip-hop legend can’t help smashing the button for a soulful singer doing his very best on “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins’ 1956 spooky-season classic “I Put a Spell on You.”
She can’t say enough about the burly cowboy contestant’s “raspy … beautiful” voice and his “command” of the song. “I’m the Queen and together we can command The Voice!,” she tells him enthusiastically in the one-minute sneak peek. Latifah’s clearly not kidding, as the camera cuts to a sea of in-studio fans wearing candy-colored, blinking crowns as they shout her name and the other judges quake in their boots.
Latifah is joining The Voice as a first-time coach for the upcoming season, which is slated to premiere on NBC on Sept. 21. She’ll take her red seat alongside returning coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson as well as fellow newbie “Worst Way” singer Riley Green.
“Guys? This is gonna be a problem,” frets four-time winner Levine, who was an OG judge on the show from season one in 2011 through season 16 in 2019, before taking five years off and returning for season 27 last year and season 29 earlier this year. “Adam, it was a nice run,” jokes Clarkson, who was a coach for 10 seasons (14-21, as well as 23 and 29) and is now back for her 11th go-round.
And while Latifah seems to be staging a palace coup, the preview also teases that Green’s rugged good looks and million-dollar smile might get him some extra, amorous attention from the contestants this year. “Riley’s a whole vibe,” Latifah sighs at one point, with Green wondering if that praise belongs emblazoned on the back of his red chair.
Former daytime talk show host Clarkson knows how to woo an audience as well, though. Asked by host Carson Daly if she has any advice for the new panelists, the competitive “Miss Independent” singer yelps, “No! I hope you lose!” As proof of what lengths she’ll go to win, when a female contestant professes love for the singer’s hair, Clarkson promises to give her some if she gets picked, then promptly yanks one of her extensions and holds it out as an offering.
The three-night season 30 premiere of The Voice begins on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.
Watch the Season 30 The Voice trailer below.
