Just days after Season 16 of The Voice wrapped up, it was announced that longtime coach Adam Levine would not return for the 17th season in the fall. This news shocked fans, since it was previously announced that Levine planned to coach the 17th season.
Prior three-time coach Gwen Stefani stepped up to be Levine’s last-minute replacement. Filming for the 17th season started soon after she joined fellow coaches Blake Shelton, John Legend, and Kelly Clarkson.
https://www.instagram.com/p/By0j0jklqJg/
In the lead-up to season 17’s premiere on September 23, The Voice released some preview clips of the season. Then, on September 13, The Voice shared a clip that has now become a tradition…the coach collaboration.
For the longest time, all four Voice coaches have joined together at the start of a new season in a group performance. One year, the coaches sang Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
Prior to Season 14, the coaches paired off, with Levine and Shelton singing “Fly Me to the Moon,” and Clarkson and Alicia Keys performing “Feeling Good.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-DX7BSlkhw
Season 17 marks the first time that the coaches were left to deliver a group performance without Levine. With Stefani in Levine’s place, the coaches also had host Carson Daly join them for their performance, which is something we haven’t seen before.
The group chose to perform the 90s rock hit “More Than Words,” which was released by the rock band Extreme. “More Than Words” topped various charts around the world, including the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Clarkson kicked off the song singing on her own, and the other coaches then jumped in to sing their own solos. Shelton and Daly played guitar for the group, and other than the sounds of those acoustic guitars, the coaches sang without any instrumental backup.
The result was an intimate performance that may be one of the most meaningful things we’ve seen from the Voice coaches to date. You can witness it below.
After watching this, we can’t wait to see what else the coaches have in store for us on the new Voice season.