Ariana DeBose is bringing her stage and screen experience to The Voice as Kelly Clarkson’s battle advisor for Season 30.
NBC highlighted the Oscar-winning performer as Clarkson’s advisor as the competition moves into its Battle rounds. DeBose will help Clarkson’s singers prepare for head-to-head performances, offering guidance drawn from a career that spans Broadway, film, television and live performance.
DeBose won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, becoming the first openly queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar. Before her film breakthrough, she built an extensive Broadway résumé that included Hamilton, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and other major productions.
That background makes her a natural fit for The Voice, where contestants are judged not only on vocal ability but also on interpretation, stage presence and the pressure of delivering a performance in a competitive setting.
Clarkson, herself an American Idol winner before becoming a coach and talk-show host, has frequently brought artists with varied performance backgrounds into her mentoring process. DeBose adds a perspective shaped by musical theater’s emphasis on storytelling and character as well as the demands of live singing.
Season 30 continues NBC’s long-running format of pairing celebrity coaches with emerging vocalists. DeBose’s arrival gives Team Kelly another accomplished performer to help contestants turn strong vocals into memorable television moments.
Source: NBC Insider, October 13, 2026.