Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys will be settling into the spinning coaches chairs on The Voice season 11, replacing Pharrell Williams and Christina Aguilera. Keys appeared as a key advisor during season 7 and Cyrus is filling that role this season. She’ll start showing up during episodes on March 25, at the start of the Knockout Rounds.
Pharrell served as a coach for seasons 7-10, winning season 8. Aguilera coached seasons 1-3, 5, 8, and 10; none of her singers have won.
Keys has not confirmed the news which The Wrap broke earlier this evening, citing sources with inside knowledge, but Miley tweeted it out to the great delight of her fans:
Adam Levine and Blake Shelton have re-upped their contracts so there is no worry about getting more than the two new judges…at least this season. The inside informer also leaked news of a “megabucks” deal signed by Cyrus, and that Levine and Shelton make about $13 million per season. If those two industry veterans start talking amongst themselves they may drive a harder deal to fill those chairs next season.
In a statement Paul Telegdy, president of alternative and late night programming at NBC said, “The musical expertise and energy these two incredibly talented women will bring to the show is remarkable. We’re thrilled that they’ll be joining Adam and Blake in what we know will be a magical 11th season.”
Keys has won nearly 300 awards worldwide since she first burst onto the scene in 2001, including 9 Billboard Music Awards and 15 Grammys. And while Cyrus has also been recognized, most of her acclaim came during her Hannah Montana days. Now the 23-year old is one of the most polarizing performers in pop music so this move may be seen as risky by longtime Voice fans.
On the other hand she brings along her own demographic in the same way that Shelton draws in country fans, and Christina Aguilera has shown that a little sass and attitude can make for great TV. Miley can certainly be herself, just not the obnoxious, stage version, and she’s literally grown up in entertainment so she could have a lot of useful wisdom to impart.
Who knows, if Howard Stern can become a beloved judge on America’s Got Talent, anything is possible.