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Season 8 of The Voice might already have its guest mentors selected.
The NBC singing competition has reportedly recruited Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas, Ellie Goulding and Lionel Richie to assist its quartet of coaches for the show’s spring run.
According to Us Weekly, Richie will step into the rehearsal room for the battle round with Pharrell Williams; Goulding will help Adam Levine; Jonas will work with returning coach Christina Aguilera; and Trainor will team up with Blake Shelton.
See more ‘The Voice’: All the Winners (So Far)
Richie is the only musician to have previously served as a guest mentor (alongside Aguilera in season two), yet all three of the other singers have taken the Voice stage as performers.
While most of the reported pairings make sense (Jonas and Aguilera are both former Disney stars, after all), the duo that might raise eyebrows most is that of Shelton and pop singer Trainor. Is NBC steering away from country music, the genre that’s dominated the series for so many seasons?!
Not at all — don’t forget, the Nashville-residing Trainor has penned country tracks for Hunter Hayes and Rascal Flatts. Even more so, Trainor and Miranda Lambert paired for a somewhat countrified version of her hit “All About That Bass” at the CMAs this past November. If Trainor’s got the approval of Shelton’s wife, she’s certainly fit to assist contenders on how to effectively introduce both a hit single and debut album in under a year — country or otherwise.
See more ‘The Voice’ Coaches’ Best and Worst Moments: From Push-Ups to Empty Praise
The Voice returns to NBC on Monday, Feb. 23. NBC did not immediately respond to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment.
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleelee
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