THE VOICE: Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams on Coaching Season 7

THE VOICE returns tonight for its seventh season, and for the first time Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams will have seats on the coaching panel.

“For me it’s been surreal and magical,” Stefani told reporters at a press conference earlier this summer. “I never thought that when I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s work with [Williams’ group] The Neptunes. That would be really weird, right? Working with a hip hop guy?’ — like that would be something cool that we would have this relationship after all this time…So it’s been explosive and magical.”

“Being around someone like Pharrell is like a gift,” she added. “The guy is…he just has such a big heart. He gives away so much of himself. He’s perfect for the show, and he’s perfect for these kids because he’s very nurturing, and he’s very, very generous with himself, and I just like being around that energy. It’s been magic for me being here.”

Williams, for his part, echoed Stefani’s praise and warm words.

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