“I’ve felt so invested”—Former The Voice coach Ariana Grande explains why she will never return to the show

Ariana Grande, who served as a coach on The Voice in season 21, recently opened up about why she can't return to the hit singing competition show. In an interview on the Las Culturistas podcast on November 6, 2024, Grande stated that while she enjoyed her time on the show, she found herself getting "too emotionally invested."

“I got so emotionally attached to everyone. That’s my problem. I really get in there with everyone. I love meeting people, and I’ve felt so invested.” she said.

During Grande’s stint on The Voice, she would often reference her hit songs to initiate playful exchanges with her fellow coaches.

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Grande’s time on The Voice

Ariana Grande joined The Voice for season 21, alongside coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Blake Shelton. During her time on the show, Grande coached several talented singers, but it was Kelly Clarkson who ultimately took the win. Clarkson’s team, led by the sibling trio Girl Named Tom, claimed the season's title.

During the latest Las Culturistas podcast, Grande praised her fellow coach Clarkson, calling her "the best in the world" and "f---ing incredible."

Grande’s dynamic with the other coaches, including Clarkson and long-time coach Blake Shelton, was a highlight of season 21. However, despite her fond memories from the first season, the Thank U, Next singer confirmed that she wouldn’t be returning to the show, citing the toll it took on her emotionally.

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Current coaches and latest updates on The Voice

As The Voice continues with season 26, the show features a new panel of coaches, including Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire, and Snoop Dogg. The current season is now in the Knockouts round, where contestants face off in head-to-head performances.

Each coach has assembled a team of nine contestants who will compete to secure their spot in the Playoffs. In this round, coaches will have the difficult task of whittling their teams down to five performers.

The Knockouts round has already delivered emotional moments, especially with Snoop Dogg, who had a heartfelt exchange with contestant Austyns Stancil during rehearsals. Stancil’s performance of Luther Vandross’s Dance with My Father, a tribute to his late father, moved Snoop to tears, recalling memories of his own family losses.

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Updated teams for The Voice season 26

As the competition progresses, each coach has made significant decisions regarding their teams. The current team standings are as follows:

• Team Snoop: Aliyah Khaylyn, Austyns Stancil, ChrisDeo, Christina Eagle, Georgia Starnes, Mary McAvoy, Mikaela Ayira, Torre Blake
• Team Reba: Adam Bohanan, Danny Joseph, Frankie Torres, Katie O, Kendall Eugene, Lauren-Michael Sellers, Tate Renner
• Team Gwen: Felsmere, Gabrielle Zabosky, Jake Tankersley, Jan Dan, Jose Luis, Kay Sibal, Mor Ilderton, Sydney Sterlace
• Team Bublé: Cameron Wright, Edward Preble, J.Paul, Jaukeem Fortson, Jeremy Beloate, Kiara Vega, Shye, Sloane Simon, Sofronio Vasquez

The Knockouts have already seen intense competition, with the coaches exercising their save and steal options to retain or acquire standout performers. Christina Eagle, a standout on Team Snoop, was saved by Snoop after a powerful performance in episode 13. Similarly, Jake Tankersley, originally on Team Snoop, was stolen by Gwen Stefani after a strong showing in his knockout round.

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Watch The Voice on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.