The Voice coaches stocked up on secret weapons heading into the show’s 28th season.
Michael Bublé showed up wearing socks with Reba McEntire’s face on them (and jokingly warned Niall Horan not to ask about his underwear!). Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg, still aiming for his first win, began bringing his French bulldog puppy, Baby Boy Broadus, to the set, seemingly hoping the adorable pup would bring him some good luck.
Snoop Dogg also showed up this summer with personalized jewelry for his fellow coaches. He’s adding to his own signature “S” necklace and giving his team members necklaces with a “T” for ‘team’.
Reba, returning after a season off, shared that she especially missed the bond with the other coaches. Speaking with Snoop, Michael, and Niall (who hadn’t been on the show for three seasons) during an NBC interview on September 8th, she explained how much she enjoyed the thrill of discovering new talent and having the power to potentially change someone’s life with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. She described it as both exciting and a little nerve-wracking.
The country singer was lucky she enjoyed that segment, because *The Voice* hasn’t changed much since it began in 2011. The show originally featured coaches like Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, and the famously competitive Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, all sitting in iconic red chairs that would turn to signal their interest in hopeful contestants.
And you never know what might happen when a singer starts speaking.
Kelly Clarkson, who coached on a singing competition show for nine seasons and won four times, explained to *People* magazine in 2018 that she’s sometimes been really impressed with a singer’s voice, only to realize after talking to them that they weren’t quite ready for a career in the spotlight. It wasn’t always about talent; personality mattered too.
Even if the coaches later regret their decisions, they’re still the experts and know what they’re doing.
Blake told *People* that even with the new rules, artists still need to perform their duties. He added that those who refuse to cooperate rarely succeed for very long. Adam concurred, saying that if artists aren’t willing to take direction, he’s fine with them doing their own thing, even if it means they won’t last in the competition.
Now that the blind auditions have begun, Reba, Niall, Michael, and Snoop are all counting on their ability to recognize talented singers.
Now, Carson Daly has a role in choosing contestants. Thanks to the new ‘Carson Callback’ card, the only original host of *The Voice* can give a performer who didn’t receive a chair turn during their initial audition a second chance to win over the coaches.
Snoop was surprised by the unexpected decision, asking his fellow coaches what prompted the change. However, they all supported it, with Niall pointing out it took 28 seasons for Carson, who is also a producer on the show, to finally have this level of influence.
Ryan Mitchell was the first to receive the Carson Callback card, and he immediately used it to join Team Reba.
Some things don’t need fixing, and *The Voice* is a prime example. For 14 years, this show has run smoothly, earning nine Emmy Awards – four of them for being the best reality-competition program. Here’s a look at what makes *The Voice* so successful.
The winner of *The Voice* receives a recording contract with Universal Music Group, though the exact financial details aren’t publicly available.
Although NBC and the show’s creators haven’t officially said how much the winner receives, reports suggest the last contestant remaining wins $100,000.
Previous winners of the show have confirmed they received prize money. For example, Todd Tilghman, the winner of season 18, told *People* magazine in 2020 that the winnings would help cover his expenses for a while, and he wasn’t sure what the future held.
Okay, so he *said* he was trying to save money, but then he dropped this bomb! Apparently, his wife promised the kids Disney World, and honestly? He totally caved. He’s going all out on that trip too, even if it messes up his budget. I just *knew* he wouldn’t be able to resist making his family happy, it’s so him!
Not that the value of the music opportunities that open up for the winners should be discounted.
In May 2025, Adam David, the winner of season 27 and a member of Team Bublé, told *Parade* that he’s planning to release new music and tour. He has a collection of songs and wants to work with his songwriter friends on the project.
Besides directly contacting singers like Frenchie Davis – who hadn’t been on *American Idol* for eight years – *The Voice* usually held live auditions across the country. More recently, though, the show has moved the initial talent search online. Judges now review video submissions and hold virtual open calls to find potential contestants, who might then get the chance to perform for the coaches and hopefully get a chair turned.
Participants need to be 13 or older to audition. During the audition, they have 90 seconds to introduce themselves and sing a song of their choice. The show recommends choosing a song that showcases their voice and personality as a musician.
According to executive producer Audrey Morrissey, judges spend five to six days listening to auditions, seeing around 18 to 20 performers each day. Once a contestant is chosen for the blind auditions, they spend several days rehearsing with the show’s band, getting help with their wardrobe and style, and practicing camera positioning on stage, Morrissey explained in a 2018 interview.
The show also involves filming introductory packages for the contestants and their families, which came as a surprise to Ddendyl Hoyt, a former contestant from season six. She explained to the Washington Post in 2014, “I didn’t realize reality TV was filmed like a drama – in separate segments. That’s actually the most time-consuming part of the whole process.”
You can try out for the show as many times as you like, but only once each season. Even if you don’t succeed in the initial rounds, or if you make it to the auditions but don’t get on a team, you’re welcome to try again next season.
In a 2023 interview with *Newsweek*, coach Reba McEntire, who previously guided Asher HaVon to victory on season 25, explained that she prefers to offer constructive feedback rather than harsh criticism. She believes in telling contestants to try again next season with a song that better showcases their abilities and encourages them to return and improve.
Starting with season 28, a new “Carson Callback” card was introduced. It allows host Carson Daly to give a second chance to a contestant who didn’t receive any chairs turned during their initial audition.
The show employs a large wardrobe team to make sure contestants are styled in high-fashion outfits, but only after they’ve joined a team.
As a longtime fan, it’s amazing to hear that Morrissey and his team really focus on the visual side of things! He told SheKnows they carefully select outfits for each artist, and then they actually tailor those looks to *each* individual live performance. It shows how much thought and care goes into every detail of the show.
The celebrity coaches aren’t working around the clock, but they’re really dedicated to preparing their teams for the battle rounds and everything that comes after.
According to Morrissey, the coaching lasts for four days, while the competitions themselves run for two.
How much a coach helps each performer really varies, she explained. Some coaches enjoy being heavily involved in all aspects of the performance, meticulously planning every detail. Others prefer to concentrate on the musical side – the song itself and how it’s arranged.
Morrissey noted that some coaches prefer texting, while others use email. He also explained that all communication between coaches and artists happens privately and increases as the competition progresses and more is at stake.
Former contestant Hoyt explained to the *Post* that the show isn’t just about the singers themselves. A lot of help comes from behind the scenes – vocal coaches, the band director, and even the producers all offer guidance and notes to the contestants.
In a September 2025 interview with Access Hollywood, Snoop Dogg highlighted the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry. He explained that the crew and support staff often don’t receive enough recognition for their hard work, noting they handle everything behind the scenes so performers can simply focus on their jobs onstage.
Between coaches and artists, Morrissey said, “The No. 1 communication is about song choice.”
Artists can share their opinions on which songs to perform, but ultimately the coaches usually make the final decision.
Frenchie, a contestant on the first season who was coached by Christina Aguilera, recalled to Cosmopolitan in 2021 that it was often funny when the judges criticized a song choice, because the contestant felt the judges themselves had approved it.
As a huge fan, I was so thrilled to see Huntley win Season 24! He actually gave all the credit to his coach, Niall Horan, telling NBC Insider that Niall really has a gift for choosing the perfect songs. It’s clear Niall’s guidance made all the difference for Huntley, and I couldn’t agree more!
Coaches all communicate differently – some prefer texting, while others use email, she explained to SheKnows. As the competition progresses and the pressure increases, they communicate more frequently. Most of their conversations revolve around the artists’ song selections.
Before the show begins, potential contestants are evaluated to make sure they can handle the stress of the competition. Throughout the show, and even after it ends, mental health experts are available to support the artists.
Former contestant Kat Perkins explained to *Cosmopolitan* that the show’s counselors would check in on contestants’ mental health immediately after elimination. As soon as someone left the stage, they’d go straight to a debriefing with a psychiatrist to process the experience. Perkins emphasized this was crucial, stating that the show is unlike anything else and can be emotionally traumatic, leaving contestants unprepared for such an intense situation.
The show’s coaches are experts at identifying talent, and their iconic red chairs have changed over time. These chairs can still spin around with the touch of a button. In 2018, the chairs got a modern update and gained a new feature: each coach now has one chance per round to block another coach from trying to recruit a particular singer.
Let me tell you, these chairs are seriously next-level comfort! We’re talking a super sturdy aluminum frame – think car quality – and a gorgeous finish. But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve even built in self-adjusting heaters – I joked with Access Hollywood that me and Reba are the kings of keeping your backside warm! And for those long sessions, we added dual cupholders, a request specifically from Blake Shelton. It’s all about maximizing comfort, y’all!
Perkins says the impressive ‘whoosh’ sound you hear when the chairs swivel on the show isn’t actually recorded during filming – it’s added later in editing.
It’s easy to miss, she explained to *Cosmo*, particularly when you’re concentrating and performing for the audience in the studio.
Friendly banter between the coaches has always been a fun part of *The Voice*, but over the show’s 16 seasons, it was often hard to tell if Blake Shelton and Adam Levine were genuinely annoyed with each other, or if they were just playing up their rivalry for the cameras.
Blake described their relationship as intense and complex, telling *The Tennessean* in 2017 that they often argue and get frustrated with each other. He explained they share a deep, almost inexplicable connection, like those two friends everyone knew in high school – a bond that can bring out both their best and worst qualities. He characterized it as a volatile relationship, admitting he knows exactly how to provoke his friend.
Translation: “He’s one of the best friends that I have, but I still want to kill him sometimes.”
And even though they haven’t competed against each other since 2019, Adam knows what the fans want.
Ahead of his return to ‘The Voice’ in February 2025 for season 27, the original coach shared a nostalgic photo remembering the after-party for season 1, which he hosted at his home and featured plenty of dips. He jokingly tagged Blake Shelton in the post.
These days, coaches are much less likely to publicly share each other’s personal contact information.
Oh my gosh, when Niall said that on NBC, my heart just melted! He was so worried, you know? He was afraid that working with Snoop Dogg would turn into one of those fake TV things where they pretend to be excited for the cameras – he even *did* the fake enthusiasm voice, it was adorable! He was honestly nervous about even *starting* the show, because he didn’t want their connection to seem forced. And he was SO relieved it wasn’t! It just proves how genuine their friendship is, and honestly, it makes me love them both even more!
Read More
- “Sadly you don’t know how to launch in India”: OpenAI debuts ChatGPT Go at under $5/month to promote affordability, but reactions are mixed
- Eve Teschmacher’s Secret: How She REALLY Saved Superman!
- Skate 4 – How to Christ Air | Redemption Air
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Hideo Kojima’s Xbox Horror Game OD Gets Terrifying New Trailer
- Silver Rate Forecast
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A DLC ‘Mega Dimension,’ new Mega Evolutions announced
- BREAKING: Paramount Prepares Bid to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in Massive Media Earthquake
- Dandadan Has Bad News for Fans Waiting for Season 3
- Inside Charlie Kirk’s Family Life With Wife Erika Frantzve Kirk
2025-09-28 10:18