When music legend Sting joins season 26 of “The Voice” as one of two Mega Mentors, it will be his first time on the show — and his first time watching it. Before signing on alongside Jennifer Hudson to mentor contestants, he knew nothing about the NBC competition.

“I have a confession to make,” he told People on November 7, 2024. “I’d never seen ‘The Voice.’”

Though he was nervous to say yes, knowing coach Gwen Stefani — whom he first met when she was a 13-year-old fan — was involved convinced him that it would be a worthwhile thing to try, he said. And, in the end, he’s looking back on his experience positively.

Sting Says After Filming ‘The Voice,’ He’s Relieved About How It Went

Sting and Hudson, a former coach on “The Voice,” will each mentor half of the 36 remaining contestants for the Knockout round, which begin on November 11. Sting will mentor Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg’s teams, while Hudson will work with the artists on Reba McEntire and Michael Buble’s teams.

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Sting told People that when he learned about the show and they wanted him to mentor rising artists, he was nervous about it.

“When I was given the premise of the show, I was a little bit anxious, but I know Gwen very well,” he told the outlet. “I’m a big admirer of Snoop Dogg, and so I thought, I’m going to take a risk. I’m going to go on the show even though I’m a little trepidatious.”

Fortunately, he found taping the show to be “nourishing and joyful,” he told People.

“I really feel good about the show,” he said. “I feel good about myself, and I feel good about the young singers who are putting themselves through this ordeal. It is an ordeal, but I’ve loved it so far.”

“In teaching, there’s no such thing as teaching, actually,” Sting continued about enjoying his role as a Mega Mentor. “What happens in a classroom is learning and people learn through enthusiasm. A teacher’s job is just to be enthusiastic, show appreciation, curiosity,” he said. “And that’s your job here. To do the same thing, to be curious.”

Sting Says He Was Impressed With Gwen Stefani as a Mentor

Sting, Gwen Stefani© Getty

Over the years, Stefani has become a friend and was a welcoming presence on the set of “The Voice,” Sting told People.

The two first met her when Stefani was a 13-year-old fan, the outlet reported, and first worked together years later in 2003, when her band No Doubt performed with him at the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show.