Kelly Clarkson is gearing up to return to The Voice for Season 29. This will mark the singer’s first time coaching on the show since Season 23. In honor of Clarkson’s big return, let’s take a look back at her history on the series, including her four wins.
Kelly Clarkson Started The Voice with Back-to-Back Wins
Clarkson is of course famous for winning the first season of American Idol back in 2002. In 2018, she decided to use her experience as a competition show winner to help aspiring artists on The Voice. Clarkson joined the show as a coach for Season 14, alongside Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, and Alicia Keys.
The star made quite an entrance to the series, as her artist Brynn Cartelli ended up winning the entire competition, becoming the youngest champion in the show’s history at age 15. Clarkson also made history, becoming the first coach to win the show in their inaugural season.
Her winning streak continued in Season 15, when she returned to the spinning red chair alongside Shelton, Levine, and returning coach Jennifer Hudson. Clarkson became the first female coach to win multiple seasons of the show when her artist Chevel Shepherd became the champion at age 16.
Clarkson also returned for Season 16, as John Legend joined the show for his first season. He gave Clarkson a run for her money, becoming the second coach to win on their first season with his artist Maelyn Jarmon.
However, Clarkson reclaimed her crown in Season 17, winning the show with country singer Jake Hoot, who was only the second winner in history to have been a one-chair turn in the Blind Auditions.
Clarkson Made History with Girl Named Tom in Season 21
With three wins under her belt, Clarkson had become a staple on The Voice. Fans loved her bubbly personality and funny banter with her fellow coaches, particularly longtime coach Blake Shelton.
Clarkson unfortunately did not have the winning artist in Seasons 18, 19, or 20 – although her artist Kenzie Wheeler was the runner-up in Season 20. However, in Season 21, she made a comeback with an historic win.
The sibling trio Girl Named Tom was named the winning act on Clarkson’s team that season, marking the first time a group had ever won The Voice. This was the fourth and last time Clarkson had a winning artist on her team.
She took Season 22 off from coaching on the show before returning for Season 23. Clarkson had one artist, D.Smooth, in the finale that season. He finished the competition in third place. After this season, Clarkson chose to step away from the show as she moved her eponymous talk show to New York City in 2023.
Clarkson Is Returning for Season 29
In July 2025, it was announced that Clarkson would be returning to The Voice for Season 29, which is subtitled Battle of Champions. This season will also feature returning coaches Adam Levine and John Legend.
Season 29 will also feature the return of several past The Voice contestants, who will go head to head in an All-Star Showdown. On Clarkson’s team, Girl Named Tom and Jake Hoot will be back to potentially earn their coach a guaranteed second artist in the Season 29 finale.
Unfortunately, Clarkson had to be absent for a portion of the Season 29 filming following the death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in August. Fellow coach Jennifer Hudson returned to the show to fill in for her.
Will Battle of Champions earn Clarkson her fifth win as a coach on The Voice? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
