'The Voice' Returns September 21 with a Coach Lineup That's Already Dividing Fans — Photos

The chairs are set, the coaches are ready, and The Voice is heading back to NBC on September 21. But while the new Season 30 lineup promises a mix of familiar faces and fresh energy, fans have already made it clear that not everyone is thrilled about who is sitting in those famous red chairs.

NBC is bringing back Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine while welcoming first-time coaches Queen Latifah and Riley Green. The show will begin with a three-night premiere starting September 21 at 8/7c, with episodes available the following day on Peacock.

The official The Voice Instagram account introduced the new lineup with a series of portraits featuring the four coaches and longtime host Carson Daly.

The first group photo was captioned, "The Queen, the cowboy, the rockstar and the idol. ⭐️ The Voice returns for a three-night premiere starting Sept 21 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock."

Queen Latifah was then introduced with the playful declaration, "Queen Latifah is here to reign. 👑 The Voice returns for a three-night premiere starting Sept 21 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock."

Green's country credentials got their own spotlight, with the post saying, "Riley Green brings his southern charm to the Voice chair. 🤠 The Voice returns for a three-night premiere starting Sept 21 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock."

Clarkson, meanwhile, was presented as a familiar favorite: "Kelly Clarkson is back to win it all. 🌟 The Voice returns for a three-night premiere starting Sept 21 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock."

And Daly, who remains the familiar face connecting the coaches and contestants, received his own introduction: "The man you know and love: Carson Daly! The Voice returns for a three-night premiere starting Sept 21 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock."

The Lineup Has a Little Bit of Everything

There is plenty to get excited about on paper. Clarkson is returning for her 11th season as a coach, while Levine is heading into his 19th season with the show. Latifah and Green are the newcomers to the coaching panel, though Green is not entirely unfamiliar with the Voice stage, having previously performed during the finales for Seasons 26 and 28.

According to E!, Latifah's arrival gives the show a coach who brings experience as a Grammy-winning musician, rapper, producer, and record label president, as well as an Oscar-nominated acting career.

Levine's return was confirmed by PEOPLE in April. Season 30 marks his 19th season as a coach, following his return in Season 27, his absence in Season 28, and his return again for Season 29.

Levine also had some momentum going into Season 30: His contestant Alexia Jayy won Season 29, giving him another championship after previous victories with Javier Colon, Tessanne Chin and Jordan Smith.

"I will be back," Levine told PEOPLE. "I'm having so much fun doing it. Since I came back a few seasons ago, it's just been a blast, and I'm super happy to keep it going as long as they'll have me."

Then the Comment Section Took a Turn

The excitement did not exactly stop at the announcement. On Instagram, some viewers embraced the new lineup. One commenter wrote, "Can't wait! What a great group of judges!!❤️❤️❤️❤️" Another commenter wrote, "Looking stunning, coaches and host 🔥😍😎 I'm counting down the days 🗓️ One of my favorite shows 😍"

But amid the enthusiasm, a very different conversation began taking over. One commenter wrote, "The show will never be the same until Blake comes back. End of story." Another commenter wrote, "Totally not interested this year."

A third commenter wrote, "Bring back Blake." And then there was the blunt assessment of Levine's return. One commenter wrote, "Having Adam on is a choice lol."

The Facebook Comments Tell an Even Sharper Story

The same divide showed up on the show's Facebook post, where viewers also split between excitement over the new coaches and frustration over the absence of Shelton. One Facebook commenter wrote, "Guess I gotta Google the blake Shelton stand in [sic]." Another commenter wrote, "I can't wait. Still miss Blake. Lol."

And Shelton's absence remained a recurring complaint, with one commenter writing, "Not the same after Blake left. Lacking some personality." Another fan made the Shelton preference unmistakable, writing, "I think Blake Shelton should be back on voice he the best [sic]." A different person wrote, "I am super excited! Let’s start the countdown….12 more days!"

But the enthusiasm quickly gave way to criticism of Levine. One commenter wrote, "I say no to Adam." Another commenter wrote, "Love everything about this with the exception of Adam."

One viewer aimed at both newcomers, writing, "NO no no sorry, not a fan of Queen or Adam!!!" Another commenter questioned Levine's continued presence, writing, "Still wondering why they brought Adam back." Someone else asked, "Why is Adam still there?"

Why Adam Levine Is Getting the Side-Eye

The criticism of Levine is not entirely coming out of nowhere. The Maroon 5 frontman has been at the center of Voice controversy before, including a particularly heated Season 15 elimination in 2018.

As Entertainment Tonight reported at the time, Levine fought to save Reagan Strange after she was too sick to perform in the Instant Save sing-off, while DeAndre Nico still had to perform for his place in the competition.

Nico was ultimately eliminated, and Levine faced accusations from viewers that he had played favorites. Nico subsequently spoke to 12NewsNow outlet about the situation. "It was just weird, 'cause I just felt like, I'm not being rude, I just felt like [Levine] sold me out, you know?" Nico said. "And I just don't respect it. Just being honest."

Nico continued, "We did our job," before arguing that he had returned to perform after recovering from laryngitis and wished Levine had spoken up for him. Levine attempted to smooth things over afterward, saying, "It was a strange week, but it's over now. DeAndre's my boy," before adding that the two had talked.

The old controversy does not necessarily explain every negative reaction to Levine's Season 30 return, but it does give some context to why his name can still generate strong opinions among longtime viewers.

And there is another twist: Levine is not the only returning coach whose past relationship with the show is part of the Season 30 conversation.

Blake Shelton's Exit Still Hangs Over the Show

Shelton left The Voice after 23 seasons, ending a run that began with the show's inaugural season and made him one of its defining personalities. He announced his departure in an October 2022 Instagram post, writing, "I've been wrestling with this for a while, and I've decided that it's time for me to step away from The Voice after next season."

Shelton described the series as something that had changed his life and said it would "always feel like home to me." He also thanked the show's crew, producers, fellow coaches, Carson Daly and, importantly, the singers who chose him as their coach.

But his decision was not simply about walking away from television. In his December 2022 PEOPLE cover story, Shelton explained that he wanted to prioritize his family life with Gwen Stefani and her three sons, Kingston, Zuma and Apollo.

"If I walked away from my career at this time, the only thing that I run the risk of is having regrets that I'm missing out on some more important things in life. For now, that's our kids. This isn't about me anymore and never will be again," Shelton said.

He added, "Even though I'm a stepparent, I take that job very seriously. The kids see me as a very important person in their life," before explaining that hearing the children ask why he was not around affected him deeply.

Shelton's reasoning was also documented by Access Hollywood, which reported in December 2022 that he was focusing on his family after wrapping Season 22.

In a later appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Shelton revealed that his departure actually came later than he had originally expected. "I don't know, I may have said this, but I had planned on — season 20 sounded like a good one to go out on — a good number, and then you know that was right in the middle of COVID, and you know I didn't want to walk out."

"I mean, these people have become my family the producers and the network- yeah, and so I just wanted to get through, you know, 'the not knowing what we're going to be able to do phase of the show.'"

"And so now they have time to go and find who the right person is to take my seat and, you know, I wanted to give them a chance to do that before I just left them high and dry," he added. He also said leaving would give him more time to think about his music career and what kind of record he wanted to make.

And Now Shelton Has His Own Music Competition

Shelton may have left The Voice, but he has hardly disappeared from the world of music television. In 2024, it was announced that he was teaming with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan on The Road, a CBS singing competition built around the realities of life on tour.

According to reports, the series follows a music superstar as emerging singers join the headliner on tour, perform as opening acts, and compete to win over local audiences so they can continue to the next city.

CBS described the concept as a backstage look at the "gritty and unforgiving" life of a touring artist, with performers piling into a tour bus and facing the demanding schedule that comes with chasing a music career. Shelton said at the time, "I'm a big fan of Taylor's incredible work, and I'm excited to team with him and my long-time collaborator, Lee, on 'The Road.'"

"I know a thing or two about singing competitions and what it’s like to chase a music dream and live life on tour," he continued. "I'm looking forward to discovering new talent and giving them this platform."

Sheridan envisioned something considerably different from the polished television competition format Shelton had spent years inhabiting. "There is a revolution taking place in country music. Building a platform with Blake for the next leaders of that revolution is an incredibly exciting venture," Sheridan said.

"No more shiny floors and studio audiences. This is where the rubber meets the road — literally. Get in the van, go to the next town and win the crowd. Do it enough, and you become the next leader. Simple as that."

The series was produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, David Glasser's 101 Studios and Shelton and Lee Metzger's Lucky Horseshoe Productions, with Sheridan, Glasser, Shelton and Metzger serving as executive producers.

The project eventually landed Keith Urban as its headlining superstar. CBS News reported that Urban would lead the series, with emerging artists serving as his opening acts and audiences helping determine which performers would continue on the road.

So Blake Shelton is no longer sitting in a Voice chair — but he is still helping shape the next generation of singers from a different one.