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Reba McEntire is returning to The Voice to serve as the for Season 23, and the coaches welcomed her with open arms.
The country music icon, who previously served as a mentor to Team Blake during the first season of the singing competition show, is offering wise words of advice to all the contestants on this season.
Fans got a sneak peek of the upcoming knockout rounds where Reba has the chance to sit down with Chance the Rapper, Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan, and Blake Shelton to offer the remaining contestants tips on performing and connecting with a live audience.
In the preview clip, the coaches expressed their excitement over the opportunity to work with the Country Music Hall of Famer.
Longtime The Voice coach, Kelly Clarkson, who has a long history with Reba, was the first to gush over the “Fancy” singer.
“So the mega mentor this season is Reba McEntire. This is the raddest mega mentor we’ve ever had,” Kelly Clarkson shared. “So I love working with Reba. I love doing it in this capacity because she’s helped me tons musically as an artist. So it’s cool to watch her be able to do that for other people as well.”
Prior to their respective divorces, Reba was Kelly Clarkson’s mother-in-law. The pair previously collaborated on the re-recording of Clarkson’s 2004 hit “Because Of You,” on Reba’s 2007 duets album. They performed the song together at the 2007 ACM Awards and teamed up for an episode of CMT Crossroads that same year.
“I am so proud of Kelly. She has grown as an artist, as a teacher from when we first met in 2002 way back,” McEntire said of Clarkson. “So that’s how long we’ve known each other. She was a baby. She just matured into this wonderful woman that I am just so proud of and I love you with all my heart. That’s my truth.”
Blake Shelton also has a lengthy history with Reba. The pair previously co-hosted the ACM Awards and spent quite a bit of time together when Reba was married to Narvel Blackstock, Shelton’s longtime manager.
“Blake and I have been friends for a long time and every time we get back together it’s just like we haven’t been apart,” Reba explained of her connection to Shelton.
Having Reba on the show is a full-cirlce moment for Shelton, who bid farewell to the show after this season.
“Having Reba here… It’s just familiar territory for me because we’ve worked together a lot over the years…. , at least two ACM awards, maybe three,” Shelton said. “That was fun. Oh my God. And not to mention, you were my first mentor ever here on this show. Right? And you’re going to be my last mentor.”
“What does that say about our relationship?” Reba said, to which Shelton replied, “You brought me into this and now you’re taking me out. That’s what it means.”
“Heaven” singer Niall Horan also praised Reba McEntire, saying that it’s an “absolute honor to be in the presence of the absolute queen, Ms. McEntire.”
“I’m having a great time. She’s so fun. Lovely lady. And obviously clearly knows her stuff,” Horan added.
The avid golfer and former One Direction member then asked Reba if she played golf, to which she jokingly replied, “I play really good after one beer. I’m Tiger Woods level at two beers [and] at three I better quit.”
Reba then admitted that her and Niall “clicked the minute we met,” adding that they are having “so, so much fun.”
“We’re having a blast,” McEntire continued, “I love his team too. They’re so sweet.”
GRAMMY winner Chance The Rapper was also thrilled to work with a “legend” like Reba.
“She’s given me amazing advice and helped my team so much in a short period of time,” Chance The Rapper said.
The clip concluded as McEntire said, “Oh, it’s so much fun to be back on The Voice again. It’s always a lot of fun to give advice because I study people when they perform and I want to be touched when they’re singing to me.”
Throughout the clip, several of the remaining contestants also showcased their excitement to work with Reba McEntire, including NOIVAS, Rachel Christine, and several others.
NOIVAS asked Reba what’s the best advice she has ever received, to which she replied, “Show up on time, be prepared, don’t waste anybody else’s time.” While Rachel was all giddy and said, “I’m pretending that I don’t have to pee my pants right now.”
Reba also got emotional while mentoring Team Kelly’s Marcos Covos.
“Everything is wonderful, but I didn’t feel it because you didn’t let me,” Reba told Covos, pushing for him to deliver a more believable performance. “You’re in a really desperate time in your life and you need to almost be that brink of ‘God, help me.’ If you do it that way, we’ll feel it.”
Another contestant shown in the clip was Kylee Dayne, whose performance really resonated with Reba.
“You really touched my heart,” Reba told Kylee. ”That’s the biggest thing is to capture somebody in the audience to where they’re sobbing or laughing. Get some emotion out of them. And you did it for me.”
Tune in on Monday, April 17, at 8/7c on NBC to see Reba McEntire on
