If you’ve spent more than five minutes on YouTube’s "Best of The Voice" rabbit hole, you’ve seen her. The dark hair, the infectious laugh, and that specific brand of "cool girl" energy that feels impossible to fake. Lena Meyer-Landrut—usually just known as Lena—isn’t just another celebrity in a red chair. For many, she is the heartbeat of the franchise in Europe.
But here’s the thing. Most people outside of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland only know her from that one viral clip where she’s losing her mind over a talented kid. Or maybe they remember her as the "Satellite" girl who took over Eurovision back in 2010.
Honestly? There is so much more to her story on the show than just being a judge.
The Eurovision-to-Coach Pipeline
It’s kinda wild to think about. In 2010, Lena was just a 19-year-old student from Hanover with zero professional vocal training. She went on a casting show called Unser Star für Oslo, won it, and then basically saved Germany’s reputation at the Eurovision Song Contest by winning the whole thing.
Fast forward just a few years. She wasn’t the contestant anymore. She was the expert.
By 2013, Lena joined the very first season of The Voice Kids Germany. It was a massive pivot. People wondered if she was too young. "Can a girl who just started her career really mentor others?" The skeptics were loud.
She shut them up pretty fast.
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What Really Happened with Lena on The Voice Kids
Lena didn't just show up for a paycheck. She became a staple. She sat in that red chair for seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, and 11. That’s nearly a decade of scouting the next generation of talent.
Why do people love her so much? It’s her lack of a filter.
In a world of polished, scripted TV, Lena is... well, she's a lot. She cries when she’s moved. She dances on the chair. She gets into playful arguments with fellow coaches like Mark Forster or Alvaro Soler.
The Coaching Style People Actually Talk About
Lena’s approach is basically "big sister" energy. She doesn’t talk down to the kids. She treats them like peers.
- Empathy: She’s famous for running onto the stage to hug a contestant who didn't get a chair turn.
- The "Satellite" Legacy: She knows exactly what it feels like to be a teenager thrust into the spotlight, which gives her a level of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that most pop stars just can't match.
- Musical Range: While she’s a pop queen, she’s mentored kids singing everything from heavy rock to classical opera.
One of her most legendary moments wasn't even a win. It was her reaction to Noah-Levi in Season 3. When he sang "Closer," she looked like she’d seen a ghost. That kind of raw, genuine shock is what makes a clip go viral on Google Discover. Noah-Levi eventually won the season, proving Lena’s ear for talent was spot on.
Wait, Was She Ever on the Adult Version?
This is a common point of confusion. People search for "Lena on The Voice" and expect to see her coaching 30-year-olds.
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Actually, she did have a stint on the adult version—The Voice of Germany—in 2014, but as a guest or in specific segments. But the main "Lena" associated with the adult show is often Lena Gercke, the famous model and host.
Lena Gercke co-hosted The Voice of Germany from 2015 to 2021. So, if you’re looking for the tall blonde woman standing backstage with the families, that’s the "other" Lena. If you’re looking for the petite singer with the quirky attitude in the spinning chair, you’re thinking of Meyer-Landrut on the Kids version.
Why She’s Still Trending in 2026
You’d think the novelty would wear off after ten seasons. It hasn't.
Lena has managed to stay relevant because she keeps evolving. Her music has shifted from the "quirky indie-pop" of her Eurovision days to a much more mature, electronic, and vulnerable sound, seen in her 2024 album Loyal to Myself.
This growth reflects in her coaching. In later seasons, she’s been much more open about the pressures of fame and mental health. She’s not just teaching kids how to hit a high note; she’s teaching them how to survive the industry. That's a level of depth you don't always get on reality TV.
The Viral Power of Team Lena
Let’s be real: the internet loves her. Her "Blind Audition" reaction compilations get millions of views.
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There’s a specific clip of her and Thore Schölermann (the host) having a bit of banter that still circulates on TikTok every few months. It’s that chemistry—not just with the kids, but with the entire production—that makes her irreplaceable.
A Quick Reality Check
Is she the "best" technical singer to ever grace the show? Probably not.
Does she have the most wins? No, she’s had her fair share of losses.
But The Voice isn't a singing competition—it's a personality competition disguised as a singing one. And in that arena, Lena wins every time.
How to Follow the "Lena Path"
If you’re an aspiring artist watching her clips and wondering how to get that kind of longevity, there are a few takeaways.
- Authenticity is Currency. Lena never tried to be the "perfect" pop star. She was messy, loud, and weird. That’s why people still care about her 15 years after her debut.
- Pivot When Necessary. She didn't just stick to singing. She did voice acting (she’s the German voice of Jane in Tarzan and Poppy in Trolls), she did modeling, and she became a definitive TV personality.
- Stay Human. The reason her "The Voice" clips work is because she reacts like a fan, not a judge.
Whether she returns for another season or focuses entirely on her touring, her impact on the format is permanent. She turned a "junior" version of a show into something that even adults find themselves binge-watching at 2:00 AM.
If you want to see her in action, the best place to start is the 2023 or 2024 seasons of The Voice Kids Germany. The talent is insane, but the coaching panel—led by the veteran Lena—is usually the real star of the show.
Check out the official YouTube channel for The Voice Kids to see the full performances. If you're looking for her latest music, her recent singles provide a great look at how much she's changed since the "Satellite" days. It's a pretty different vibe, but the soul is the same.