NBCThey're baaaack! Say goodbye to your friends and loved ones, because you'll be busy watching TV all week once fall premieres begin on Monday. E! News caught the first episode of The Voice's ninth season, featuring the highly anticipated return of Gwen Stefani, as well as coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams, plus a whole mess of incredibly talented contestants.
Want to know what you can expect from the season premiere? Well, read on!
1. An awesome coaches' performance.
The episode kicks off with all four coaches teaming up to tackle each other's songs. Since these are four musical professionals, the result is just as amazing as you think it will be.
2. Four-chair turns.
It's always fun to watch all four coaches become inspired by one particular contestant, someone who transcends genre barriers and speaks to people from many different walks of life. That's kind of the whole point of these singing competitions, and there will be plenty of those contestants during season nine.
3. A true blind audition.
Ever wonder what it's like for the coaches to hear someone's voice and not know what they'll sound like? You'll get to experience an audition from the coaches' POV for the very first time—something it's hard to believe they haven't done in the eight previous seasons. Bonus tease: "I think you're the most important person who's ever been on this show," Adam tells the mystery contestant after said person's audition.
4. Sob stories.
Inspirational backstories abound, but in just the first two hours of the season we have a plane crash survivor, a teenager whose stepfather was killed disarming a bomb in Iraq and an Olympic hopeful with a career-ending injury.
5. Teenagers.
Seriously, there are so many children auditioning for the show this year. The bright side: They're really, really good! But they'll still make you feel old and/or unaccomplished. So boo.
The Voice premieres Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. on NBC.