Ariana Grande took the stage Monday night for the season premiere of The Voice on NBC as the show’s newest coach for the beginning of the blind auditions.
It was the first time for the 28-year-old pop singer to command the show’s iconic red swivel chairs, but it didn’t take her long before she got into competition.
Ariana soon learned how to fight the other seasoned coaches -Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton- to gain coveted contestants.
New coach:Â Ariana Grande took the stage Monday night for the season premiere of The Voice on NBC as the show’s newest coach for the beginning of the blind auditions
Season 21 of the hit show started with John, 42, and Blake, 45, singing ‘Hold On I’m Coming.’
Kelly, 39, and Ariana joined them on stage and belted out Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect.’
Ariana showed amazing range as her vocals soared to the higher registers while singing with Kelly, Blake and John.
‘I’ve been watching The Voice for years,’ Ariana said at the start of the show to the camera. ‘I wanted to be a coach because I loved the show. I have a lot of experience and I think my ears are better than my voice.’
Amazing range; The 28-year-old pop superstar showed amazing range as her vocals soared to the higher registers while singing with veteran coaches Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and John Legend
All the show judges chanted ‘Ari’ before the first contestant took the stage as Ariana smiled.
The first contestants were a trio who sang ‘Helplessly Hoping’ by Crosby, Stills & Nash. All four judges pressed their buzzers for their chairs to turn. The singing group of siblings was called ‘Girl Named Tom’ from Ohio.
Kelly told them she really wanted to work with them and that she was the first person to push her button. Blake said he didn’t understand why ‘being a spaz with the button is such a great thing.’ Ariana cut Blake off and he said ‘Thank You, Next.’
First up:Â The first contestants were a trio of siblings named ‘Girl Named Tom’ who sang ‘Helplessly Hoping’ by Crosby, Stills & Nash
John said ‘they are getting all your references in’ to Ariana as Blake referenced her hit song ‘Thank U, Next’.
Blake continued and told them he would be ‘damn proud’ to represent them. Ariana told them she was impressed.
‘I was surprised in the best way,’ said Ariana. ‘Well, pick me.’
The judges: Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Ariana and Blake Shelton turned their chairs for the trio
When Kelly started talking again to the contestants, both Ariana and Blake raised their hands to be called on like they were in class. Ariana told them that harmonies were her favorite things in the world and she was excited to see who they would pick. Ultimately, they picked Kelly.
‘They are so special,’ said Kelly. ‘I am shocked that they picked me.’
Ariana said to the camera after that ‘I wasn’t expecting it to be this cutthroat. I need to fight harder. I’m being too nice.’
Fan favorite: American Idol winner Kelly sang Respect with Ariana at the start of the show
She asked Blake for some tips and he said ‘talk over people, that’s what Kelly does.’
The next contestant was Katie Rae, 35, from Sacramento, California, who said she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her son. She sang ‘Bones’ by Maren Morris and all the judges except for Blake pressed their buzzer for her performance.
‘I love a strong powerhouse bad b**** vocalist, I’m obsessed,’ said Ariana. ‘I know I am new here. I’m trying to get better at fighting and pitching myself.’
Sacramento singer:Â The next contestant was Katie Rae, 35, from Sacramento, California, who said she suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her son
When John told her that it would be an honor to work with her, Ariana pressed a button that played ‘Thank U, Next.’ Kelly got out of her seat laughing.
John told Ariana that he loved that song and then got up and started dancing to it.
Kelly told Katie that she wanted her for her team because her ‘highs were incredible but your lows are magical. They are like sizzling butter.’
Like butter:Â Kelly told Katie that she wanted her for her team because her ‘highs were incredible but your lows are magical. They are like sizzling butter’
Ariana told Katie that she knew that both her and Kelly had babies and that she didn’t, but that she would have a baby to have her on her team.
‘I’m kidding,’ she added.
‘I might be new here but I have a lot of experience as well,’ said Ariana. ‘I crammed a lot into a tiny 10-year period of my life. I’ve been to hell and back and I would love to work together, create and sing and be your coach.’
The host: Carson Daly was back as host for season 21 of the NBC singing competition show
‘That was good,’ remarked Kelly.
Ultimately, Katie picked Ariana and the new coach gave her a lunch box filled with honey and teas to help her voice.
Next was contestant Peedy Chavis, 19, who sang Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel.’ Both John and Blake pressed their buzzer to turn around. Peedy told them Elvis was his hero and he had been infatuated with him ever since he was little. Blake told him that he also appreciated Elvis and wanted to be his coach.
Classic song:Â Peedy Chavis, 19, sang Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
Peedy chose Blake to be his coach and then took him over to his ‘win cam.’
John said in a confessional that Blake was pretty much unbearable to be around since he won The Voice again.
‘It’s tough guys ,’ John said.
Contestant Jonathan Mouton, 30, from Los Angeles. spoke about how he got stage four cancer after detecting a lump in his throat. He said he struggled during chemotherapy and thought about giving up. He said he didn’t and now had been five years cancer free. He sang the Bruno Mars song ‘Leave The Door Open.’
Cancer survivor:Â Contestant Jonathan Mouton, 30, from Los Angeles. spoke about how he got stage four cancer after detecting a lump in his throat
John and Ariana both turned around for his performance. ‘
You are spectacular, you can really sing,’ Ariana told him.
John told him he would have so much fun working together and he would be the first member of ‘Team Legend.’ Jonathan picked him and John gave him a black and white robe that said ‘Legend’ on the back.
Marco Salvador, 15, from Miami, took the stage. He said he wanted to be a crossover artist and sang ‘Bailamos’ by Enrique Iglesias but none of the judges pressed their buzzer.
Good effort:Â Marco Salvador, 15, from Miami, took the stage but failed to get any chairs to turn
Katherine Ann Mohler, 22, from Memphis, who was working on her master’s degree, performed next. She sang her own interpretation of Ella Eyre’s ‘We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off’ and at the last moment of the song both Ariana and Blake hit their buzzers.
Katherine, who was sporting a long Ariana style ponytail, told Ariana that she was obsessed with her. She told her that she even dressed up like Ariana for one Halloween. Blake told her he had zero to prove so that she should pick him as her coach.
Katherine picked Ariana.
Unique version:Â Katherine Ann Mohler, 22, from Memphis, who was working on her master’s degree, performed next
Blake accused the other judges of helping Ariana and not him. He asked if they could please get Cee Lo, and Shakira back and said ‘Where’s Gwen when I need her?’ before his chair turned back around.
Jack Rogan, 18, from Rochester, New York, took the stage next. He said his brother taught him how to play guitar. He said the blind audition would be his first real performance. He sang a cover of ‘House of the Rising Sun.’ John turned around immediately and Kelly wasn’t far behind.
Ariana said she was kind of mad she didn’t push but she would come to one of his concerts. John told him the gravity of his tone moved him. Kelly told him that his voice just got better and better.
Talented teenager:Â Jack Rogan, 18, from Rochester, New York, performed House Of The Rising Sun
Jack picked John and they hugged.
Kelly said they had heard zero country and then contestant Kinsey Rose, 35, from Nashville, took the stage and sang a country song. Kelly immediately turned around. Blake pressed his buzzer only to learn that Kelly blocked him. Ariana told her that she didn’t turn but that she loved her performance.
‘It felt so good to block Shelton,’ said Kelly .
Country singer:Â Kinsey Rose, 35, from Nashville, took the stage and sang a country song before picking Kelly as her coach
Vaughn Mugon, 27, was originally from the Philippines but lives in Beaumont Texas. He worked as a registered nurse and said he sings to his patients that are terminally ill. He performed Ed Sheeran’s ‘The A Team.’ All the judges except for Blake turned around.
‘That was so beautiful,’ said Ariana. She told them they would be a good team. John told him he was the first person to turn for him and would love to have him on team Legend.
‘I know that I’m new here and you guys don’t know me as a coach yet, but I want to guide you in this competition,’ Ariana told him. ‘I want to help you win this thing and have a career.’
Singing nurse:Â Vaughn Mugon, 27, was originally from the Philippines but lives in Beaumont, Texas
He picked Ariana. She got up and gave him a gift and a hug.
Gracie Nourbash, 18, from Glenview, Illinois, sang Zoe Wees ‘Control’ song but none of the judges turned around. Ariana told her she had a special big voice. Gracie showed her photos of the two of them together backstage at her Honeymoon tour.
Wendy Moten, 56, of Nashville, said she had a song once on the top 100 called ‘Coming Out Of The Rain ” but after her record deal ended she spent much of her career as a backup singer.
Talented teen:Â Gracie Nourbash, 18, from Glenview, Illinois, sang Zoe Wees ‘Control’ song but none of the judges turned around
The Voice host Carson Daly, 48, told her backstage to take a deep breath and to go out there and ‘get a chair to turn.’
Wendy sang The Beatles ‘We Can Work It Out’ and Blake immediately turned his chair around. All the other judges followed him except John who was blocked by Blake.
Ariana told her she was spectacular and needed to be at the forefront.
Backup singer:Â Wendy Moten, 56, of Nashville, said she had a song once on the top 100 called ‘Coming Out Of The Rain ” but after her record deal ended she spent much of her career as a backup singer
‘It’s time,’ she said.
Blake told her he would be honored to be her coach. Kelly told her she had a TV show. Ariana said she didn’t have a TV show, Kelly said that she had a billion followers.
‘I have a few,’ Ariana said.
Great voice:Â Wendy sang The Beatles ‘We Can Work It Out’ and Blake immediately turned his chair around and all the other judges followed him except John who was blocked by Blake
‘I have got to go with Blake’ Wendy said.
Blake took her over to his win cam to gloat.
The Voice will return Tuesday on NBC as the blind auditions continue.
Tough call:Â I have got to go with Blake’ Wendy said after being lobbied by the coaches
