Shocking twist rocks The Voice: Kelly Clarkson announces surprise return to Los Angeles as coach—just weeks after her bombshell confession about personal struggles!

In a move that has delighted fans and industry insiders alike, Kelly Clarkson has announced she will be returning to Los Angeles—at least temporarily—to reprise her role as a coach on The Voice. The 43-year-old singer, talk show host, and inaugural American Idol winner will join fellow coaching legends Adam Levine and John Legend for season 29 of the NBC hit competition, titled The Voice: Battle of Champions, set to premiere in spring 2026.

Clarkson made the announcement on social media, sharing a promotional image of the three coaches and captioning it simply, “I’m so excited to be back coaching on The Voice!” This marks her first return to the coaching panel since season 23, after which she left the show and Los Angeles behind to launch The Kelly Clarkson Show in New York City and focus on her family life.

The upcoming season promises a fresh twist on the beloved format, adopting a tournament-style structure featuring four distinct rounds: the “blinds,” where coaches vie for triple chair turns; the “battles,” which grant the previous round’s winning coach a coveted “super steal”; the “knockouts,” bringing back returning contestants for an All Stars showdown; and a top 9 semifinals leading into a final four grand finale. Notably, this season spotlights three coaches who have all won past seasons, adding a unique competitive edge.

Clarkson’s initial departure from The Voice and Los Angeles was fueled by a challenging personal chapter. Following her bitter divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, she revealed she needed a fresh start—one she found in New York City. The network supported her transition by creating a new studio for her talk show at Rockefeller Center, a move she credited for helping her focus on rebuilding her life alongside her two children, Remy and River.

In candid interviews, Clarkson has opened up about the toll her personal struggles took on her mental health during her final days on The Voice in California. Speaking with USA Today, she shared, “Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life.” She acknowledged how stretched thin she felt, saying, “That was me saying ‘bye’ to The Voice and having this big move. I love that family, but I was like, ‘I’m struggling. I can’t smile anymore. I don’t feel like smiling.’”

Reflecting on her growth since then, Clarkson expressed renewed joy and balance in her life. “What’s cool for me with Season 5 is I am in such a great place, not only with my kids, but with me personally and with the show,” she said. “I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed. I think the thing I’m most excited about with Season 5, on a selfish level, is just showing up to work smiling and actually meaning it.”

Her return to The Voice comes as a welcome surprise to many who admired her presence as a coach and respected her openness about mental health. With this new chapter, Clarkson appears ready to embrace the challenge with enthusiasm and a fresh perspective, balancing her roles as a mother, host, and mentor.

As The Voice: Battle of Champions gears up for its spring 2026 launch, fans can look forward to seeing Clarkson back in her element—coaching talented singers, sharing her wisdom, and most importantly, doing so with the genuine joy she has reclaimed in her life.