The Voice has been a hub for Eurovision talent past, present and future for many years now. The Voice of Holland is a perfect example of this. This week, it has been announced that Eurovision 2005 representative and 2021 interval performer Glennis Grace will be replacing 2021 host Jan Smit as a mentor for the show’s 12th season.
The mentor line-up on The Voice of Holland has featured many familiar faces for Eurovision fans. Previous mentors include Trijntje Oosterhuis (2015) and Ilse DeLange (2014), while the current line-up features Waylon (2014, 2018) and Anouk (2013). Now, Glennis Grace will be making her debut on the 12th season of the show as a mentor. This is particularly notable as she was approached to audition as a candidate a decade ago.
Dreams can come true. From America to the Eurovision Song Contest, I have been able to make my voice heard on many special stages. And now it’s my honor to hear and coach your voice on this special stage.
Glennis via her Instagram
Glennis will be stepping into the chair left by Jan Smit, who co-hosted the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest…alongside Chantal Janzen, who currently hosts The Voice of Holland. Small world.
About Glennis Grace
Back in 2005, Glennis Grace won the Nationaal Songfestival – the Dutch selection for Eurovision at the time – with ‘My Impossible Dream’. In the semi-final in Kiev, however, she placed 14th with 53 points. This marked the start of an eight-year non-qualification streak for the Netherlands between 2005 and 2012.
However, Glennis refused to allow this to define her career, and is currently enjoying a renaissance of sorts. Back in 2018, she made it to the final of America’s Got Talent, impressing the judges and viewers with her powerful vocals. Shortly after, she claimed that she had no intentions of competing in Eurovision again.
Despite this, she appeared as an interval performer for the 2021 Grand Final back in May. She joined Dutch DJ Afrojack and Wulf in an interval called ‘Music Binds Us’. During the act, she sang mega-hit ‘Titanium’, which Afrojack co-wrote alongside Sia Furler, David Guetta and Giorgio Tuinfort back in 2011.
Gefeliciteerd, Glennis! What do you think of the announcement? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify and YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the 2022 national final season!