Kelly Clarkson Makes Iconic Return to 'The Voice' and Wows Fans with Her Hair Transformation

There's something different in the red chair this season, and it's not just the format. With a confident smile and a bold new look, Kelly Clarkson reclaims her coaching spot on "The Voice," igniting a wave of nostalgia, excitement, and curiosity among fans.

Kelly Clarkson is officially back on "The Voice", and fans couldn't be more thrilled. The pop powerhouse returned to NBC's hit singing competition for the upcoming Battle of Champions Spring 2026 season.

Dressed in a crisp white button-down shirt with an untied black bow tie draped loosely around her neck, Clarkson paired her top with sleek black pants and black heels that peeked out beneath the chair.

With her short, tousled blonde hair framing her face stylishly, and her classic red lipstick complementing her polished look, she sat confidently in the iconic red coach's chair, exuding poise and authority.

The new look appeared on The Voice's official Instagram page, where one fan excitedly commented, "Kelly being back is everything!❤️" Another declared, "Kelly is back… now we all go back to watching it! 😂" A third gushed, "Kelly's back!!!! I'm so excited! Three of my favorite coaches!💜"

The show also released a teaser reel via Facebook, celebrating the returning lineup. Reactions to Clarkson's transformation were mixed, but mostly positive.

One viewer asked, "When did Kelly cut her hair?" while another admitted, "That's not Kelly I know totally different person. .[sic]" Others couldn't help but cheer her on, with a Facebook commenter praising, "No one noticing how healthy & great Kelly is looking here? Way to go girl! [sic]"

Clarkson, known for her warmth, humor, and powerhouse vocals, previously served as a coach on "The Voice" before stepping away to focus on her personal life.

Behind the polished image is a personal journey that has deeply shaped Clarkson's comeback. In an interview with USA Today, the singer opened up on why she left the show.

She had spread herself so thin, leading to her exit from the show last spring. "Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life," she said.

"I've learned a lot about what I'm capable of handling, and also what you should not handle," she explained. "That was me saying 'bye' to 'The Voice,' and having this big move. I love that family, but I was like, 'I'm struggling. I can't smile anymore. I don't feel like smiling.'"

Clarkson divorced Brian Blackstock in 2021. Following her divorce from Blackstock, she eventually relocated to New York City to begin a new chapter with her two children, River Rose and Remington.

"I'll be real honest: I thought I was making a horrible decision," she said of the move. "I knew I needed a fresh start and couldn't be in LA. I really wanted to be in Montana, but you can't really do a show from there quite yet. So I was like, 'The only other option would probably be New York.'"

After her divorce from Blackstock and starting a new chapter in New York, the powerhouse coach on "The Voice" admitted that she's the happiest she's ever been in a long time.

Her return to "The Voice," paired with the fresh new look, signals an exciting new chapter for both Clarkson and the show. She rejoins fellow red chair veterans Adam Levine and John Legend in this new season, which promises to be unlike any other in the show's history.

According to NBC, "The Voice" season 29 is throwing out the old playbook as the all-star Coach lineup gets ready to go for gold. The season will be one of the most competitive yet.

This season will be all about fresh energy, bold changes, and the return of some of the most beloved alumni of the show. "The Voice: Battle of Champions" is set to premiere in spring 2026. The spring season will include four format changes designed to raise the bar.

The first is a triple turn competition, where Coaches will aim to earn the most 3-Chair Turns during the Blind Auditions. The Coach with the highest total earns a powerful advantage heading into the Battle rounds. The second is a super steal, where the Coach with the most 3-Chair Turns also earns a Super Steal, allowing them to override another Coach's steal during Battles.

The third is an in-season all-star competition, where each Coach will bring back two Artists from their former teams to compete in live Knockout sing-offs.

CeeLo Green returns in a special role to judge these matchups and decide which Coach secures a second spot in the finale. The final format change is a new voting system for the semi-finals and finale.

For the final stage, voting will be conducted live in-studio by super fans and past Voice Artists, giving the results a unique and immediate edge.

Promoted as a historic season, season 29 marks a bold evolution for the series, both in format and flair. And Clarkson's return is at the heart of it all.

Her reappearance comes as a welcome surprise to longtime fans. Fans can catch Clarkson, Levine, and Legend when "The Voice" returns in spring.