People Magazine (March 8th 2021)
The Voice Turns 10!
For a decade, the hit singing competition has made dreams come true for aspiring stars - and its coaches.
When The Voice debuted 10 years ago on NBC, no one knew what a splash it would make - including Blake Shelton. “To be honest, I didn’t think the show was gonna last,” says the country superstar, 44, who coached alongside Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine during the singing competition show’s inaugural season. "
“In fact, one of the first conversations I ever had with Adam was, "‘Man, how stupid is this?’” But The Voice was a smash hit from the start, with its focus on pure vocal talent rather than contestant antics - plus the appealing, over-the-top personalities of its coaches - drawing 14.4 million viewers in its first season. Ten years later the show has welcome 14 A-List coaches, crowded 19 winners and, with 110 million viewers across all platforms a year, become the most-watched TV show of the past decade. “It’s inconceivable,” says host and producer Carson Daly, 47, of how far The Voice has come. “We’re very aware of how lucky we’ve been to be a part of this show. It’s a dream job.” Ahead of the season 20 premiere (airing March 1 at 8pm), Daly, Shelton and returning coaches Kelly Clarkson, 38, John Legend, 42, and Nick Jonas, 28, chatted with People over Zoom about how the show led them to love, friendship and Sexiest Man Alive glory.
Blake and Carson, you’ve been these from the very beginning. How has the show changed your lives?
Carson Daly: We started talking about the shows in 2009. My [now-wife, Siri Pinter] was pregnant, I overextended myself on a house, and my late-night show was about to get taken off of NBC because of a feud between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. It was just a blessing to have the employment.
Blake Shelton: When I started with the show, I had been making records for 10 years with some success and some pitfalls. There were times where it was like, “Man, is my label gonna drop me?” The one thing I think attracted the producers to me was the fact that people knew mw as a smart-ass.
Blake, you met your fiancée, Gwen Stefani, when she joined the show as a coach for season 7 in 2014. What was your first impression of her?
Shelton: She had just had a baby [Apollo, with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale], so there wasn’t even much of a friendship. The thing I remember saying about her when people would ask was, “Oh my God, that girl is unbelievable. She drives a minivan!” I thought rock stars drove Rolls-Royces.
Former Voice coach Miley Cyrus made an offer to be your wedding singer. Will you take her up that that?
Shelton: Miley is one of the most talented singers I have ever met. She even said, “I promise to be on my best behavior.” But I still say Adam owes me a full-band performance with Maroon 5, mostly because I want it to cost him.
Three of the show’s coaches have been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive: Adam in 2013, Blake in 2017 and John in 2019.
John Legend: I sat next to Blake long enough that his sexiness rubbed off on me. I learned all his ways.
Nick Jonas: That made me laugh out loud!
Kelly Clarkson: It made me vomit a little.
Legend: Nick is next to Blake this season, so I feel like it’s going to happen for you, Nick.
Jonas: I would feel like I was in very odd company, given the fact that John and Blake were both Sexiest Men.
Clarkson: At this point, I have a chance!