In May, NBC announced that country singer Riley Green and pop culture icon Queen Latifah were stepping in as coaches for the monumental 30th season of “The Voice,” where they will sit beside returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine.
Fans are already looking forward to the dynamic between the new coaches, and it seems Queen Latifah is just as excited. After hosting the 2026 American Music Awards, she was asked about meeting Green for the first time, and her playful reaction has fans even more excited to watch them face off on the upcoming season.
Queen Latifah Reacts to Meeting Riley Green for the First Time Ahead of ‘The Voice’ Season 30
GettyRiley Green and Queen Latifah, the newest coaches to join Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine on season 30 of “The Voice,” recently met for the very first time at the 2026 American Music Awards. Queen Latifah, who hosted the event, was backstage, where she spoke to Entertainment Tonight’s Denny Directo about her first thoughts about Green.
And it was her playful reaction that had only heightened anticipation for their chemistry when they go head-to-head on the newest season.
“What a man, what a man, what a mighty good…” Queen Latifah sang, referencing Salt-N-Pepa’s classic song, “Whatta Man.” She then joked, “I’m going to leave it alone.”
When Directo shared, “The competition is on now, though,” the multifaceted icon said, “Not yet, we’re cool until the show starts. And then it’s like, you know.”
In fact, E! News spoke to the country superstar that night about his feelings about meeting Queen Latifah for the first time and knowing he’ll get to know her on a more personal level when the season kicks off.
“That was a big deal,” he said, adding, “She’s like a larger than life figure for me growing up.”
“I love that we’re gonna all kind of meet each other and build that rapport in real time when we’re doing the show. It’ll be real when we start filming,” he added.
Green Hilariously Makes His Own Rules Ahead of ‘The Voice’
After being announced as a coach for “The Voice” season 30, Green appears to be settling comfortably into the iconic red chair. He’s even begun sharing a few ideas for rule changes he thinks could shake up the competition.
In a video shared on Instagram, members of Green’s crew can be seen breaking into a playful dance in front of him. However, instead of turning his chair around in approval, the new coach hits his buzzer and spins the chair the opposite way, jokingly facing his back towards them to signal that he wasn’t impressed by their performance.
“That’s the show I want to be on,” he says. “The show you turn away from people who suck,” he jokingly added.
Fans in the comment section loved knowing that Green would bring this same humorous attitude to the show, showcasing his fun and playful side.
“That chair was made for Riley Green! Great sense of humor! Down to earth! I can’t wait!!You go Riley Green💚,” a fan shared. “Lol!! Riley will fit in just fine🤣🤣,” another comment read.
At the AMA’s red carpet, Green also shared that while he had yet to meet Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson was already “talking trash” as they all gear up for what should be an epic season.
“The Voice” season 30 returns to NBC in September.
