Kelly Clarkson Was Already a Riley Green ‘Super Fan’ Before The Voice — and Her Steamy ‘Worst Way’ Cover Makes Their New Coaching Rivalry Even Better

Long before Riley Green sat beside Kelly Clarkson as a coach on The Voice, Clarkson had already made it perfectly clear how she felt about his music.

She was a fan.

More than a year before Green joined the coaching panel, Clarkson stepped onto the stage of The Kelly Clarkson Show and chose one of his biggest songs for her popular Kellyoke segment.

The song was “Worst Way.”

Clarkson didn’t simply copy Green’s version. She put her own powerful vocal stamp on the sultry country hit — and afterward gave its singer an endorsement that now feels remarkably fitting.

“I love him. I dig him,” Clarkson told viewers.

Neither artist knew their paths were about to cross again in a much bigger way.

Kelly Clarkson Put Her Own Spin on ‘Worst Way’

Clarkson performed Green’s song during a Kellyoke segment in February, delivering her interpretation of a track that had already become an important part of his live shows.

After finishing the performance, she explained just how much she appreciated Green’s music.

“Riley recently said performing that song is one of the biggest moments in his live shows,” Clarkson said.

She followed that with a direct recommendation to her audience.

“I love him. I dig him. You should check him out.”

More than a year later, the artist she was recommending would be sitting beside her on The Voice.

Riley Green Became a Voice Coach

Green was later announced as a coach for Season 30 of The Voice.

The country singer celebrated the career move with a characteristically casual message to fans.

“I guess y’all can start calling me coach… see ya this fall.”

For Green, it represented another major step beyond touring and recording.

For Clarkson, it meant competing against an artist whose music she’d already publicly praised.

She wasn’t shy about reminding him of that either.

Kelly Left Riley a Voicemail

Green’s announcement included a video showing him receiving a voicemail from Clarkson welcoming him to the show.

“I am super stoked to coach alongside you,” she told him. “Welcome to The Voice.”

Clarkson also revealed that her earlier praise wasn’t simply something said for television.

“I was stoked whenever I heard you were gonna be a coach, because I’m actually a super fan of your music,” she said. “You’re so good.”

It was an enthusiastic welcome.

But Clarkson has spent enough time on The Voice to know that friendship ends when contestants start choosing teams.

Her message quickly became competitive.

‘Team Kelly’s Gonna Whoop That A**’

After praising Green’s music, Clarkson gave the newcomer a warning about what was waiting for him.

“I think you’re gonna need the practice, because Team Kelly’s gonna whoop that a**.”

She even made sure he could prepare properly.

Clarkson sent Green his own customized Voice chair so the first-time coach could practice one of the show’s most important moves — spinning around for an artist he wanted on his team.

Green tried it out immediately.

“I could get used to this!” he joked.

Clarkson Knows Exactly How to Win The Voice

Green may have entered the competition as a newcomer, but Clarkson arrived with considerably more experience.

According to the source, Season 30 marked her 11th stint as a coach.

She had also already won the competition four times.

That history made her playful warning to Green a little more intimidating.

Adam Levine was also returning after winning Season 29 with Alexia Jayy, while the source originally reported that another coaching position had yet to be announced.

Levine had already made clear that he was enjoying his latest run on the show.

“I will be back. I’m having so much fun doing it,” he said. “Since I came back a few seasons ago it’s just been a blast and I’m super happy to keep it going as long as they’ll have me.”

From Kellyoke Cover to Coaching Rivals

Green and Clarkson’s Voice connection therefore didn’t really start when they took their seats in those famous red chairs.

It started much earlier.

Clarkson had already stood on her own television stage singing “Worst Way.”

She had already told millions of viewers that she loved Green’s music.

And when she learned he was joining The Voice, she personally welcomed him while admitting she was a “super fan.”

That admiration didn’t stop Clarkson from immediately turning him into a rival.

Kelly Clarkson may love Riley Green’s music enough to cover it on television — but once those chairs started spinning, she made one thing perfectly clear: being a fan wasn’t going to stop Team Kelly from trying to beat him.