Dan + Shay on Joining 'The Voice' and How It's Helped The Duo Stay Together

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney

The Voice premieres its 25^th season tonight and in doing so, it’s adding a brand-new element. There will be five coaches instead of four because one of the coaching spots has been filled by the country duo Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney). In fact, a special chair had to be built for the artists—two seats but still one button.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask that, what if one of you guys likes the artist and the other doesn’t?” Dan tells Parade. “Luckily, at this point in our career, we’re pretty in lock step, especially when it comes to music stuff. There hasn’t been yet, but I’m sure there will be a scenario where one of us is all in on somebody and the other one is a little bit still on the fence.”

Dan + Shay join returning coaches John Legend, Reba McEntire and Chance the Rapper in the red swivel chairs. They aren’t complete strangers to the show. They mentored with Blake Shelton in Season 20 and they’ve performed a couple of times, but actually being responsible for coaching their own team is a different experience.

“We’re being sponges out here and not just learning from our team and learning from the experience but learning from the other coaches,” Dan continues. “John’s been here for a while now. I think he’s on his ninth season, and he knows a lot about it. He’s very good at what he does. We’re trying to steal all his good lines, so if you see us repeat a lot of John Legend lines that have happened in the past, it’s no accident.”

Chance and Reba are both only in their second seasons, but Dan + Shay say they are formidable opponents, especially Reba, the Queen of Country, who competes for the same country artists that the duo are trying to land on their team.

“I do think that Reba is a huge roadblock for us,” Shay says. “It’s hard. Obviously, country music is really being represented this season, which is so incredible. But Reba is an absolute legend. There are so many people from all different genres that love Reba McEntire, watched her show, listened to her music and just love her. So, you really never know who’s going to just be absolutely in love with Reba. It doesn’t even have to be country. There’s been a lot of people from other genres that have gone with Reba.

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During our conversation, Dan + Shay also shared with Parade what brought them to the show, what they learned from working with Blake, the most challenging aspects of it, how tough they are on contestants who sing one of their songs, and more.

What brings you to The Voice?

Shay: Oh man. This has been a whirlwind. Getting this opportunity was huge for us. We have been fortunate enough to do the show a few times. We’ve performed on it several times and we’ve gotten to be mentors for Blake Shelton, which was an amazing experience. We had been approached by our manager who asked us if we would want to take a meeting with The Voice producers. We were like, “Obviously, we would love to do that. But I don’t know why they’re coming to talk to us.”

This is a huge show and I know that they’ve had the opportunity to talk with these massive superstars, so we really didn’t think that we necessarily had a shot at the gig. But we went and met with them, had breakfast. We went in there just joking around, being ourselves, a couple of idiots trying not to say anything too stupid. We just did our thing and we got contacted a few months later and they said they’d like us to be on the show.

So here we are. We’re still kind of in shock that for one thing they asked us to do it to begin with and that we haven’t gotten kicked off.

Dan: It hasn’t started airing yet.

Shay: Yeah, there’s still time for them to kick us off. But we are having the greatest time. The coaches, Reba, we’ve known Reba for a while, we’re beginning to hang out with her more. Chance the Rapper and John Legend, it’s just an incredible dynamic and we’ve all become really close. In the few short months that we’ve gotten to tape the show, it’s just been so much fun. Getting to meet all these incredible artists, it’s one of the great honors of our career getting to do this. We’re having so much fun now. I hope that we did okay on the season, I hope we get invited back because this has become one of the funnest things we’ve ever gotten to do in our career.

You were advisors for Blake in Season 20. What did you learn from working with him that you’re bringing into your coaching style this season?

Dan: We always joke with Blake that we learned what not to do on The Voice. No, we’re just kidding. Blake’s the best to ever do it. There’s so much to learn from him. I think one of the biggest things is to be yourself and to have fun. He made a career out of that. He is just a funny guy on and off stage. Just the funniest guy. He is the same person on that TV show or on stage at his concerts that he is off stage, and I feel like that really translates.

The people at home, the viewers are smart, and they can cut through it. If somebody’s not being themselves, I feel like they won’t make the connection. But people really connected with Blake in a big way because he is exactly who he is. We’re trying to do that same thing. The folks at The Voice were kind enough to offer us this opportunity because they connected with who we are as people and the music that we make. That’s what we’re trying to do, we’re just trying to be on here being ourselves and honestly impart some wisdom on some of these up-and-coming artists who are in the shoes that we were in eight, nine, ten years ago.

I feel like a lot of the things that we’ve learned over the years just being out there doing it, plugging it out, doing 150 to 200 shows a year, getting no after no after no and being resilient and getting back up and doing the thing, I feel like a lot of that knowledge is stuff that we can coach our team, help them through tough times, help them get to the next level in their artistry. What an amazing opportunity. There’s no better opportunity than being on The Voice.

I wish we had had an opportunity like that when we got started to be on TV with lights and cameras and an amazing band backing you in front of millions of people. But, with that also comes high pressure and high stakes. I don’t quite envy that position.

I remember Blake told us just to enjoy it. This is such a cool thing. There are only four chairs -- well, I guess there’s five chairs. I don’t know if you count the double chair as one or two chairs. But what an amazing opportunity and we’re so fortunate to be in that position to have that chair, to be coaches on The Voice, so we try to enjoy it.

I feel like there’s stuff for us still to learn from this, perspective shifts. John’s talked about it a lot. It just changes your perspective. When you’re up there trying to coach someone or help them pick what song they should sing to get people to turn around or to get people to vote for them, I feel like we can take that back to our own show, to our set list and say, “Okay, cool, maybe we don’t need up tempo songs every time. If everybody else is doing up tempo maybe do the slower song that can really stop the show and make everybody pay attention.” I feel like those little tidbits are things that as you’ve been going for a long time, you can lose touch of. But being in this position we’re learning stuff every day.

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You two almost broke up. It was something you talked about last summer. Does working with the young talent remind you of why you got into music in the first place? Is it rejuvenating for you?

Shay: 100 percent you nailed it. I feel like getting to work with these young artists, first of all, it reminds me of when we first started, of just that eagerness. I was that kid that was just so excited to be in the ballgame. I was eight years old when I first started coming to Nashville. I remember seeing tour buses drive down the road and just absolutely stars in my eyes imagining what that would be like to be a part of it. To be in that incredible city of Nashville. Even when I’d go to places like L.A., there was just so much magic in the world.

I think one thing that I never want to lose and something I’ve tried to really get back in my life, is just wonder. I feel like that’s something that we as adults really lose sometimes. That wonder for life and that excitement for getting to do something incredible. What we’re getting to do is unbelievable. Getting to do music for a living is such an honor and such a blessing. We’re lucky to get to do that and get to wake up every day. Sure, there’s struggles. You’re away from your family a lot, but these are dreams that have come true for us. You’re watching that grow in their eyes.

Having an opportunity like this is something we never had. Standing on stage and having the opportunity to sing in front of millions of people, obviously it’s a lot more nerve-wracking than the bars and clubs we were playing at. I think that was a lot easier than having to step on a stage like this. To be able to perform at the highest level is just crazy.

One thing for us is making sure that these artists all feel comfortable and know that what they’re doing is really hard. Making sure that even all of these artists that have done this for so long, guys like Blake Shelton, to watch him not be jaded in a business like this it’s because of the wonder that we see in these new artists’ eyes and the excitement that they have for this job.

It's really not a job. This is a dream come true for all of us getting to do it. I’ve gotten to learn a lot by just watching and experiencing that wonder that I see in these new artists. It’s definitely given us new life and reminds us why we’re so lucky to get to do this.

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What have you had to learn about sitting in the coaches’ seats?

Dan: The one thing we learned that we weren’t prepared for that we should have been prepared for is there’s cameras on you at all times and your miked at all times. So, if we look over at each other like, “I don’t know, this person’s not singing great,” that’s going to make it in the edit.

So, there are a couple scenarios where we’re talking and deliberating back and forth, and then we’ll ultimately turn. You forget that the families and friends of these artists that are auditioning are sitting back there watching the screen, like, “Come on Dan and Shay, turn, turn.” And they know your banter, they know what you’re saying. For better or for worse if you’re like, “I don’t know, they’re a little pitchy or whatever,” they hear that and see that. But I think that’s all part of the show.

If somebody hits the button, both of you are turning around so you’d better find something good. There is truly so much talent. I don’t know about the other seasons of The Voice. We’ve watched it as fans and there have been a lot of amazing singers that have come through. But something about Season 25, just even talking to John who’s done this before, the talent is on another level. I feel like there would be a rare scenario where one of us would be in love with someone and the other wouldn’t. But it could happen with two chairs and one button. They set us up for drama.

What is the most challenging thing. Is it trying to sell yourself to the artists? Trying to come up with the critiques? What’s the most challenging part for you guys?

Shay: We’ve really had to be strategic with how we use our block and that kind of stuff. But it’s definitely been a challenge having to go against Reba, one of the greatest to ever do it in country music. But it’s going amazingly. I feel good about our chances, and I feel amazing about our team. I’m just excited. To get to hang out with Reba is pretty incredible. She’s been so sweet to us. She says we’re cute as a button, which makes me feel really good. She’s amazing.

Dan mentioned this earlier, but we really have been sponges throughout this entire process. We get to learn new things every single day. I think that that is the sign of a great artist and, just in life, a sign of maturity and wisdom to always be learning. Never think that you have all the answers. It’s an incredible opportunity when you’re in a room of people who have been doing this a lot longer than you have. I think that the first step to becoming a great artist and having such a career as Reba’s is to never stop learning. She says the exact same thing, she’s always learning something new, even after doing this for so long.

I aspire to have a career like Reba’s. Everywhere she goes someone has a story that is personal to them about Reba. That’s incredible and, hopefully, we’re going to leave that kind of mark on the world one day like Reba has.

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I don’t know if anybody has come on the show in your season and sung one of your songs, but do you think it would be hard to turn for an artist who did that, especially if they make changes? How protective are you of your songs?

Dan: I will not confirm nor deny whether somebody has sung one of our songs on this season of The Voice, but maybe somebody has. I honestly feel at the outset more pressure to have to turn. Here’s the way I see it. It’s like somebody choosing your song for their wedding song. That’s one of the most flattering things someone can do. Of all the great songs that have been written and recorded in history, in arguably the biggest moment of somebody’s life, whether it’s your wedding first dance or trying out for The Voice, that’s your shot right there. That is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Of all the songs that they can choose they would choose ours? I feel like that is such an incredible thing that’ll never be lost on us, no matter what.

I almost feel more pressure to be like, “We’re hitting this button even if it’s the worst thing we’ve ever heard,” because that’s such a cool tribute. I don’t know, I just feel really flattered by that. But anybody who’s up there, our songs are not easy to sing. I get to listen to Shay sing these incredible vocal acrobatics every night, very dynamic, very rangy songs. So, kudos to anybody who attempts it. It’s a tough choice to sing, but I almost feel more compelled to hit that button no matter what happens.

I like when somebody goes a little bit different on the song, reimagines it. I feel like we just have a perspective, we created that song, we were in the studio. I remember those moments when we were in there, “Oh, should we slide into this note, or should we hit this note? Should we cut off on beat three or should we hold it for the three?” Little moments like that that you get to listen to somebody else’s interpretation and take it back to the drawing board. I feel like that’s a cool bit of creativity that we get to explore that we wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to explore if we weren’t on The Voice. So, more power to anybody singing our songs. Somebody’s going to hear about this and be like, “Okay, cool, the best shot to get Dan and Shay to turn around is to sing one of their songs.”

Shay: Sing one of their songs, they’re suckers, they’ll turn for you.

Dan: For sure, for sure. And John is the opposite. He said if you sing his songs, he’s really picky and really critical. And I get that, too. I mean you’re living inside of it every single day, every night when you’re singing it on stage so you know how you do it so I feel like you have a pre-conceived notion on how it should be done. I don’t know, something inside of us, and I think I speak for Shay on this, is somebody’s singing our song and I’m like, “I like them, I like them, all right, we’re turning.”

John has occasionally turned for someone who’s done his song. Not never.

Dan: That’s true, he said he has done it in the past if they’re truly great. I think he just critiques them more. So, if they get by with doing his song they must be really, really good.

The Voice premieres its 25th season tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Episodes are available to stream next day on Peacock.

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