As The Voice prepares to return for Season 30 this fall on the 2026 TV schedule, its future is already being planned out. There have been rumors about the new coaches and also rumors about longtime host Carson Daly. And I was surprised how the rumors about Daly both did and did not pan out.
Just days ago, a source told The U.S. Sun that the former TRL host was stepping away from The Voice due to how demanding the schedule is. The singing competition tapes in LA, while Daly is still a co-host on the Today Show in New York. Plus, being away from his family has been hard, which also wouldn’t have been surprising. But The Voice typically films seasons back-to-back, so Daly choosing to step back for one season and not the other wouldn’t make sense. NBC has finally announced The Voice Season 31, and the Daly rumors seem to have actually been true. For the most part, at least.
The Voice is doing a whole new format for Season 31, with a celebrity edition. Dubbed The Voice: Celebrity, actors, musicians, influencers, athletes, comedians, and reality stars will be taking the stage for their chance to be the first Voice celebrity champion. To stay on theme, there will be a different host, with Keke Palmer stepping in for the special season. Daly will remain on as an executive producer.
It seems to be just for The Voice: Celebrity that Daly won’t be hosting, as he confirmed on Instagram that he just wasn’t the right fit. Nothing is indicating that Season 30 is going to be his last season, as he even assured fans that he is not leaving The Voice. He’s just going to take a break for The Voice: Celebrity, hosting-wise. Since he’s consistently hosted the first 30 seasons, I’m assume he welcomed the chance to step back, no matter how long.
I am curious to see how The Voice: Celebrity turns out. It’s like The Masked Singer, only you know who the contestants are. The Voice has been trying out new formats recently, likely to try to keep things fresh. Season 29 was Battle of Champions, which saw only three coaches instead of four, new and revamped rounds, and many more changes. Meanwhile, The Voice coaches have been announced for Season 30, with rumors about Queen Latifah proving true. She and previously announced new coach Riley Green will join returning favorites Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson.
I’m happy that Carson Daly doesn’t seem to be permanently leaving The Voice, and I’m intrigued to see how The Voice: Celebrity does. I’ve been a fan of Keke Palmer for a long time, and she is no stranger to hosting, so she is definitely going to kill it. More information on Season 31 should be announced in the coming months. Season 30 of The Voice premieres on Monday, September 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.
