Riley Green already knew exactly who he wanted by his side when it was time to find a mentor for his team on The Voice.

The first-time coach chose fellow country star Carly Pearce, calling her an “obvious choice” after seeing her talent and creative process up close.

Green and Pearce already share a musical connection. The two recently worked together on their duet If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay, and the experience gave Green a new level of respect for Pearce as an artist.

Green admitted that recording the song pushed him outside his comfort zone. The original demo had a sound and vocal style that was very different from what he normally sings, forcing him to approach the song in a new way.

“That’s probably the most I’ve had to learn to sing something,” Green explained. He also said that experience reminded him of what The Voice is really about: trying things that feel unfamiliar and learning from them.

That was one of the biggest reasons Pearce stood out when Green was looking for someone to help his artists.

“She was an obvious choice for me when I was trying to coach somebody else,” Green said. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Pearce brings plenty of experience of her own to the role. As a successful country singer, she understands the pressure that comes with trying to make a name for yourself while also finding your own sound.

For Pearce, her job is not simply to point out what contestants need to improve.

She wants to help Green’s artists understand what already makes them special while offering honest advice about where they can grow.

Pearce explained that she hopes to give contestants constructive criticism while also building their confidence and helping them recognize the qualities that make them different from everyone else.

She also believes her advice could mean even more because some of the contestants may have grown up listening to her music.

Pearce has been part of The Voice before. In 2024, she served as a Playoff Advisor for former coach Michael Bublé, giving her an early look at what it is like to work with contestants behind the scenes.

She said that experience taught her that singers from any genre can understand what contestants are going through because they have all experienced the dream of performing professionally.

Now, Pearce is bringing that experience to Team Riley as Green builds his first team as a coach.

Green joined The Voice Season 30 alongside returning coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson and fellow newcomer Queen Latifah.

And his time in the red chair is not ending with Season 30. Green will also return as a coach for The Voice: Celebrity, which is scheduled to premiere on NBC in 2027.