As the echoes of heartfelt a cappella pleas and powerhouse choruses fade from the Blind Auditions stage, NBC’s The Voice Season 28 shifts gears into its most electrifying phase yet: the Battles. On October 7, 2025, host Carson Daly bid farewell to the red chairs’ swivel drama, locking in 48 diverse talents across four powerhouse teams led by Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé. What unfolded over six gripping nights was a showcase of raw emotion—from a 14-year-old phenom’s soul-stirring rendition to a last-second chair turn that saved a mountain mama’s dreams—culminating in rosters brimming with potential frontrunners. But as the spotlight pivots to head-to-head duels under the Grand Ole Opry’s hallowed lights, the real fireworks begin. Two former coaches are storming back as Battle Advisors, fueling whispers of dream team reunions and strategic shake-ups. And with rules rewritten to empower artists over coaches, this season’s Battles promise chaos, camaraderie, and cutthroat decisions that could redefine the competition’s legacy.

The Blind Auditions, which kicked off on September 22 amid the golden hues of a Nashville fall, delivered on every front: tear-jerking backstories, four-chair frenzies, and blocks deployed like precision strikes. Reba McEntire, the Queen of Country entering her fourth season after clinching victory in Season 25 with Asher HaVon, assembled a squad blending twangy troubadours and unexpected gems. Her team boasts Aubrey Nicole, whose haunting take on Cam’s “Burning House” left the icon misty-eyed, praising the 24-year-old’s “pure butter” vocals as a voice that “went all over me.” McEntire also snagged the eclectic duo Letter to Elise—best friends Elliott Hunt and Myra Tran, who redeemed Hunt’s Season 27 no-turn heartbreak with a synth-pop spin on a-ha’s “Take On Me.” “Y’all are right up my alley,” Snoop Dogg quipped post-turn, but McEntire’s country intuition won out. Standouts like Conrad Khalil, whose Usher-flavored “Caught Up” oozed charisma, and Emmanuel Ray, the elementary teacher whose Spanish serenade “Premiera Cita” evoked pure romance, round out a roster primed for vocal fireworks.

Niall Horan, the One Direction alum back for his third stint after back-to-back wins in Seasons 26 and 27, leaned into his pop-rock sensibilities, curating a team of versatile virtuosos. The Irish charmer blocked Bublé early to claim Dustin Dale Gaspard, a harmonica-wielding Louisiana bayou boy whose soulful “Bring It On Home to Me” evoked Sam Cooke in the swamps. Horan’s squad shines with Kirbi, the Alabama farm girl who honored her late grandmother with a rainbow-hued “God Only Knows” by For King & Country, shifting from whisper-soft to arena-bold. Ava Nat, a pint-sized powerhouse at 16, dazzled with her mature command of a ballad that had Horan declaring her a “frontrunner.” And in a nod to his boy-band roots, he scooped up Vinya Chhabra, the 14-year-old prodigy whose crystalline cover of a classic pop tune turned all four chairs, prompting Snoop to marvel, “You have a hell of a voice… come back if you need to.” Horan’s 12 picks, including the enigmatic Camille whose Joni Mitchell-esque vibrato he called “unique, its own thing,” position Team Niall as a harmonious force ready to harmonize heartbreak and hooks.

Snoop Dogg, the West Coast rap legend dipping back after a one-season hiatus, infused his second outing with laid-back swagger and surprise soul. His team pulses with urban edge and unexpected depth, like Makenzie Phipps, the self-proclaimed “mountain mama” who clinched a nail-biting last-second turn with Lainey Wilson’s “4x4xU,” her youthful twang laced with mature grit. Snoop bonded deeply with Kanard Thomas, a Season 16 Comeback Stage alum whose triumphant return on “A Song for You” sparked a four-chair frenzy; the Doggfather turned first, sharing a poignant connection over lost mothers. “My mom connected me to him,” Thomas reflected, sealing his spot. Other gems include the Broadway-ready belter who stormed “Go the Distance” like a hurricane, earning Snoop’s nod for her “big voice” fit for the stage. With steals like the Cincinnati crooner who infused Jackie Wilson’s “Lonely Teardrops” with fresh fire, Team Snoop embodies the rapper’s ethos: keep it real, keep it rhythmic, and always drop the mic with style.

Michael Bublé, the velvet-voiced Canadian in his third consecutive season, rounded out the Blinds with a velvet-gloved grip on jazz-inflected pop and soulful surprises. Fresh off his Season 27 triumph, Bublé’s team features Teo Ramdel, the Tijuana troubadour whose seductive Spanish “Historia De Un Amor” seduced all four chairs—though only he understood the lyrics. “I’m going to really shock you when a Chinese artist gets up and I start speaking Chinese,” Bublé joked post-turn, lamenting the universal pull of Ramdel’s timbre. The coach’s playful rivalry with Horan peaked in blocks and banter, but Bublé emerged with treasures like the New York revivalist who poured “Wish I Knew” with fur-coated richness, drawing Reba’s lone turn but Bublé’s steal in spirit. His roster, capped by emotional anchors like the one-chair wonder whose Chris Stapleton cover ached with authenticity, sets up a squad that’s equal parts smooth and stormy.

With teams finalized—12 artists each, totaling 48 voices poised for glory—the transition to Battles feels seismic. Airing starting October 13 in four pulse-pounding episodes, this round traditionally pits duos in dramatic duets, where coaches select winners to advance, often with steals adding intrigue. But Season 28 flips the script: for the first time, artists choose their own battle partners, a seismic shift from coach-orchestrated matchups. “The power shifts to the Artists,” producers teased, injecting strategy and alliances into rehearsals. Coaches still pick the songs, but self-pairing could spark dream teams or dreaded rivalries—imagine Horan’s pop prodigies self-selecting for a high-stakes harmony, or Snoop’s soul squad clashing over genre bends. Each coach wields one Steal and one Save during Battles, allowing rescues of eliminated foes or mid-round salvages, trimming teams to six per squad for the Knockouts.

Layering star power atop this remix are the Battle Advisors, unveiled October 7 like a Grammy afterparty invite list. Two former coaches headline the quartet, igniting speculation of insider edges and nostalgic nods. Kelsea Ballerini, the fresh-faced firebrand who helmed Season 27 after subbing for Kelly Clarkson in Season 20, returns to guide Team Bublé. The country chart-topper, whose Subject to Change era blended heartbreak with hooks, brings Opry-honed harmony tips—perfect for Bublé’s eclectic ensemble. Fans buzz about a “country crooner collision,” with Ballerini potentially schooling Ramdel on bilingual ballads or Khalil on R&B runs. Her prior Voice stints as Comeback Stage coach in Season 15 add mentorship muscle, but whispers swirl: could this pave her path back to the red chair in 2029?

Then there’s Nick Jonas, the Jonas Brothers heartthrob and solo sensation, advising Team Reba—a pairing as potent as peanut butter and jelly. Jonas, who coached Seasons 18 and 20 and advised Christina Aguilera in Season 8, shares a history with McEntire dating back to joint tours and her 2015 Broadway nod. “Our bond goes farther than the show,” Jonas hinted in promos, fueling chatter of a “Reba Renaissance” where his pop polish sharpens her country core. Picture Jonas workshopping Letter to Elise’s synth edges or Nicole’s emotive edges—could this duo unearth a crossover hitmaker? Social media erupts with theories: “Nick’s coming home to steal the crown,” one X user posted, while another speculated, “Reba + Nick = unbeatable vocal therapy.” Their off-stage friendship, including Ballerini’s past opening slots for the Jonases, hints at cross-team cameos.

Rounding out the advisors: Lewis Capaldi lends his gravelly gravitas to Team Niall, the Scottish soulster’s raspy resonance a mirror for Horan’s rock-leaning ranks. Fresh from his Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent tour, Capaldi’s expertise in emotional delivery could elevate Kirbi’s tributes or Vinya’s youthful yearning. For Team Snoop, Lizzo storms in with unapologetic flair, the flute-wielding Grammy queen behind “Truth Hurts” and “About Damn Time” set to infuse confidence and choreography. Her Watch Out for the Big Grrrls hosting chops promise dance-floor drills for Phipps’ twang or Thomas’ soul, with Snoop teasing, “She’s gonna make ’em feel good as hell.” This lineup—two alums, two fresh forces—sparks “exciting speculation”: Will Jonas poach Reba’s stars for future seasons? Could Lizzo’s energy clash with Snoop’s chill? X threads buzz with fan casts, from “Nick for Season 29 coach?” to “Kelsea + Bublé = jazz-country fusion frenzy.”

These advisors aren’t just guests; they’re game-changers in a season stacked with format flips. Beyond Battles, the ripple effects loom large: Knockouts introduce the “Mic Drop” button, letting coaches spotlight one standout per team for a fan-voted showdown at the 2026 Rose Parade. Playoffs pare further, with coaches advancing just one artist each while viewers vote in two more per team—slashing from eight to six semifinalists, no steals allowed. Lives then crown the $100,000-and-record-deal champ. The Carson Callback, debuted in Blinds to revive one no-turn talent like Ryan Mitchell’s emotional encore, underscores the season’s ethos: second chances, artist agency, fan fire.

As October 11 dawns, The Voice fandom simmers with anticipation. Will self-paired duos forge unbreakable bonds or bitter feuds? Can returning advisors like Jonas and Ballerini alchemize raw talent into radio gold? And in a format favoring the bold, who emerges from the Battles’ blaze? Season 28 isn’t just a competition; it’s a revolution—where voices clash, coaches conspire, and underdogs rise. Tune in Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and Peacock, as 48 dreams duel for one spotlight. In the words of Reba herself: “Fancy” meeting you there.