How John Legend Really Feels About His ‘The Voice’ Co-Star Ariana Grande
In December 2019, Legend also revealed that his daughter prefers the thank u, next singer over him.
Ariana Grande and John Legend in NBC’s ‘The Voice’
In 2017, Ariana Grande, 28, and John Legend, 42, teamed up for a cover of Beauty and the Beast for the live-action film. A few years later, both of them are now coaches in The Voice. As a longtime “huge fan of The Voice,” the Positions singer was excited to join Legend, Blake Shelton, 45, and Kelly Clarkson, 39. Legend also said that he was thrilled to be working with the new coach. “Of course, she’s a threat,” he said.
Then recently, his wife Chrissy Teigen, 35, revealed that it might be “awkward” that the two are working together because they live in an “Ariana Grande household.” But what exactly does the Ordinary People hitmaker feel about working with the “most savage judge on The Voice”? Here’s everything he’s said about the pop star.
Inside The ‘Ariana Grande Household’
On her Instagram story, Teigen exposed the full extent of her husband’s fanboying over Grande. “Today is a bit of a funny day because it’s the premiere of The Voice and John absolutely knows that this house only listens to Ariana Grande,” she said. “Imagine how awkward it is for John to live in this Ariana Grande household and have to be him.”
She also sent the 7 rings singer a text, saying: “Do u have any assets [I] can post to be team Ari?” Grande shared a screenshot of the message on her Instagram Story, tagging the couple and The Voice. The Legend children are also huge fans of the pop diva. The first concert of Luna, 5, was an Ariana Grande concert. The singer even gave her a shoutout onstage.
In December 2019, Legend also revealed that his daughter prefers the thank u, next singer over him. “She told me one day, ‘Dad, Ariana Grande is a great singer,'” he told A Little Late with Lilly Singh. “‘You’re not a great singer.'” He admitted that it was partly his fault because it started when he made her listen to their Beauty and the Beast duet. “Eventually she became such a big fan of Ariana that she’s, like, unfavorably comparing me to Ariana Grande,” he added.
During a Vanity Fair photoshoot in November 2019, the 21-time Grammy winner was recorded playing a piano cover of Grande’s NASA with his son, Miles, 3. Grande reacted on Twitter saying, “[I’m] not emotionally stable enough for this.” The fans weren’t prepared for it either.
During a press conference for season 21 of the show, Legend said that Grande is “of course, a threat” because “she is hugely talented, hugely successful and has legions and legions of fans that know how to use the internet and vote.” But the 34+35 singer clarified that it’s all friendly competition between them. “John and I have the most chair turns in common,” she explained. “But now at this point in the game, it’s even. Everyone has such a great array of talent.”
They also act as “parents” to the two other coaches. During the final round of Blind Auditions in September 2021, Shelton got in a fight with Clarkson as they were trying to win over Lana Scott who sang a cover of Kelsea Ballerini’s Hole in the Bottle. The argument went on and on about who knows country music more. Grande and Legend tried to cut in but they were unsuccessful.
So Grande asked the All of Me singer if he’d like to walk off for a bit. “Do you wanna get a snack, actually?” she asked him. The two went backstage to munch on some popcorn while watching the fight. “I feel like John and I are like parents on a vacation or a field trip,” The pov singer mused. “And they’re just like, fighting over toys and stuff.”
What Blake Shelton & Kelly Clarkson Feel About Ariana Grande
During the show’s press junket, Shelton recalled the time his “dreams were destroyed” by Grande. Apparently, in 2016, she released her album Dangerous Woman the same day he released his album If I’m Honest. “I released the album, and I had some momentum going at that point musically,” he remembered. “I was excited thinking that this might be my chance to have the No. 1 album in the country.”
Unfortunately, the country singer got a call from his record label, saying that his album was not “looking good” in the overall chart because “Ariana Grande has got her album.” His album ended up at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. “Literally, I may as well have released a coaster of a CD. You trashed my album!” he told the Boyfriend singer who joked that she’d make a new cover of If I’m Honest.
“I think I’m smart enough to steer clear of her releases,” Clarkson weighed in. The American Idol alum also said that “there’s no disadvantage when you’re Ariana Grande. She can’t say it. I will.” Shelton added that “It’s embarrassing to follow her [onto The Voice stage], it exposes my lack of celebrity.” Interesting dynamic…
