Last year, Michael Bublé became only the fourth new coach on The Voice to have a winning artist in his debut season.
Bublé coached Sofronio Vasquez, who won Season 26, putting him up there with Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Niall Horan, who also coached winners after immediately joining the NBC singing competition.
Kelsea Ballerini, who joined the show in Season 27, wants to replicate Bublé’s success this season but is aware that what’s really important for artists on the show is having a “moment.”
“I am competitive. I think when I first started, like during the blind [auditions], I was very I really wanted to win,” the pop star said during a panel conversation at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety event.
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“That shifted now that we’re deeper into the season, and just having conversations off camera, either with [showrunner and executive producer] Audrey [Morrissey] and the producers or the other coaches, the win really is knowing that these artists are having these moments, and whether it’s the finale where they win and that’s attached to one of us, or it’s the knockouts, and they don’t make it past that, but it’s an impactful moment on the show and for their career, that’s a win.”
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Ballerini is joined on the revolving chairs by Bublé, Legend and Adam Levine on the show, which has helped stars such as Morgan Wallen, Cassadee Pope, Koryn Hawthorne and Nicolle Galyon.
The “Love Me Like You Mean It” star admitted that she’s even had to “rewire” her own version of success. “What is the end goal? What is the win? It used to be a number one or a certain award, and those things are amazing, and knock on all the wood around me, those are a part of my career for a while, but I think it is just finding those moments that feel impactful and connective. You’re seeing that every episode for people. So do I want to win? [Absolutely]. But am I happy to just see these artists on every team have moments? I really am,” she added.
The Voice airs two seasons a year on NBC, one in the spring and one in the fall. It is produced by MGM Television, Warner Bros Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, and ITV Studios, with Morrissey serving as showrunner and EP alongside Mark Burnett, Amanda Zucker, Kyra Thompson, Adam H. Sher and Barry Poznick.
Ballerini appeared as a comeback stage coach in 2018 and a battle advisor for Team Kelly in 2019 before subbing in for Clarkson as coach during the battle rounds in 2021.
Morrissey told Deadline that when they saw Ballerini in action, she “took to it really quickly.”
“That’s not easy. That moment when she subbed in for Kelly was an eye opener. She did her homework on the team, was on time, looking gorgeous and wide awake and the show didn’t skip a beat,” she said. “She’s so lovely, funny and real. If you were to design a perfect Voice coach, there she is.”
Check back Monday for the panel video.
The post Kelsea Ballerini Wants To Win ‘The Voice’, But She Knows It’s Really About The “Moments” – Contenders TV: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety appeared first on Deadline.
