Queen Latifah is preparing to take on one of the biggest roles in The Voice franchise, but a new report claims coaching singers was not necessarily the career move she had been hoping to make.

The veteran entertainer is set to join The Voice for Season 30 this fall before returning the following year for The Voice: Celebrity. However, according to a source cited by Star magazine, Latifah’s long-term ambition remains acting rather than reality television.

The source claims The Voice represented the strongest opportunity available to her at the time — and offered a practical way to keep working while leaving room for future film or scripted television projects.

Queen Latifah Reportedly Would Rather Be Acting

Latifah has spent decades moving between music, film and television, building a career that has never been limited to a single format.

According to Star magazine’s source, however, acting remains the area she would most like to focus on.

“Everybody who knows Latifah knows that she would rather be acting than making a reality TV show,” the source claimed.

That does not mean she was uninterested in The Voice. The report suggests the coaching job appealed partly because Latifah prefers to remain professionally active rather than simply waiting for another scripted role to arrive.

The insider described The Voice: Celebrity as the “best offer” available to her at the time.

The same source also claimed Latifah will earn $5 million for the coaching position, although that figure has not been independently confirmed.

She Will Have a Major Role Across Two Seasons

Latifah’s involvement with the franchise will begin with Season 30.

She will sit on the coaching panel alongside returning stars Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine, while country singer Riley Green will also make his coaching debut.

The new season is scheduled to premiere on September 21 on NBC, with longtime host Carson Daly continuing to front the regular competition.

Latifah will then remain with the franchise for Season 31, The Voice: Celebrity, which introduces a major change to the familiar format.

Instead of undiscovered singers competing for the coaches, the new edition will feature celebrity contestants.

Keke Palmer will host the spin-off rather than Daly, while Latifah will coach alongside Riley Green and newcomer Joe Jonas.

The Voice Schedule Could Leave Room for Acting

According to the Star source, one advantage of joining The Voice is the comparatively compact production schedule.

“They can shoot an entire season in less than half the time it would take to shoot a scripted show,” the insider claimed.

That could allow Latifah to maintain a significant television presence without committing the same amount of time required for a traditional drama series.

The source also suggested that returning coaches could potentially increase their earnings if they remain with the programme for additional seasons.

For Latifah, that arrangement could make The Voice a useful bridge between major acting projects rather than a complete change in career direction.

The Move Follows the End of The Equalizer

Latifah’s new television chapter comes after the conclusion of her CBS drama The Equalizer.

The series ended last year after five seasons, bringing her run as Robyn McCall to a close.

According to Star magazine’s insider, that has not diminished her desire to continue acting.

“She still wants to get back into movie acting and that continues to be the long-term goal,” the source said.

The insider described The Voice as “a detour for her” rather than a permanent move away from scripted work.

A Different Kind of Role for Latifah

Even if coaching was not reportedly her first preference, The Voice gives Latifah a chance to draw on another major part of her career.

Long before becoming a television and film star, she established herself as a recording artist and performer. Now she will use that experience from the opposite side of the stage, helping contestants navigate the competition rather than performing herself.

The role also places her alongside established Voice figures and other major names from music as the franchise prepares for both its regular Season 30 and the new celebrity edition.

Whether Latifah’s time as a coach becomes a brief stop between acting projects or develops into something more lasting remains to be seen.

For now, she is set to make her coaching debut when Season 30 of The Voice premieres September 21 on NBC, alongside Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine and Riley Green.