The Voice Season 30 got off to a strong start Monday night, September 21, as first-time coach Riley Green wasted no time making his presence known.

Riley Green Makes His Voice Debut

Green made his coaching debut alongside returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine and first-time coach Queen Latifah. One of the early Blind Auditions introduced viewers to 19-year-old Alabama singer Joe Henley, who already had a connection to Green before stepping onto the stage.

Henley revealed that he was a Riley Green fan and was excited to see the country star join The Voice. He also hoped Kelly Clarkson would turn her chair so he could watch the two country voices compete for him.

And that is exactly what happened.

Henley admitted before his audition that he had “never done a gig” before, making his Voice debut even more impressive. He then opened his audition with Travis Tritt’s “Anymore,” immediately catching the attention of both Clarkson and Green.

Within moments, both coaches turned their chairs for the young singer.

After the performance, Green found another way to connect with Henley. He learned that “My Way,” one of his own songs, was Henley’s favorite Riley Green track. Green grabbed his guitar and joined the teenager onstage for an unexpected duet.

The two singers traded lines as Green played guitar, turning the moment into one of the premiere’s memorable highlights.

When it was finally time for Henley to choose his coach, his decision was clear. He chose Green and became the country star’s first team member of Season 30.

Clarkson took the loss in good spirits and even told Green that Henley could help him win the entire competition.

“He could win you The Voice,” Clarkson said.

Riley Green Reveals His Season 30 Strategy

Landing Henley also gave Green an early start on the strategy he plans to follow throughout Season 30.

The country singer said he wants to bring as many country artists onto his team as possible.

“I want to get all of them,” Green said. “Because I think there’s a great chance of a country artist winning the whole show.”

For Green, Henley was the perfect first addition to his team. The 19-year-old’s classic country sound, combined with his first-ever live performance experience, gave the rookie coach an early artist to develop as the competition gets underway.

Here’s where the teams stand after Night 1 of the Blind Auditions:

Team Queen Latifah
BigCountry
Marcus Ladden Jr.
Mia Knight (First-In button)

Team Riley Green
Joe Henley
Ferryn & Brinkley
Caroline Alexis

Team Kelly Clarkson
Hazel Gerson
Brianna Cameron

Team Adam Levine
Destinee Monroe
Owen Uffens

The Voice, Season 30, Episode 2, Tuesday, September 22, 8/7c, NBC

The Voice, Season 30, Episode 3, Wednesday, September 23, 8/7c, NBC

The Voice, Season 30, Mondays, 8/7c, NBC