Queen Latifah is heading to the red chair.
NBC confirmed on May 12 that the Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner has been confirmed as a coach on season 30 of “The Voice“, joining returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine as well as fellow newcomer Riley Green when the show returns to NBC in September 2026.
GettyThe addition of Latifah brings one of the most decorated careers in entertainment history to the coaching panel.
Beyond her music, she earned an Oscar nomination for her role in the 2002 musical film “Chicago“, making her one of the most versatile talents the show has ever recruited.
Queen Latifah’s Music Career: From High School Rap Trio to Grammy Winner
GettyLong before the red chair, there was a teenager in New Jersey with something to prove. Latifah’s music career began in the late 1980s, when she was still in high school, and she formed a female rap trio called Ladies Fresh.
In 1988, she released her debut single, “Wrath of My Madness,” which appeared on her first album, “All Hail the Queen”.
The accolades followed. She racked up Grammy nominations throughout the early 1990s before winning Best Rap Solo Performance in 1995 for her landmark track “U.N.I.T.Y.,” a song that remains one of the most celebrated in hip-hop history.
Her influence on female artists in music and entertainment has been felt for more than three decades. Now she brings all of that to a new generation of aspiring singers on “The Voice”.
Queen Latifah on Country Music: ‘That Was Like a Country Rap Record’
Do not assume Latifah will only be chasing hip-hop and R&B artists.
In a 2020 appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show“, she revealed a genuine love for country music that may surprise some fans.
She named Charlie Daniels‘ 1979 classic “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” as one of her favorite songs and offered a take on it that stopped Clarkson in her tracks.
“Really that was kind of a rap record, if you think about it!” Latifah told Clarkson. “That was like a country rap record. I was like, ‘Wait a minute. You know, this is dope.'”
She also reflected on how the lines between country and hip-hop have blurred in recent years.
“I think country music is really leaning into so many other genres now. I think it’s pulling from a little hip hop, it’s pulling from a little R&B, maybe,” she said.
That crossover sensibility could put her in direct competition with Green, the country star and fellow first-time coach who joins the panel this season.
‘The Voice’ Season 30: What to Expect From the Full Coaching Panel
Season 30 of The Voice brings together one of the most compelling coaching lineups in the show’s history.
Clarkson and Levine return as seasoned veterans of the red chair, each having guided multiple artists to the title.
Green joins as a first-time coach, bringing his country star power and Warner Chappell credibility to the competition.
And now Latifah rounds out the panel with a career that spans rap, R&B, film, and television.
For the artists auditioning this fall, the competition for a spot on any of these four teams will be fierce. And for viewers, the battles between coaches promise to be just as entertaining as the performances themselves.
The Voice season 30 is expected to premiere on NBC in September 2026.
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