NBC’s The Voice continues with blind auditions in Season 28, and the drama is already ramping up. Coaches Michael Bublé, Niall Horan, Reba McEntire, and Snoop Dogg are navigating contestants, bold block moves, and emotional moments as they vie to build strong teams. Here’s a full recap of the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes tension with The Voice 28.
How the Blind Auditions Are Shaking Out (and How Many Artists Advance)
The Voice Season 28 premiered on September 22, 2025, airing Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC (with next-day streaming on Peacock).
In this season, each coach is slated to end the blind auditions with 12 artists, for a total of 48 advancing contestants. A new twist this season is the Carson Callback: host Carson Daly can select one artist who failed to get a chair turn and give them another shot to audition.
Also new: each coach gets a single block to prevent another coach from recruiting an artist.
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Contestants You Should Know: From Blind to Battles
Several standout auditioners are already headed toward the Battle Rounds: Mindy Miller, Ralph Edwards, Yoshihanaa, Natalia Albertini, Sadie Dahl, Toni Lorene, and more. According to Us Weekly, these contestants are on teams led by Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Niall Horan, and Snoop Dogg.
From Wikipedia’s listing of teams in Season 28:
- Team Bublé: Lucas Beltran, Max Chambers, Rob Cole, Max Cooper III, Aarik Duncan, Austin Gilbert, Jazz McKenzie, Marty O’Reilly
- Team Reba: Manny Costello, Cori Kennedy, Peyton Kyle, Daron Lameek, Ryan Mitchell, Leyton Robinson
- Team Niall: Jack Austin, Kayleigh Clark, Revel Day, DEK of Hearts, Kirbi, Carolina Rodriguez, Aiden Ross
- Team Snoop: Natalia Albertini, Sadie Dahl, Ralph Edwards, Kenny Iko, Toni Lorene, Mindy Miller, Yoshihanaa
Emotional Auditions & Coach Moments: Bublé Gets Personal
One of the most poignant blind auditions came from Kayleigh Clark, a 20-year-old from Sumrall, Mississippi. She revealed that her father, who had given her her first guitar, had battled alcoholism. She said her father had now been sober for three years and was able to be onstage to see her audition.
After her performance of “Stay” by Sugarland, she received a rare 4-Chair Turn, and her father came up on stage. Bublé — visibly moved — threw him a football and said, “What a cool moment to get to watch your kid … makes me emotional… I got four beautiful kids, I’m so happy for you guys!” Reba McEntire cheekily pressed a button on her red chair to play a “wah, wah, wahhh!” trombone sound, injecting levity into the emotional moment.
Clark ultimately chose Coach Niall Horan.
Bublé’s family is ever on his mind. He frequently mentions his four children — Noah, Elias, Vida, and Cielo — whom he shares with wife Luisana Lopilato. He once wrote, “they’re the greatest things ever, they’re my joy” in a prior interview.
In a lighter but still telling moment, a video on set showed Bublé sitting on a couch looking despondent with the words “Missing my kids” overlaid — a reminder that coach life often takes him away from family.
Competition Among Coaches: Blocks, Brags, and Battles for Supremacy
Gold Derby’s coverage of the blind auditions reveals a fierce clash between Bublé and Niall around who can land the best artists and whether their “three-peat” legacies matter. In one recap, it’s noted that “Michael and Niall’s battle for ‘three-peat’ supremacy waged on even when Michael hadn’t turned around for an artist Niall wanted.”
In Gold Derby’s “The Voice 28 recap: Michael Bublé and Niall dramatic blocks,” coaches used bold block strategies that shifted the outcome of multiple auditions.
Behind the scenes, drama bubbled as Niall and Bublé mocked their fellow coaches, according to a fan post cited by a Facebook page called “Superior Voices.” That tension between them has only added stakes to their coaching rivalry.
Meanwhile, NBC Insider reported a bit of coach theater involving Blake Shelton, who may have left his seat but not the drama. In one recent audition, when Bublé got a bit too braggy, Niall pulled out a Shelton-ism to shut him down.
The Stakes & Coaching Legacies at Play
Michael Bublé comes into The Voice 28 as the defending champion, having won Season 27 with artist Adam David. That win gave him back-to-back titles, and he’s now chasing a historic three-peat.
Niall Horan is also gunning to extend his coaching legacy. He previously won Seasons 23 and 24. Reba McEntire has a prior win — she coached the Season 25 champion — and Snoop Dogg is still seeking his first.
But Bublé has said he’s no longer fixated on having the season’s winner on his team. In an interview published recently, he reflected: “Each one of us have multiple people on our team who literally could do it.” He added, “I know what my legacy’s gonna be. It’s not gonna be my music … It’ll be how I make people feel.”
What’s Next: Battles, Knockouts & Format Turns
The blind auditions will soon give way to the Battle Rounds, where coaches typically pair up two artists to sing head-to-head. However, in Season 28, that role is shifting: contestants themselves will choose their opponents rather than coaches.
In the Knockouts, a new “Mic Drop” button lets coaches flag a standout performance. One Mic Drop contestant per team will be voted on by viewers. The winner earns a performance slot at the Rose Parade on January 1, 2026.
Playoffs are also trimmed. Only one artist per team can advance to the Live Shows, and coaches lose the ability to “steal” losing contestants from other teams. That means just six finalists (four coach-selected + two viewer vote) will compete live.
Looking Ahead & Final Thoughts on This Voice 28 Recap
The Voice 28 is delivering early fireworks. Emotional auditions like Kayleigh Clark’s, bold blocks, and the rivalry between Bublé and Niall are already shaping the narrative. The new format elements — Carson Callback, contestant-chosen battles, the Mic Drop, and reduced live slots — will force coaches and artists to strategize more sharply than ever.
Having Michael Bublé open up about parenthood, saying he’s “so happy for you guys” in the moment of Clark’s audition, adds heart to the competition. Whether his team wins or not, he’s making it clear that his legacy extends beyond titles — and that emotional connection is part of what makes The Voice compelling.
With blind auditions nearing their end, keep your eyes on who earns the blocks, who wins the callbacks, and who is already being whispered about as a front-runner heading into the Battles of The Voice 28.
Recap by BuddyTV. Stay tuned for our Battle Round coverage.
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