The upcoming season will feature an all-celebrity lineup for the first time, with Riley Green and Queen Latifah returning as coaches alongside newcomer Joe Jonas.

The celebrities joining The Voice for Season 31 may be better prepared to compete than viewers expect.

Executive producer Audrey Morrissey told TV Insider that the upcoming installment, which marks the show’s first-ever season featuring only celebrity contestants, brought out a surprisingly intense competitive spirit among its participants. Rather than simply appearing for fun or enjoying a brief moment in the spotlight, the stars took the singing competition seriously.

“Unlike some other shows that involve celebrities, the idea of this show is not to teach people how to sing,” Morrissey explained. “They have to be able to legitimately sing and turn a [coach’s] chair. It’s like, ‘Who’s going to put themselves out there as themselves singing to the backs of red chairs?’ It’s super vulnerable.”

The casting approach focuses on people who may already be famous in other fields but have the vocal ability to compete on the NBC series. That could include athletes, actors and reality television personalities who have a talent for singing, even if they are not established professional recording artists.

The goal, Morrissey emphasized, was to find contestants who could genuinely impress the coaches rather than participants who were simply looking for television exposure.

The celebrity contestants are ready to compete

Although the production team expected the famous participants to bring their own personalities to the show, Morrissey admitted that their determination surprised her.

“I don’t think any of us fully anticipated how competitive they would be,” she said. “And then you realize, ‘Oh, they didn’t get to where they are by accident. These people grind it out. They put in the work. They want to be the best they can be.’”

Their dedication has made the filming experience especially energizing for the team. Morrissey described working on the celebrity season as “really invigorating” and said she expects audiences to find the new format “really fun.”

Season 31 will also bring some familiar faces back to the coaching panel. Riley Green and Queen Latifah, who made their coaching debuts in Season 30, will return, while Joe Jonas joins the lineup as a new coach. Keke Palmer will host the upcoming season.

The new installment is scheduled to air on NBC in spring 2027, giving viewers a chance to see how the celebrity contestants fare when they step into the competition.

Season 30 continues with the Battle Rounds

For now, The Voice is still in the middle of Season 30, featuring Green, Latifah, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine in the iconic red chairs.

The coaches are currently narrowing down their teams during the Battle Rounds, with Cut Week set to follow. After that, the competition will move into six weeks of live shows before viewers across America vote to determine the winner.

With Season 31 promising a different kind of lineup, the series is preparing to put a new spin on its familiar format. And if Morrissey’s comments are any indication, the celebrity contestants may be taking the competition just as seriously as any aspiring singer who has ever stepped onto the stage.

The Voice Season 31 is expected in spring 2027 on NBC. Season 30 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Source: Compiled from various sources