Big Changes Come to THE VOICE Season 26
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE VOICE’s 26th season just premiered, and several exciting changes are coming to the show.
The first change is the two new judges. Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg have joined the panel alongside Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani.
Another new update to the show is the “Coaches Replay” feature. This allows judges to snag contestants they didn’t initially spin around for during the Blind Auditions.
NBC broke down what exactly the new rule entails:
- An Artist performs their Blind Audition, and a Coach doesn’t turn for them.
- All chairs turn to meet the Artist. The Artist shares a little of their story. If a Coach who didn’t originally turn feels compelled by the Artist after meeting them, they can use their Coach Replay button to try and get them.
- Coaches only have one Replay button each during the Blinds.
- Unless surprises are in store later this season, the Coach Replay button seems to only be available during Blind Auditions and not later stages of the competition.
“I’m a real Coach in real life, so I like to replay and see what I’ve done right or wrong,” Snoop Dogg said. “So the replay makes a lot of sense!”
“More than a dozen aspiring singers took to THE VOICE stage in Monday’s two-hour season opener with big dreams of winning the $100,000 grand prize, a record deal at Universal Music Group and the opportunity to work with the best in music,” Yahoo reported. “It was quite the premiere with signature four-chair turns, dramatic coaches’ blocks and even a duet between a coach and a young hopeful.”
Singer Sofronio Vasquez got the fastest four-chair turnaround of the night with his rendition of Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down.” Several other contestants received four-chair turns as well.
“Night one of the Blind Auditions were PHENOMENAL!!” THE VOICE posted on Instagram. Fans commented their excitement.
“Snoop, you did amazing, your spirit and how you are showing your emotions. I loved you before and love you even more now…you are showing millions of guys what a man is….” one person exclaimed of the new judge.
Another user chimed in, “This season is going to be great. Awesome judges who interact great with each other. No awkwardness. They all seem genuine and encourage and teach even the artists that don’t get picked.”
THE VOICE airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC and streams on Peacock.
Movieguide® previously reported on Bublé’s excitement for the show:
Michael Bublé is happy to be around on THE VOICE Season 26, which has a special mesh of coaches, unlike any previous season of the show.
“I was really nervous to do the show,” Bublé told TV Insider this week. “But from what I hear from the crew that’s been there all 14 years, is that there’s been nothing like this [group of coaches]. We’re just a group that gelled and really complement each other, really liked each other. I think it’s a special thing, and I really can’t wait for people to see it. I think they’re going have a tremendous time watching…”
THE VOICE has a high-energy atmosphere, but Bublé loves it.
“It’s intense. But it’s the best job I’ve ever had. My mom and dad came today to see the first taping and they were like, ‘This is the greatest show on earth.’ It’s electric,” he said.
