The Voice Season 28 Battles Ignite: Twists, Triumphs & Tough Goodbyes

Season 28 of The Voice just kicked off its Battle Rounds, and let us tell you, it was a rollercoaster from start to finish! Across two jam-packed nights, we saw some seriously game-changing twists, powerhouse vocal showdowns, and tough decisions from coaches Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, and Niall Horan. With superstar advisors like Kelsea Ballerini and Lizzo in their corners, the artists gave it their all, leading to some unexpected saves and emotional goodbyes. Grab your popcorn, because you won't want to miss a beat of what went down!

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on The Voice Battles Season 28

• For the first time ever in The Voice history, contestants chose their own battle partners, adding a thrilling new layer of strategy and surprise to the competition.
• Coaches utilized their crucial "steal" and "save" options strategically, ensuring some incredible artists remained in the running even after losing their initial duels.
• Across two intense nights of competition (October 13 and 14), a total of nine artists were eliminated, while many fan favorites and rising stars successfully advanced to the next stage, the Knockouts.

A Game-Changing Twist Kicks Off the Season 28 Battle Rounds

If you thought you knew The Voice, prepare for a shock! Season 28 threw a massive curveball into the Battle Rounds, completely changing the game. Instead of the coaches hand-picking who would face off, for the very first time, the artists themselves were tasked with choosing their own duet partners. Imagine the pressure, the alliances, the sheer drama!

This unprecedented move was first revealed by Snoop Dogg to his team on the October 13 episode, and needless to say, it left contestants reeling. Sadie Dahl called the rule change "wild," while Emmanuel Rey admitted it left him "at a loss for words." The scene was described as pure "pandemonium" as artists, having only seen each other's Blind Auditions, quickly had to decide who they wanted to go up against. It was a mad scramble that put friendships and rivalries to the test right from the start.

Snoop Dogg, ever the master of cool, actually loved the change. He explained that "letting them pick has taught me so much about my artists in terms of how they think, how they move." This meant coaches got a deeper insight into their team members' strategic thinking and confidence. While the artists chose their partners, the coaches still had the important job of selecting the perfect song for each pairing, ensuring they showcased both voices effectively.

Meet Your Superstar Battle Advisors Lending Expert Guidance to the Teams

Behind every great coach is an even greater advisor, and Season 28 certainly delivered on the star power! The coaches brought in some serious heavy-hitters from the music world to help their teams fine-tune their performances and mentally prepare for the intense Battle Rounds. These music legends offered invaluable feedback, honed vocal arrangements, and helped ease those pre-battle nerves. Let's meet the dream teams:

• Team Bublé's Advisor: Kelsea Ballerini. Country music superstar Kelsea Ballerini reunited with Michael Bublé, having just been a full-time coach herself in Season 27 alongside him. Bublé called her "one of the greatest coaches of all time," praising her intelligence, intuition, and musicianship. Ballerini, for her part, loved being on the advisory side: "Being an advisor's so much fun because I just get to be a cheerleader and give advice, and then also he [Bublé] has to make all the hard decisions and I don't have to be the bad guy." Sounds like a sweet gig!
• Team Snoop Dogg's Advisor: Lizzo. The incomparable "Good As Hell" and "About Damn Time" hitmaker, Lizzo, made her first-ever appearance on The Voice as an advisor for Team Snoop. With her incredible versatility in singing, rapping, writing, dancing, and even flute playing, Lizzo brought a unique, genre-bending perspective that was invaluable for mentoring Snoop's diverse team.
• Team Reba McEntire's Advisor: Nick Jonas. A very familiar face to The Voice, Nick Jonas, a former coach from Seasons 18 and 20 and a Battle Advisor in 2015, returned to lend his pop expertise to Team Reba. What's even cooler is that Jonas and McEntire share a history dating back to his childhood acting days on Broadway, where they starred together in Annie, Get Your Gun. Talk about a reunion!
• Team Niall Horan's Advisor: Lewis Capaldi. Niall Horan called on his longtime friend, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, to mentor his team. Horan knows Capaldi's talents well, as the two even co-starred in a 2022 road documentary. Capaldi's distinct, raspy vocal style and raw emotion made him the perfect choice to guide Niall's artists through the pressures of the Battles.

Night One Battles: Emotional Starts and Shocking Saves on October 13

The first night of Battle Rounds, airing Monday, October 13, certainly didn't hold back. It delivered a thrilling mix of fantastic duets, some truly unexpected outcomes, and even a few happy tears from Reba McEntire. While 15 singers would participate in total across both nights, only nine would make it through each night either by winning outright or being saved/stolen.

Team Snoop Dogg Kicks Things Off with a Soulful Showdown

Team Snoop Dogg was up first, featuring Yoshihanaa (A-) and Natalia Albertini (A) battling it out on Aretha Franklin's iconic "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." The critics noted that while Yoshihanaa started strong, Natalia's performance was elevated by a "generous helping of stank" and a deeply emotional delivery. Snoop ultimately picked Yoshihanaa as the winner, but in a smart move to keep both powerhouses, he wisely used his save to keep Natalia on his team. A great strategic play!

Reba McEntire's Team Delivers Classic Country Harmony

Next, on Team Reba, Aaron Nichols (A) and Daron Lamee (A) teamed up for Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." These two artists, despite having vastly different voices, blended "like magic," creating tight, soaring harmonies that impressed everyone. Reba, naturally drawn to Aaron's strong country vibe that aligns with her own wheelhouse, chose him as the winner. Unfortunately, the talented Daron Lamee was eliminated, leaving many fans wishing for a save or steal that never came.

Team Bublé's "Virtual Insanity" Performance Sparks a Coach Frenzy

One of the most talked-about battles of the entire round came from Team Bublé, as two four-chair turns, Jazz McKenzie (B+) and Trinity (A-), took on Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity." These two were destined for an epic clash, and they delivered! Jazz showcased stunning low notes, while Trinity fearlessly explored her higher register, taking the song to "very interesting places." Michael Bublé, facing an agonizing decision, ultimately named Jazz McKenzie the winner. But the drama was far from over! In an instant, all four coaches—Snoop Dogg, Reba, and Niall—were ready to steal Trinity. Snoop Dogg even brought out his adorable French bulldog, Baby Boy Broadus, in a charming attempt to sway her! In the end, Bublé quickly used his save to keep Trinity on his team, and she chose to remain loyal, appreciating his "hands-on" and fun coaching style. This meant both incredible artists moved forward, much to the delight of the coaches and viewers.

"I used to be on tour with Jamiroquai. Y'all took that man's song and put some herbs and spices. ... This right here was what 'The Voice' is built on, great showmanship."

— Snoop Dogg on Jazz McKenzie and Trinity's electrifying "Virtual Insanity" battle.

Niall Horan was equally blown away, exclaiming, "Wowee! You two just brought a different league. I dislocated a hip," before doing an awkward dance move. Reba McEntire praised both, noting, "Jazz, your tone is round, powerful. Trinity, wow, I don't understand how you found all those notes. That was like a jazz I was trying to follow." Michael Bublé himself had glowing words for Jazz, stating, "Jazz has a really pitch-perfect voice. She has no fear and I think it just leads her to have really no ceiling. There is no reason why at the end of this competition, Jazz isn't standing there as one of the finalists." High praise indeed!

More Intense Battle Action and Tough Decisions from Night One

Team Niall saw Dustin Dale Gaspard (B+) go against Revel Day (A-) on Hozier's viral hit "Too Sweet." While Dustin did a "serviceable job," Revel's smooth low notes and stronger impression on the song's bigger moments truly captured attention. However, Niall Horan made the difficult choice to keep Dustin on his team, unfortunately ending Revel's journey on The Voice.

Back on Team Snoop, Kenny Ike (A-) and Kanard Thomas (A-) performed Joe's smooth R&B track "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)." This was described as a "close call," with both artists doing an "excellent job of connecting with the audience." Their performances were strong, but perhaps a bit too similar. Snoop Dogg felt more strongly about Kenny's delivery, leading to Kanard's elimination.

Night one wrapped up with Team Bublé's Rob (B) and Austin Gilbert (B+) singing Blake Shelton's country classic "Honey Bee." This duet was the perfect emotional close, giving us a twist ending. Austin, with his "mighty mustache powers" and infectious enthusiasm, gave the song the "oomph it desperately needed." Michael chose to keep Rob on his team, but his loss turned out to be Reba McEntire's gain! With tears in her eyes, Reba wasted no time hitting her steal button, praising Austin's heart and voice. "You're a cowboy," she told him, securing a strong country artist for her team and fulfilling a promise she made during the Blinds to steal him if she got the chance.

By the end of Monday night, Daron Lamee, Revel Day, and Kanard Thomas were all eliminated from the competition. But the show was just getting started!

Night Two Battles: Surprises, Solid Duets, and a Puzzling Elimination on October 14

Tuesday, October 14, brought the highly anticipated second night of Season 28 Battles. While coach Reba McEntire was noted to be in "much higher spirits" than her emotional Monday, the decisions were still incredibly tough. Out of 15 singers who stepped onto the stage, only nine remained by the end of the two-hour event, with six eliminations and one crucial save, rounding out the Battle Round action.

Team Reba Kicks Off with a Gen X Anthem Battle

Team Reba opened Tuesday's show with an interesting pairing: indie duo Letter to Elise (B) and Ryan Mitchell (A-) taking on Simple Minds' iconic "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Despite the coaches' "unanimous praise," critics found the whole thing felt "like an awkward threesome," with Letter to Elise's members having to balance each other and Ryan. Ryan Mitchell, however, stood out from the pack, adding a "cool sensuality" to the anthem and showcasing his impressive range, which ultimately secured him the win. The elimination of Letter to Elise was considered a "deep cut" for those who enjoyed their unique sound.

Snoop Dogg's Rihanna Ballad Leads to a Quick Steal

On Team Snoop, Sadie Dahl (B+) and Toni Lorene (A) absolutely crushed Rihanna's powerful ballad "Love On the Brain." Toni injected more raw emotion and showcased "sick runs," securing her spot as the winner. Sadie, despite giving "considerably less energy" and not seeming as connected to the song, was quickly stolen by Niall Horan! This move surprised some, given the specific battle performance, but clearly, Niall saw Sadie's underlying talent and potential.

Bublé's Own Song Proves Tricky for His Talented Team

Michael Bublé gave his own hit song, "It's a Beautiful Day," to Lucas Beltran (B+) and Max Cooper III (B+). It seemed like an "unfair song" for Lucas, who was already described as a "mini version" of Bublé, potentially making it hard to stand out uniquely. However, much to the surprise of some, Max Cooper III brought an "authenticity" to the performance that Lucas's more "lounge-singer approach" lacked, leading to Max's well-deserved win and Lucas's elimination.

Niall Horan's Team Delivers an Evenly Matched Country Performance

Team Niall presented one of the more "evenly matched battles" of the night with Camille Tredoux (A-) and Kayleigh Clark (A) singing "Cowboys Cry Too." Kayleigh brought a poised, polished, and pure country vibe, while Camille approached the performance with more of a singer-songwriter flare. When their voices blended, it was described as "smooth like butta!" Kayleigh Clark ultimately secured the win, with Camille Tredoux being eliminated despite her strong showing.

Quick Cuts and Intense Energy from Team Bublé and Reba

Another quick battle from Team Niall featured Alex Brown (B+) and Liam von Elbe (A-) on The Cranberries' classic "Linger." From what viewers saw, this felt like "100% the Liam show," with Alex mainly providing excellent high notes for harmonies but lacking a distinct spotlight. Liam's performance had "a little something extra," leading to his expected win and Alex's elimination.

Team Bublé's Carly Harvey (B+) and Marty O'Reilly (A-) then battled it out on "At This Moment." This outcome largely came down to "energy." Marty's "smoky rasp" and undeniable presence, as he "felt like he was fully living in the moment," outshone Carly's performance, which felt more like a "rehearsal take." Marty was the clear winner, and Carly was eliminated.

The night concluded with a magnificent bang from Team Reba, as Aubrey Nicole (A) and Cori Kennedy (A) absolutely tore through Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert's iconic duet, "Somethin' Bad." Both artists served "attitude and energy for days," instantly locking in and bringing the house down. Cori, with her "signature growl," definitely took the reins a bit, but Aubrey confidently held her own. This battle "could have gone either way," so Reba made a brilliant move by saving Aubrey Nicole after Cori Kennedy was declared the winner. To top it off, Snoop Dogg even tried to steal Aubrey for his team, but she ultimately decided to stick with Team Reba. What an incredibly exciting way to close out the Battle Rounds!

After both nights, we said goodbye to a host of talented singers, but celebrated the advancements of many more. The stage is now set for the next thrilling phase!

What's Next for The Voice Season 28? The Intense Knockouts!

With the Blind Auditions and Battle Rounds now behind us, the remaining 32 artists are preparing for the highly anticipated Knockouts round. This is where the competition truly intensifies, as artists will perform solo, selecting their own songs, and fighting tooth and nail for their coveted spots in the Live Playoffs. Expect even more incredible talent, tougher decisions, and strategic brilliance from the coaches as we move closer to finding the next Voice superstar. Don't miss a single moment of the action!

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About The Voice Season 28 Battles When did The Voice Season 28 Battle Rounds air? The first night of the Battle Rounds for Season 28 aired on Monday, October 13, 2025, and the second night followed on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Where can I watch The Voice Season 28 episodes? You can catch new episodes live on NBC on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c. If you miss the live broadcast, episodes are available to stream the very next day on Peacock. For live streaming without cable, options like FuboTV, DIRECTV, and Sling often offer free trials to new users. What was the significant new twist for The Voice Season 28 Battle Rounds? For the first time in the show's 28-season history, the contestants themselves were responsible for choosing their duet partners for the Battle Rounds. While the artists picked their opponents, the coaches maintained their role in selecting the songs for each battle. What do "Save" and "Steal" mean in The Voice Battle Rounds? During the Battle Rounds, each coach is given one "save" and one "steal" to use. A "save" allows a coach to keep an artist who lost their battle, but that artist remains on their original team. A "steal," on the other hand, enables a coach to take an artist who lost their battle from another coach's team and add them to their own, offering a second chance in the competition. Sources

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