-Oh, I am so excited for day one.
This is season 21. And we have Ariana Grande here, guys.
-Ber-ber-ber! -Ber-ber-ber!
[ Rasta horn blares ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Ariana, welcome to "The Voice."
-Thank you. -My goodness.
Thank you so much!
-We are so happy to have you as the newest member of our family.
-Thank you. I'm very happy to be here.
I'm a big fan of the show, and I'm so happy to be here.
-You know, I've seen a lot of different coaches
over the years doing this panel.
I don't think I've ever heard a reaction
quite like the reaction that we get
when Ariana Grande walks in here from our live studio audience.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
My ears are still ringing from when she walked out
and introduced herself to the crowd.
It's unbelievable.
Is everybody in here just obsessed with Ariana?
There's other things, too! -[ Cheers and applause ]
You can tell she's been a fan of the show for a long time.
She's awesome behind the scenes
in the hallway, in the dressing rooms and meetings.
-Give you my point of view here.
Looking great with this filter.
-Hello, everybody!
-Hey!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
-It's so crazy -- people. I guess I'm not used to it yet.
I mean, every new coach kind of brings a different kind of vibe,
but I will tell you, we were very excited about Ariana.
Like, she's just so youthful,
and, like, she has like a billion followers,
and, like, she's just so relevant right now.
I'm pretty sure Ariana has, like, the most followers
on the planet.
-[ Cheers and applause ] -So...
I'm just saying, like, if I were you...
I'm just like, "Wow. Maybe I would want to go
with someone who is going to get some mad voting action."
-I didn't want to go there. -And that is --
I mean, she's new on here, but I'm just saying
we're all afraid of her, so...
And she's also a sweetheart and very clever, very witty.
Her humor, man, it's so quick.
But sometimes you're like, "Wait. What?"
-Hey, did you happen to see how last season ended, by the way?
-Oh, I did. -Okay. Yeah. Just wondered.
-But that's why I'm here.
-Hey!
[ Laughter ]
-I think Ariana may be one of the biggest artists
we've ever had on the show, who's in their prime,
huge following, on the top of the charts,
who's doing everything so well as an artist.
For her to be a coach on "The Voice,"
we're so lucky to have her.
-[Chanting] Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari!
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Can we have a different studio audience, please?
-This season, I hope that I am bringing joy.
I hope I'm bringing laughs. I'll do anything for a laugh.
-Look, Kelly watched a documentary on country music.
How can I ever compete with that?
-Can Ariana and I talk at all?
-Anybody who says... -No.
-...they don't understand the value...
-Do you want to get a snack, actually?
-Yeah, let's get a snack. -We'll come back.
-See you guys later. -...whiny country voice...
-Do you want anything?
And I hope I'm bringing some good advice.
I really just want to be helpful to these artists
and help them execute their vision for their careers
and for their lives and for their sounds.
I want to be a sounding board and help them
get to where they're going, with or without me.
I know that I'm new here, and you don't and you don't --
You guys don't know me as a coach yet.
But I want to guide you in this competition.
I want to help you sing the right song
and help you get to where you want to go as an artist.
I want to help you get to the healthiest place
with your instrument that you've ever been in in your life.
I would love to work together and be your coach.
-[ Cheers and applause ] -Trust me.
I want to help you become one of the biggest artists you can be.
I want to help you win this thing and then have a career.
I want to be here to do the real work.
I want to be that for you.
Let me -- Let me prove myself and do the work for you.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I have to go now? Are you kidding? I can't --
Oh, this is too much right now. I feel insane.
I am so thankful to have crossed paths with you both.
I love you so much.
This show is part of a bigger picture.
You know what I mean? -Yeah.
-And our paths were meant to cross.
And this is such a beautiful gift to know you,
to see you perform,
to grow in this space, to get to know you.
I can't get over how brilliant you are
and just what an honor it's been to work with you.
And I just -- I am so incredibly grateful.
And I'm not going anywhere. You can't get rid of me.
I'm gonna be here.
And I can't wait to work together
and support you forever, and I don't know --
What the evil thing to have to tell you at a time like this.
Oh, God. Okay. Anyway. Is it over?
-I think you got it all in, Ari.
-Hello, America. Thank you. This is the best day of my life.
Jim and Sasha were in the instant save last week.
-America instantly saved Jim and Sasha Allen!
-America, thank you so much.
You will not regret this.
Don't scare us like that ever again.
You're not allowed.
John and I were laughing when you came out
and they lost their mind.
It was like really loud, louder than ours.
But it was not compared to yours.
-Not the same. -That is not true.
-Welcome to "The Voice," as I was saying.
We're happy to have you. -It's been three months.
How are you all feeling?
I'm good. I'm excited to hear what --
Oh, don't? I wanted to come say hi.
-There are steps over here. -Okay.
-We just didn't want you to fall.
-Thank you so much because I would have.
It is ele-- [ Man shouts ]
[ Laughs ] -Take two!
-And no. -Grande!
And Blake!
-Are we doing, like -- -Is something happening?
-Or like Girl Scout? -I'm finding out now.
-Yeah, what's the energy? [ Laughter ]
You're ready. John's ready. -It's Jackson or Janet.
Which one? -I'm a robot.
-Ariana? -Hello. Oh, here. Sorry.
How much do I love my team?
Well, don't get me started.
-Oh, my gosh, are you still eating the cake?
-Shelton! -Sure.
-That is large. -It's good.
I've been here for 500 episodes.
I would give you guys a piece, but this is the last piece.
-Oh, okay. -That's the last piece?
-Yeah, that makes sense. -This is the last piece of cake.
I'll be out there in a minute.
-It's okay. -Okay, take your time.
-It doesn't look like there's enough for us anyway.
-Yeah. No, there's not. -It's a single serving.
-[ Laughing ] It's a single serving.
-Mmm. -Aah!
[ Both screaming ]
My adviser is the one and only Kristin Chenoweth.
-I missed you. -Oh, my God. I'm so happy.
Thank you so much for doing this.
You have no idea what it means to me.
I have grown up worshiping and studying Kristin.
I will never forget the first time I met you.
I was 10 years old and I came backstage at "Wicked."
-Yes. Your nana said, "My granddaughter can sing."
You sang, and that's when I knew.
I mean, 10 years old. -Oh, God.
She has originated some of the most iconic roles of all time,
and I've been so blessed to learn from her,
from watching her, from later on in my life,
being able to work with her. -Oh, my!
[ Laughter ]
-Me every time I see you.
-Hi! Oh, my gosh!
-Come in!
-So I felt who better to bring with me to this space
than the person who I feel I've learned
the most from professionally? -I can't believe how far
you've come, and for you to invite me,
thank you because you know how much I love young talent,
and you are who they look up to so much.
-Because you're who I look up to the most.
-It makes me want to cry. Okay. -It's very exciting.
Look at everybody. [ Cheers and applause ]
They have been so warm and so welcoming
and so cute and so fun to talk to on the breaks.
-One thing I love is how much you talk to the audience.
It's cool. Like, you interact with them.
I think you interact more than anybody.
-It's irresistible to just talk to them.
-We love you! [ Screaming ]
-I love you guys too.
-I love you! -You are amazing!
-What are your names? -Damien.
-Katie. -Rachel.
-Manuel. -Nice to meet you guys.
-Nice to meet you!
-I literally just died. Ariana Grande knows my name.
-I love you so much, Jeremy, you know this.
I always look forward to your performances,
and I am not too familiar with this song.
And I don't know if I ever pictured
you singing a song like this,
which I suppose is the point of the week.
But you could sing the phone book and I'd be in.
You know what I mean? I just adore your voice.
I adore your energy, and I always look forward
to seeing you and you were phenomenal as always.
And I love you. -Thank you, Coach.
-How is this the three?
That doesn't make any sense.
What I don't understand -- I can't remember --
but to Holly specifically, I just have to say that, like,
working with you has been such an honor,
and I've learned so much from you, too.
I can't tell you how brilliant you are as a vocalist,
as a performer, as an artist,
as a friend, as a mama, as everything.
You are just such a brilliant human being,
and I'm so thankful for this time with you,
and I can't wait for so much more.
We're gonna work together. We're gonna --
I can't wait for your record. I can't wait for everything.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Everybody up there, I'm standing for life. Sorry.
This is silly. -Thank you, coach.
Do you and Blake have a rivalry?
Because sometimes I see you guys toasting...
-Kind of feels like an alliance. -...fist-bumping.
I don't know if it's an alliance or a rivalry.
Blake is very nice and ally-ish. -When it suits him.
-When it benefits him.
-Look, Ariana's the new coach here,
and I'm extending an olive branch.
When I'm not in the mix, I'm trying to help the kid out.
Hey, that's Ariana Grande. Look how awesome she is,
by the way. -What's happening?
Why is he being nice? [ Laughter ]
-Never trust him. -I don't.
-I know, out of the other three coaches,
who has the most savage and active fan base.
-Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari! Ari!
Can we have a different studio audience, please?
And I want Ariana fans on my side.
Actually, one of the reasons I'm a fan of Ariana's
is that there's nothing she can't sing.
-Where's this going? -That's a pure compliment.
-I'm waiting for it. I'm waiting for it.
Wait. It's still coming. -No, it's not.
-I don't know what the heck Blake Shelton's
deal is right now.
He keeps rooting for Ariana.
Like, every time I'm against Ariana
or John's against Ariana,
he's wearing a cheerleading uniform
with her name on it. I'm like,
"She is Ariana Grande. She don't need your help."
-I can't really tell what our genuine thing is here.
-He's been advocating for you a lot.
-But I am aware -- I'm well aware that it's a part
of your big-picture plan. -It could be sabotage.
-Interesting. I feel like Blake might be
sucking up to Ariana.
Maybe he's sucking up to her fans by sucking up to her.
I don't know what he's trying to do,
but he keeps nudging people toward Ariana.
-I can have an unbiased opinion here
and try to help you choose Ariana as your coach.
-Oh, my goodness. -Blake Shelton
is a very smart man, and I think he plays a very good game,
as we've seen on this show.
I really think she is going to kick some butt this season.
Oh, I see what's happening. I see it.
And I'm flattered.
However, I'm not falling for it.
It's a really nice tactic.
I know that you're attempting to use it to win.
I just don't know that it's going to work.
-Can't you just take it as I look at you
like a granddaughter, that' type of thing?
Like, one of those type of things,
and I'm trying to be protective of you, yeah.
Look, I don't want there to be any misconceptions out there.
Ariana is my competition.
Yes, I do help her occasionally in these blind auditions,
but that's only when I'm not involved.
Ariana, she could be the greatest coach
we've ever seen on "The Voice," but she could be the worst coach
that we've ever seen here on "The Voice."
In fact, I'm leaning... [ Laughter ]
-I don't have the same game that Blake has.
I know he's not my ally. He was never my ally.
I just play a very honest game.
So if someone's gonna ask me what team I think
that they should go with, I'm going to actually say
who I genuinely think that they should go with.
-Hey, Ariana. -What?
-Good buddy. [ Laughter ]
Don't you think I would be a great coach?
-You want my real opinion? -Depends.
[ Laughter ]
-Don't ask, then.
I'm sorry. I heard a large, loud, clunking shoe.
-That's that's what I sound like when I'm mad,
when I stomp my feet.
-Oh, yeah.
-'Cause I thought we were friends.
You stabbed me in the back.
-Oh, this is serious. Is this serious?
-You're not my granddaughter anymore.
-Grandpa, wait!
Where am I gonna go for Christmas now?
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪