Wynonna Judd will join the current season of The Voice with a shocking twist that fans may not have seen coming.
The announcement is interesting considering it already has a flaming-haired country music star serving as coach: Reba McEntire.
However, Wynonna, 59, will serve as a “megamentor” according to him Deadlinewhich is the same role Reba, 68, filled last year.
It’s been a difficult time for Wynonna, who lost her beloved mother Naomi Judd last year after a battle with mental illness.
Although it seems that the singer – who has two children – continues to put a brave face on her family tragedy.
The casting news comes as Reba recently spoke out about speculation that she is “unhappy” and is leaving The Voice shortly after making her debut on the competition series as a coach in September.
Wynonna Judd joins The Voice! Star Will Serve as ‘Mega Mentor’ Amid Rumors Her Country Music Rival Reba McEntire LEAVES AFTER ONE SEASON
McEntire has joined three other coaches on the hit show: John Legend, Gwen Stefani and also Niall Horan.
The Queen of Country, 68, addressed the circulating rumors while attending the star-studded Bring Change To Mind Gala earlier this week.
Regarding whether she had any intention of leaving the show following rumors, McEntire cryptically responded with, “Well, not good yet. We’re not done yet.’
However, the Fancy hitmaker appeared to have shot down rumors that she was ‘unhappy’.
‘I’m just having a great time. The producers, everyone on the team, love them all,” she shared Additional.
She then discussed the competition between herself and the other panelists, saying, “It’s a fun rivalry, but we have the best time on that show.”
Say what now? Reba, 68, slammed speculation that she is ‘unhappy’ and is leaving The Voice shortly after joining the competition series as a coach in September
‘A blast’: The Does He Love You hitmaker admitted to the outlet: ‘I’m just having a good time. The producers, everyone on the team, love them all.”
‘And what amazes me is the amount of talent that keeps coming. We are in season 24 and the talent is incredible. I hope everyone is watching.’
When asked if there was anyone she tends to “go head-to-head” with on the show, Reba revealed that both she and Niall are “always sparring a bit.”
In addition to the “fun rivalry” between the coaches, the country singer opened up about her blossoming friendship with Stefani.
“At first she was so intimidating and I thought she was being mean to me, and then she said, ‘I just want you to like me,’ and I said, ‘Well, that’s all you had to say.’ And we’re best friends,” she said.
It has already been confirmed that McEntire will return as a coach for season 25, which premieres next year in spring 2024. She will star alongside Legend, Chance the Rapper and the duo Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) .
Earlier this year it was announced that the I’m A Survivor hitmaker would take the place of fellow countryman Blake Shelton, following his departure after a long stint on the competition series.
During an interview with Newsweek in September, she explained, “It’s a lot of pressure because no one can replace Blake Shelton. He’s a huge personality and a great person.’
However, the star added: “It’s a well-oiled machine so it’s great to come in at this time.”
‘Everyone knows the game plan, from the crew, the producers. Everyone on the show is so nice, so sweet and so helpful. I love it.’
McEntire had previously been offered a judging position on the hit show when it was in its early stages, but notably turned down the offer. “I can’t be a mean judge,” she explained her reasoning behind the decision.
“I mean, when I turned it down 15 years ago, when they wanted me to do The Voice, I said, ‘I can’t tell anyone they’re terrible.’
“I can’t say to someone, ‘Is your mother going to meet you at the bus station? Because you’re going home.’ I can’t do that,” the singer said. However, she admitted that she has learned a lot from the other coaches so far.
‘I’m learning more and more from them how you can easily abandon them if they are not arrested, how you can coach them and how you can give them any advice.’
While it appears on Late Night with Seth Myers Earlier this week, Reba also commented on her time on The Voice and revealed who her “toughest competition” is.
“John,” she said simply to Myers. ‘John has an amazing talent for choosing great singers. And when we have our backs to the singers coming to audition, I’m always going to… look at John and see that John is going to push his button.”
She humorously added, “Well, John is really sneaky. He won’t do anything, which shows he’ll be humming casually. “But it’s fun!”
‘Pressure’: During an interview with Newsweek in September, she explained: ‘It’s a lot of pressure because no one can replace Blake Shelton. He is a huge personality and a wonderful person’; Shelton seen on the far right of The Voice
In addition to showing off her coaching skills, Reba also celebrated another big milestone by publishing a book titled Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots – which came out on October 10.
The premise “takes you behind the scenes and shares the Oklahoma-style stories, recipes and truths that guide” Reba’s life, according to an official synopsis.
In addition to listing tasty recipes, the singer also talked about her faith and connection with God in the book. She explained that one way to get close to God is to “sing a song.”
“Music and faith went together early on,” McEntire said Today earlier this week, thanking God for her relationship with Rex Linn — whom she started dating in 2020.
She also talked about the recipe portion of the book, revealing that she would only write the book if she could add images. “I need pictures if I’m going to cook something, and they said okay.”
“So we had to take pictures that some fans haven’t seen yet and stories that I haven’t told,” Reba added.
The Reba actress – who recently commented on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance – also opened up about the “emotional” journey she went on putting Not That Fancy together.
‘I get very sentimental, I get very choked up, emotional. Because in this book I kind of bared my soul and told some stories that I haven’t told before.’
She also reflected further on her time on The Voice so far when speaking to Today, saying: “It wasn’t fun for me at first because they had all been together before,” referring to the coaches who have previously worked alongside each other worked.
‘It was already their club, and I was the newcomer. And it was hard,” she explained, but added, “After a while, they just hugged me and brought me in.” I felt like family.’
‘I like the training, the coaching. I don’t like telling people what they did wrong. I don’t like negativity, so I always try to find something positive to tell them.”
Reba released her latest album on October 6, also titled Not That Fancy, which features acoustic versions of some of her biggest hits.
