The Voice is celebrating its milestone 30th season this fall, and it’s certainly bringing the star power to the 2026 TV schedule. As I suspected, rumors of Blake Shelton’s potential return were greatly exaggerated, but I’m definitely not disappointed in the coaching lineup that NBC has assembled. Queen Latifah is set to join The Voice family alongside the previously announced Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and newcomer Riley Green, and I have to admit I’m a bit concerned about the country music artist.

The Voice prides itself on finding superstar talent to lead each season’s group of contestants, and Queen Latifah is unequivocally that. Not only does she have a music career dating back over three decades (earning her a Grammy and myriad other awards), she’s an actress who’s won an Emmy and a Golden Globe and been nominated for an Oscar.

I can’t wait to see how her experience and expertise informs her mentoring strategy, because while she’s never coached on The Voice before, Queen Latifah has been a guest judge on America’s Got Talent, sang at the Super Bowl and hosted numerous awards shows and her own talk show (Carson Daly better watch out!).

That’s obviously a lot more entertainment experience than Riley Green has accumulated, and I’m really interested to see how he plays that on The Voice Season 30.

That’s not to downplay the achievements the country singer has see in his comparatively short career. Riley Green hasn’t coached before, but he performed in The Voice finales for Seasons 26 and 28. He’s won numerous ACM and CMA Awards since releasing his debut studio album in 2019 and has hits with artists like Thomas Rhett and Luke Combs.

He also recently made his acting debut on the CBS series Marshals (streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), so clearly he’s qualified to coach entertainment industry hopefuls.

Riley Green also played college football, so we're probably looking at a strong competitive spirit. I also admit how naive it would be of me to underestimate how well any country music artist can do on The Voice. However, not only is Riley Green going up against Queen Latifah, he’s got to face two of the competition’s most venerated coaches.

Season 30 will be Adam Levine’s 19th time on The Voice, which is more than any coach other than Blake Shelton (23). He and Kelly Clarkson each have 4 wins — the most of any coach other than Shelton (9). Clarkson’s reign is all the more impressive because those victories came in just 10 seasons, giving her an impressive 40% win percentage.

I love that Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson are coming back, because they carry a legacy of winning, and I’m super pumped to see how Queen Latifah and Riley Green fit into the mix.

With this being the NBC singing competition’s 30th season, I’m sure Carson Daly’s got some twists up his sleeve, and the network has already teased special appearances from former coaches and mentors.

What we don’t yet know is the premiere date, but stay tuned, because we’ll definitely be on the lookout for The Voice Season 30 this fall on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Mother’s Day can be a wonderful time to honor the moms and other maternal figures in your life; however, for many people the holiday isn’t so easy. For the past few months we’ve been invested Savannah Guthrie’s tragic story, with still no resolution on what happened to her 84-year-old mother Nancy, who has been missing since February 1. Guthrie shared an emotional post Sunday, and her Today Show family and others reached out in support.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen the night of January 31, and despite evidence including blood that was not Nancy’s and camera footage showing a masked man around her house on the night of the disappearance, there has not been a break in the case to explain what happened to the 84-year-old. Savannah shared a slideshow of videos and photos of her mother, again pleading for someone to come forward with information. You can see her Instagram post below:

It’s wonderful that Savannah Guthrie has so many videos of Nancy to hear her mother’s voice, and her post also includes lots of photos of her mom over the years. In any other context, this would be such a happy tribute, but with so much uncertainty still surrounding the situation, it’s absolutely heartbreaking.

Savannah Guthrie isn’t going through it alone, though. In addition to her family, she’s got her colleagues — and the Today co-hosts are very much like family. Just like they did right after her mom disappeared, they reached out on Mother’s Day to offer kind words and prayers in the comment section of her post:

• Carson Daly: I will never stop praying. ❤️
• Katie Couric: 💔💔💔💔💔
• Andrea Canning: You have painted a picture for the world of the most wonderful and caring mother, Savannah… our hearts go out to you on this Mother’s Day and every day. ❤️🙏
• Dylan Dreyer: Thinking of you and I continue to pray every day
• Hoda Kotb: 🙏🙏 i love you sg …..Bring her home❤️

Savannah Guthrie returned to The Today Show in April after spending two months in Arizona amidst the investigation, and while some things have changed — increased security, for one — The Today Show crew is just trying to be there for Guthrie however they can be.

Unlike other Mother’s Day tributes that we saw on so many celebrities’ social media accounts Sunday, Savannah Guthrie’s message that accompanied the above slideshow was filled with heartache, as she said her family will not rest until they have answers. She also included the number to the FBI tip line, writing:

We all continue to hope for a conclusion to this case so that Savannah Guthrie and her family can finally learn what happened to Nancy Guthrie. There’s nothing else that could have made Mother’s Day easier for them, but I’m glad Savannah has so much support from her co-workers in the meantime.

Blake Shelton may no longer be on The Voice, but the trolling amongst his co-stars has never stopped. The country crooner’s final chair turn came back in 2023, but even after two years, we're still getting gems aimed right at the country singer. The Voice coaches are known for getting under each other’s skins, but I did not see Gwen Stefani taking some side shrapnel when Daly took it upon himself to humorously throw shade Shelton's Sexiest Man Alive title.

Ahead of The Voice Season 29’s premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, the cast gathered at a The Voice Karaoke Night in New York City. While there, Carson Daly had reminded fans that three former coaches have been crowned Sexiest Man Alive, including Shelton, who took the title in 2017. To this day, Daly joked with People he’s still unclear how that even happened:

To be fair, Shelton’s Sexiest Man Alive title definitely shocked a lot of people, not just Daly, but it came at a pretty fitting time in his life. The Voice was at its peak, and Shelton would go on to win his sixth season just a month after his new title was announced. Plus, he was doing well on the country charts. Even so, Daly still doesn’t understand why he was given the title, and he had my smiling with that sly Stefani crack.

I would love to know what Shelton’s response would be to this accusation, because he has trolling down to a science at this point. All joking aside, it is nice to know that everyone on The Voice gets along well enough to kid like this. t just shows how close everyone who has been on the show is. It's also nice to know that joking and trolling extends outside the competition series, such as when Kelly Clarkson even hilariously shaded Shelton during an impromptu vow renewal at one of her concerts.

As noted above, Daly is not the first person to troll Shelton, and he won’t be the last. When his new title was announced, Miley Cyrus also couldn't resist a Sexiest Man Alive dig in a video, saying no one knows sexy better than her, while Shelton was sitting next to her and drinking with his pinky out. We may be far off from 2017 at this point, but the title never dies, and neither do the jokes.

It’s unknown if Blake Shelton will ever return to The Voice, but if he does, I think we already know what the tone will be. At the very least, we can probably look forward to many more hilarious moments between the coaches and Daly, whether during The Voice or not.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals the winner of The Voice’s 28th season, which was announced December 16 on the live finale. The episode is available to stream with a Peacock subscription if you haven’t watched it yet.

That’s a wrap! The Voice Season 28 is in the books following a musical finale that occupied a three-hour block on the 2025 TV schedule before naming its latest champion. I can only imagine how nerve-wracking it was for the six finalists as they waited for the final seconds of the broadcast to hear Carson Daly announce the winner, and I’ve always wondered if the coaches get tipped off earlier in the day. Thanks to Michael Bublé, we now have that answer.

First things first, though. The Voice’s festive Holiday Spectacular kicked off with a preshow hosted by Ariana Madix and Dylan Efron that recapped Monday’s episode. That was followed by two hours of special performances from artists including XG, Zac Brown, Noah Cyrus, Neal Schon and Journey. At the end of it all, Carson Daly announced that America had voted Aiden Ross of Niall Horan’s team as the Season 28 champion.

The 20-year-old Texas resident was who I thought should win The Voice, based on his finale performances (and his entire season of work, honestly).

Aiden Ross’ victory means a third-straight win for Niall Horan, who remains undefeated on the show (he previously won Seasons 23 and 24 with Gina Miles and Huntley, respectively). Here’s where all six finalists finished:

• Winner: Aiden Ross (Team Niall)
• Second place: Ralph Edwards (Team Snoop)
• Third place: DEK of Hearts (Team Niall)
• Fourth place: Aubrey Nicole (Team Reba)
• Fifth place: Max Chambers (Team Bublé)
• Sixth place: Jazz McKenzie (Team Bublé)

Before the big announcement was made, Niall Horan suggested that none of the coaches were going to be surprised if they heard Aiden Ross' name called. He told his finalist:

So did Niall Horan and the others know at that moment who the winner was?

Michael Bublé Says The Voice Coaches Don’t Find Out The Winner In Advance

Michael Bublé gave us a peek behind the curtain by revealing when all of The Voice coaches learn the results of America’s vote, and it turns out they’re in the dark as much as the contestants and the audience. He said during Tuesday’s finale:

It’s pretty brutal that the results are kept secret from the coaches as well as the contestants, but it makes sense. You want their reactions to be genuine, and you definitely don’t want to run the risk of them spoiling anything too early.

The Voice may be finished for now, but the revamped Season 29 — with all-new rounds and plenty of surprises — is just around the corner, premiering on the 2026 TV schedule at 9 p.m. ET Monday, February 23, on NBC.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the final performances of The Voice Season 28, which aired December 15 and can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

The Voice went live for the first time in Season 28, opening the finale on a somber note, as Carson Daly gathered Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé and Niall Horan to send their love after Rob Reiner’s death and several other recent tragedies. They invited viewers to come together through the power of music, and what followed certainly was a special night. The six finalists each performed two songs in hopes of earning votes to be crowned the winner Tuesday. So, based on these finale performances, who do I think should take the prize?

Before the competition kicked off, there was some business to attend to. Carson Daly announced the results of America’s wildcard vote, revealing that Max Chambers from Team Bublé and DEK of Hearts from Team Niall would be competing alongside the four artists previously announced by The Voice coaches.

Let’s take a look at how everyone performed on the live stage, and then I’ll share who I think should be crowned The Voice Season 28 champion. (Artists are listed in order of their first performance.)

DEK Of Hearts (Team Niall)

Mic Drop winners DEK of Hearts — aka Dylan John, Emily Clapp and Kollin Bailey — took the stage first with “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The harmonies are easily the trio’s strength, and coach Niall Horan pointed out how consistently perfect their voices are when they come together.

Ahead of their contemporary choice — “Let It Go” by James Bay — a live TV hiccup caused a noticeable delay in the start of the performance. The artists seemed to be waiting on their cue, and Carson Daly looked ready to step in, when he was literally shooed away as someone off-camera yelled, “We’re good, we’re good!” All of the coaches praised the trio for maintaining their composure and then delivering another lovely three-part harmony.

Max Chambers (Team Bublé)

With Max Chambers’ experience on Broadway, it’s no surprise that he handled live TV like a pro. His contemporary song — “Your Way’s Better” by Forrest Frank — was a great choice for the 14-year-old, in my opinion, and Michael Bublé commended him for being bold enough to be so open about his faith.

Michael Bublé was in tears for most of the evening, as it must have been sinking in that his time on The Voice is coming to an end (Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine and John Legend have already been announced as the coaches for a revamped Season 29 coming to the 2026 TV schedule). Having the teenager tackle Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time” definitely didn’t make things less emotional. Bublé said we are all blessed to be witnessing the birth of a star.

Aubrey Nicole (Team Reba)

Reba McEntire brought a country music artist to the finale, and while that might not be a surprise, it’s pretty impressive that Aubrey Nicole was the only one-chair turn in the top 6. She started with a cover of Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t,” and it sounded to me like she was a tad nervous. She settled into it, though, and ended up hitting some big notes at the end.

For her classic song the artist paid homage to her coach with “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” That’s a pretty gutsy move — and not the finale song I’d expect — but she did it justice, adding some runs and a fair amount of sass. Reba McEntire was all smiles when it was over, saying Aubrey Nicole had “knocked it out of the park.”

Jazz McKenzie (Team Bublé)

Now, if you want to talk about a finale song, I present Jazz McKenzie’s “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins. It was hard to believe this performance came in the first half of the finale, because as the sparks fell from the rafters, I could have been fooled into thinking she’d just won the whole thing.

For her contemporary number, she put a spin on Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” making it less moody but more soulful. Snoop Dogg was straight-up sobbing at the end of it, and he thanked her for touching his heart. Michael Bublé, whose eyes rarely got the chance to dry during the two-hour show, said she’s about to become a star.

Aiden Ross (Team Niall)

Niall Horan was fighting an illness on Monday night, with Carson Daly saying they weren’t even sure he’d make it to the show. (They’ve already nixed his performances with his team members on Tuesday’s results show, as he’s on vocal rest.) But I don’t think his health was on his mind when Aiden Ross sang Jvke’s “Golden Hour.” Horan’s mouth was wide open, and he said he didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

That didn’t change when the artist closed out the show with what he called a “cinematic” version of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All.” The performance was absolutely finale-worthy, and Niall Horan said you could feel the energy in the room.

Ralph Edwards (Team Snoop)

Ralph Edwards really brought it to The Voice Season 28 finale. We were reminded that the 30-year-old had tried to get on the show 11 times before but never made it to the Blind Auditions — until he turned all four chairs this season. He left it all on the stage with a cover of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Snoop Dogg was rendered speechless, simply writing in his notebook, “And the winner is …”

The rapper was fired up again following Ralph Edwards’ second song, “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars. Snoop Dogg called him the complete package, as he’d added choreography to an already-fantastic vocal performance. He praised the artist for his resilience and said he’s proof that you can never give up on your dream.

Who Do I Think Should Win The Voice Season 28? Aiden Ross

On The Voice Season 28 premiere back in September, Aiden Ross’ audition was the very first one aired, and when he turned all four coaches’ chairs, I literally wrote in my notes, “Honestly could be the winner.” I’m standing by that prediction following his two ridiculous performances, because while several other singers have wowed me this season, there hasn’t been one time that Ross has taken the stage that I haven’t repeated my initial impression of him.

I think we’ve witnessed a season of phenomenal talent, and I don’t think there’s an artist amongst these six who I’d be mad to see win. You can do your part though, with voting open until 7 a.m. ET Tuesday. There are two methods available — The Voice Official App and at NBC.com/VoiceVote, with one vote allowed per email address, per voting method.

Then tune in at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, December 16, on NBC for a night of special performances and ultimately, the Season 28 winner being crowned.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals the results of Snoop Dogg’s final Knockout, which aired November 24. Episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

The Knockouts have concluded on The Voice’s 28th season with 16 artists headed to the Playoffs. This used to be the point in the competition when America got to start voting, and while Live Playoffs are unfortunately no longer a thing, this season did introduce a new twist that puts some control back in our hands — the Mic Drop.

Voting is now open to send one contestant to the Rose Parade, so let’s take a look at our four options and what they’ve accomplished so far.

What Is The Voice Mic Drop?

The Voice may be revamping the entire operation for Season 29’s “Battle of Champions” for the 2026 TV schedule, but Carson Daly has really kept us on our toes this season as well. First he introduced the Carson Callback, which allowed one artist to re-do his audition after not getting chosen, then in the Battles the artists got to pick their own partners, and now we have the Mic Drop.

Here’s how it worked: Each coach chose one standout Knockout winner as their Mic Drop, and now those four artists will be voted on by America, with the winner performing at the New Year’s Day Rose Parade. Let’s take a look at who we have to choose from:

Max Chambers (Team Bublé)

It’s not hard after watching Max Chambers’ Knockout performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing” why so many fans are predicting he could win the whole thing. Michael Bublé knew he had something special on his hands when he chose the 14-year-old for his team. Chambers auditioned with “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 before revealing to The Voice coaches that he actually portrayed “Little Michael” on Broadway in MJ The Musical in 2023.

The Mic Drop vote has no bearing on who wins The Voice Season 28, but if Max Chambers does bring it all home, he’ll be the youngest champion in Voice history, beating out Brynn Cartelli of Team Kelly Clarkson, who was 15 when she won in 2018.

• Coach Quote: At 14 years old he exhibits a mastery well beyond his years.

DEK of Hearts (Team Niall)

There’s been some debate amongst The Voice fans over the years about whether or not it’s fair to include duos and trios in the competition. Personally, I think the harmonies they provide support the premise of the show, and I really enjoy seeing them. The coaches obviously have no qualms, as DEK of Hearts earned a Four-Chair Turn with their Blind Audition of “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina.

The trio — made up of Kollin Bailey, Emily Clapp and Dylan John — went on to win their Battle with a cover of “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons and then brought it home with Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over You” in the Knockouts, which you can see above. If DEK of Hearts wins The Voice Season 28, they will be just the second trio to win the show after Girl Named Tom in Season 21.

• Coach Quote: The wall of sound they create when they sing together in three-part harmony is unlike anything in music right now.

Aaron Nichols (Team Reba)

Reba McEntire makes it a point to assemble a team full of artists from all different genres of music, but Aaron Nichols is country through and through. His Knockout performance of “Hurricane” by The Band of Heathens made this Louisiana girl beaucoup homesick, and I am obsessed now with his bluesy twang.

Chris Stapleton’s “Cold” was the perfect audition song for him, and he continued to impress the queen of country when he dueted on “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop in the Battle Round.

• Coach Quote: He’s a show dog, and he would do a great job at the Rose Parade.

Yoshihanaa (Team Snoop)

Last but not least we have Yoshihanaa, who was the final Mic Drop artist picked in the Knockout round. The Florida singer won her Knockout with a gorgeous rendition of the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duet “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Snoop Dogg said he had no choice but to drop the mic on her behalf, because she did everything but that on the stage.

Prior to the final night of Knockouts, Yoshihanaa initially caught the attention of the D-O-double G with her Blind Audition cover of “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” by Deborah Cox, then won a powerful Battle singing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” She made it to Snoop Dogg’s final four, but will she make it to the Rose Parade?

• Coach Quote: She was in full control. She showed America what she is and who she is.

How To Vote For The Mic Drop

Voting is open now to send one of the four artists above to the Rose Parade to perform live in front of millions of people on January 1, 2026, ahead of the historic Rose Bowl. Fans can vote on The Voice Official App and at NBC.com/VoiceVote, with one vote allowed per email address, per voting method. Voting will remain open until 7 a.m. ET Friday, November 28.

It’s unclear when the Mic Drop winner will be announced, because next week’s Playoffs were pre-recorded.

It’s also important to remember that this is not the vote to choose The Voice Season 28 winner, and the results of this vote don’t count for or against the artists in the competition. All four of these singers will continue in the Playoffs next week, regardless of how the Mic Drop vote goes.

It will be interesting to see if the winner of the Mic Drop is the eventual winner of The Voice overall, or if fans are leaning toward a different singer to take home the trophy. Tune in as Season 28 continues on the 2025 TV schedule at 9 p.m. ET next Monday, December 1, on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

There’s nothing quite like having a work bestie, especially for those who still work outside the home and may spend as many waking hours — if not more — with their co-workers as they do with family. The hosts of The Today Show definitely give off that BFF energy, but I never realized just how close they really are until Carson Daly and Jenna Bush Hager’s sweet admission on Today with Jenna & Friends.

Carson Daly was thrilled to be one of Jenna Bush Hager’s guest hosts on the fourth hour of The Today Show, which airs on the 2025 TV schedule weekdays on NBC. The Voice host had nothing but glowing things to say about his colleague, telling her, “I love you to death,” before describing her as a badass, smart and an incredible mother. This relationship apparently doesn’t end when the cameras stop rolling, as Bush Hager revealed how close their families are, saying:

That is absolutely adorable, and really shows how much time their kids must have spent together. Perhaps the biggest proof that The Today Show anchors are friends outside of the office, though, is the way they “bust each other’s chops” (much like Carson Daly’s rivalry with Blake Shelton), which he called his and Jenna Bush Hager’s “love language.”

After the former first daughter declared Carson Daly “the most fun guy on staff,” he quickly countered by wondering why, if that were the case, she’d welcomed “57 other guest hosts” before him.

It’s not just these two who are such good friends, the former TRL VJ said, but everyone you see on the NBC morning show. Those relationships aren’t something you can fake for the cameras, he said, continuing:

There are so many examples of the NBC hosts showing love for one another, including how Willie Geist reacted to Jenna Bush Hager calling his son a swear word on live TV. Members of The Today Show crew supported Al Roker a few years ago during his health scare, showing up at his house to sing Christmas carols. (Even then Carson Daly was making jokes about Hoda Kotb stealing his dressing room for her new closet.)

Also, despite the fact that Hoda Kotb has since left the show, she apparently still wakes up at 4:30 a.m. and sends Jenna Bush Hager voice notes. I’d imagine hearing a friend’s voice is a pretty nice way to start the day.

And, as close as The Today Show hosts are, I guess that is how they get to start most days! I love hearing these behind-the-scenes tidbits from Carson Daly, and it’s really nice to know their friendships are authentic. Catch the whole crew starting at 7 a.m. ET weekdays on NBC.

The hosts of daily news programs like Today are well-seasoned veterans who know how to kill it on live air. However, as they go about doing daily tapings for shows on the 2025 TV schedule, bloopers and slip-ups are inevitable. That point was hilariously made recently by Carson Daly, who recalled the story behind the time he seriously messed up pronouncing Leonardo DiCaprio’s name.

A few of Today’s hosts, Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly and Craig Melvin (who took over for Hoda Kotb after she left), spoke with Andy Cohen during Today Fan Fest about their work. The Watch What Happens Live host specifically asked about on-air bloopers toward the end of the segment, and immediately, The Voice host had an answer. Without missing a beat, he said:

That admission sent Guthrie and Melvin into fits of laughter. And while this story is quite funny, I know I’d certainly be mortified if I did something like that. To that point, Daly explained that to this day, he can’t say the One Battle After Another star’s name without his heart rate going up. He said:

That’s so fair! There are a lot of celebrities whose names get mispronounced, like Rihanna (it’s ree-ann-uh) and Raven-Symoné (it’s ray-ven see-mon-ye). And I have to admit, if I were reading a teleprompter really fast, I could see myself easily switching up a few letters in Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sadly, when you do switch the letters, you get “DiCrapio,” which is reminiscent, in a way, of the time Jenna Bush Hager cursed live on air. While Daly didn’t get bleeped for it, he stated that it was quite embarrassing.

However, he wasn’t the only one with a horror story. Craig Melvin said that one time, he read that a certain brand’s food had killed eight people, but that did not happen; eight people got sick. He said that slip-up almost got them sued. Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie recalled a time when she asked Khloé Kardashian if Rob Kardashian was her dad right before they cut to break. Andy Cohen admitted that he asked Oprah Winfrey an embarrassing question about if she’s ever “swum in the lady pond.”

So, they all had their tales of embarrassment, and I’m certain that every journalist has one too. I know I do.

However, you learn from them and become better because of them. Or, in Carson Daly’s case, you probably never pronounce Leonardo DiCaprio’s name wrong ever again.

Blake Shelton’s new singing competition, The Road, is set to make its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule on October 19, but his old buddies over on The Voice just can’t seem to quit this cowboy. Two years (and five seasons) after the country music star turned his Big Red Chair for the last time, Shelton is still getting trolled by his former colleagues — and, surprisingly, Niall Horan seems to have been the one to start it.

Of all The Voice coaches who have come and gone over the years, Blake Shelton has undoubtedly been the instigator of most of the drama, forming (friendly) rivalries with Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and even host Carson Daly. Niall Horan, however, was more of a son to Shelton, so it’s a bit surprising to hear the former One Direction member shading his pops in this Instagram video:

OK, who knew Niall Horan was such a good country singer? He and Blake Shelton really should collaborate on some music, because who taught him that warbling yodel that he did at the end there?

The ex-boy-bander tried his hand at Thomas Rhett’s new song “Old Tricks,” which just happens to feature Blake Shelton. Niall Horan couldn’t pass up the chance to take a shot at his buddy, as he said:

Admittedly, this is some mild shade being thrown but, considering Niall Horan confirmed on the current season of The Voice that he’d “always” be Blake Shelton’s son (after Michael Bublé tried to usurp the position of Horan’s father), I’m still a bit surprised.

It’s definitely more a page out of Carson Daly’s book and, sure enough, The Voice host chimed in in the comments about how Niall Horan’s version of “Old Tricks” compared to that of his Barmageddon co-host, writing:

They may have a funny way of showing it but, despite the barbs traded between Blake Shelton and Carson Daly, they became really close friends working together on The Voice for 12 years. Daly even officiated the cowboy’s wedding to Gwen Stefani — encouraging them to write their own vows, which led to Shelton penning their wedding song “We Can Reach the Stars.” (The song appears on the deluxe edition of his album, Body Language.)

Blake Shelton may not be sharing the screen with Niall Horan and/or Carson Daly anymore, but he hasn’t lost his passion for helping up-and-coming musical artists. His new show, The Road — which is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan — follows 12 budding country music artists around the country as they open for Keith Urban on tour.

The winner will receive $250,000 and a recording contract, but all of them will likely benefit from having Gretchen Wilson as their tour manager and Blake Shelton and Keith Urban there to impart their own wisdom. That’s not to mention the fans they make along the way while traveling the country.

Tune in to see Blake Shelton’s return to singing competitions when The Road premieres after Tracker, around 9 p.m. ET Sunday, October 19, on CBS. Meanwhile, you can find Niall Horan and Carson Daly on NBC, with The Voice Season 28 airing at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals some results from The Voice Battles that aired October 13 and 14. Season 28 episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you need to catch up.

The Voice may have announced that Season 29 is when they’re really revamping the game, but the season currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule has already been full of twists and turns. First we got the Carson Callback card in the Blind Auditions, and now they’ve changed the way Battle pairings are chosen. I actually love the new rule, but I’m afraid it may be to blame for one of the Season 28 frontrunners seeing an early exit.

Rather than having The Voice coaches choose which of their team members will face off in the Battles, this season — for the first time ever — the artists are choosing their own partners. It’s so interesting to see who the Season 28 contestants are pairing with, and already we’ve seen some duets that the mentors say they’d have never put together.

I Love The Unexpected Duets The New Twist Provides

Michael Bublé, for instance, never would have paired Four-Chair Turns Trinity Giselle and Jazz McKenzie together on Night 1, but he had no say in the matter when they partnered up. They killed their version of Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity,” and while McKenzie was named the winner, Giselle remained on Bublé’s team when he used his Save (despite all three of the other coaches trying to steal her).

Reba McEntire’s Aaron Nicholls vs. Daron Lameek was another duo that the country queen said she’d never have pictured, but their “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” was such a delightful blend of their respective genres.

The Twist Worked Against One Niall Horan Duo

Those are two examples of song choices that worked for both artists, but Niall Horan didn’t have the same luck on Night 2 with Camille Tredoux and Kayleigh Clark. Clark is a straight country singer, while coaches compared Tredoux’s voice to Joni Mitchell or Janis Joplin in the Blind Auditions, so when Kelsea Ballerini’s “Cowboys Cry Too” was picked for them, it definitely favored Clark’s style. Check out their battle below:

Both singers sounded amazing, to be honest, but that song was just clearly so much more in Kayleigh Clark’s wheelhouse. In past seasons, I just don’t see Camille Tredoux being eliminated so early, because there’s no way Niall Horan would have made these two frontrunners sing against each other. I also think a more neutral song would have allowed Tredoux to showcase her talents more to earn either a Save or a Steal.

I had Camille Tredoux highlighted for a long journey on The Voice, and I wasn’t the only one surprised by Tuesday’s results. Fans on X commented:

• That song was NOT fair for Camille. She deserves a save or steal. Give her a REAL chance! – danielfarish
• This was not the song for Camille. – houseofwarwick

On one hand I love how the Season 28 twist on the Battle round is giving us matchups based on artist chemistry that the coaches often wouldn’t have thought to attempt. I love that it keeps the coaches honest, too, because they can’t simply pit their favorites against their least favorites to curate the team they want.

Clearly, though, there is a downside to the new rule, and it became obvious anytime two powerhouses went up against each other. I wish both Kayleigh Clark and Camille Tredoux had been able to advance, and now I’m just hoping another twist will come along in the Knockouts to bring Tredoux back.

With everything we’ve seen so far this season, I feel anything is possible. Tune in for more Battles at 8 p.m. ET next Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Spoiler alert: This story contains some of the results from The Voice episode that aired September 29. You can stream this season with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

The Voice has been around for nearly 15 years, and it’s pretty typical for rules to be added and changed from season to season. For the current cycle airing in the 2025 TV schedule, the big twist involved Carson Daly, as he was given the Carson Callback card. The host took his newfound power out for a test drive in the Season 28 premiere, and now I’m furious that he was unable to help a different artist.

Justin Jenks knew his voice was going to be a surprise to The Voice coaches when he took the stage on the third night of Blind Auditions, but he definitely hoped for a different result. The 32-year-old put a unique spin on Marcy Playground’s “Sex and Candy,” but was unable to entice anyone to turn their chair. Michael Bublé and Niall Horan hung their heads in frustration when they saw Jenks, saying they thought they were listening to a duet. Bublé said:

Reba McEntire echoed those thoughts, as she and Snoop Dogg admitted they thought Justin Jenks was a woman (Snoop even made the artist sing to prove he’d been the one uttering those high-pitched notes.) McEntire said:

This is quite upsetting, because this scenario is EXACTLY what the Carson Callback is for — to keep deserving artists from slipping through the cracks. The card was introduced on the first night of Blind Auditions, when the host got mad that nobody turned for Ryan Mitchell. The artist was invited to come back the following night to audition again with a different song, and he made it onto Reba McEntire’s team.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m super happy for Ryan Mitchell and hope he does well with the country queen. I’m just frustrated that Carson Daly has already used the only chance for anyone to save an artist for this whole round of competition.

What happened to the Coach Replay? I know I was on the fence about that rule when it was first introduced, but Justin Jenks is the proof I needed to see just how valuable it is. Now, instead of each coach getting to save one person they didn’t push their button for, only Carson Daly has that power to save one person. And he already did it in the season premiere.

Check out Jenks’ audition below and see if you agree he belongs on a team:

I’ll just have to hope that we see Justin Jenks again, and theoretically we might not have to wait too long. The Voice’s revamped Season 29 filmed its pre-taped rounds simultaneously with the Season 28 episodes we’re watching now, so maybe he just stuck around? Only time will tell.

Until then, I hope no more mistakes are made on the coaches’ parts, because there’s no Carson Callback to help them now. The Voice airs at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the September 22 premiere of The Voice Season 28. The episode can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

The Voice is officially back, with Niall Horan and Michael Bublé battling it out to stay undefeated against fellow coaches Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire. It was teased ahead of the season that host Carson Daly would also be getting in on the fun when Season 28 premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, and sure enough, the Carson Callback was introduced in the very first episode. While we finally know how the twist works, I’m left with even more questions.

How Does The Carson Callback Card Work?

Carson Daly’s big moment came toward the end of the premiere, when 25-year-old Ryan Mitchell took the stage to sing Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams.” The host was visibly perturbed when the L.A. singer got no turns, muttering, “Why didn’t you push your button?” when Michael Bublé admitted Mitchell’s unique voice made him overthink it.

Again, during Niall Horan’s critique that he wanted to hear different sides of Ryan Mitchell’s voice, Carson Daly said under his breath, “That’s the song. He’s singing the song.” When the artist reunited with his family and Daly backstage, the host told him:

That’s when Carson Daly explained that after 28 seasons he was tired of The Voice coaches letting good artists fall through the cracks, and the show rarely got a “cool alt rock artist” like Ryan Mitchell. Daly introduced the Carson Callback, telling the artist he had 24 hours to rehearse another song before auditioning again the next day. In the host’s words:

So it looks like we’ll be seeing Ryan Mitchell again in Episode 2, which airs September 23. So, I’ve got a couple of questions about how this went down.

Why Didn’t The Voice Explain The Carson Callback Before The Host Used It?

While the previews for Season 28 did tease the Carson Callback, fans had no idea what the card did. I wondered if Carson Daly might get to pick one artist for each team, or save a singer from a later round in the competition. The Voice should have let the home audience know the stakes beforehand, because by the time Daly explained the card — including the fact that he can only use it once this season — he had already executed the move.

Sure, we get to see Ryan Mitchell return in the next episode, but I think it would have been cooler if The Voice had built up that anticipation, letting the audience wonder if this no-chair artist would be the one saved by the host. As it is, now that we know how the card works, we won’t even see it get played again until The Voice’s revamped Season 29 in February 2026?

I’m also curious about Carson Daly’s wording that this audition do-over is the artist’s “second and last chance.” Last chance? Does that mean if the 25-year-old doesn’t get picked in Episode 2 (he will, though), he won’t be allowed to audition on future seasons? Surely not, so Daly just meant it’s his last chance this season to advance? That’s … just how the competition works. I know, it’s nitpicky, but words matter, man.

Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, September 23, on NBC to see if Ryan Mitchell makes the most of the first-ever Carson Callback and if we get any more clarity on why The Voice’s big Season 28 twist is over just as we were figuring it out.

For the past couple of seasons on The Voice, we’ve seen a couple of interesting rule changes when it comes to how the superstar coaches build their teams, and it looks like Season 28 is no different. When the NBC singing competition returns to the 2025 TV schedule this month, Carson Daly is apparently going to be involved like never before, and I actually love this twist.

Carson Daly has been the host of The Voice since the beginning, and he’s done an excellent job of keeping the show on its tracks and providing encouragement for the artists. However, he’s seemingly about to get more hands-on, as a preview for Season 28 introduces the Carson Callback. The host says:

We don’t get any indication of exactly how the Carson Callback works, but presumably the host will now have the power to save or bring back a contestant who didn’t get chosen or was eliminated. It will be interesting to see how it’s implemented, because if Carson Daly does get a say in the Blind Auditions, whose team is he choosing the artist for?

Additionally I’d like to know how many Carson Callbacks the host gets. Maybe one singer per team?

The Carson Callback appears to pose a similar problem to the Coach Replay button, which goes against the premise of the show by allowing The Voice coaches to add someone to their team after seeing them and hearing their story. Carson Daly gets to see and talk to all of the potential contestants (and their families) before they audition, so there’s no way he could participate in the “blind” aspect of it.

However, I’m still on board with the change. Carson Daly might have context the coaches don’t, like if nerves really got the best of someone, or if their song choice didn’t play up their strengths.

Also, as the only person to have been on The Voice (at least on camera) for all 27 completed seasons so far, he’s probably got a really good eye for the kind of artist who can make a long run on the show. I also just enjoy Carson Daly and don’t mind seeing him get a more involved role in the competition.

The Carson Callback feels very much like Terry Crews getting a Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent, and after 23 seasons of American Idol, don’t you think Ryan Seacrest wishes he could weigh in at times?

However the new rule works, it looks like The Voice’s Season 28 coaches are shocked by it, as you can see in the preview below:

Fans are excited about Niall Horan’s return to The Voice, as he appears alongside reigning back-to-back champion Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg. I’ll definitely be tuning in to see how the Carson Callback works, as well as what other changes are in store for Season 28 ahead of The Voice’s completely revamped 29th season. The show returns at 8 p.m. ET Monday, September 22, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Today has gone through its fair share of changes over its many decades on NBC, and the wait is still on in the 2025 TV schedule for who the next permanent member of the team will be after Hoda Kotb's departure back in January. The daytime television program has cycled guests in and out over the past several months to join Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour of the program, with Scarlett Johansson as a standout. While the all-time highest-grossing actor is unlikely to accept a full-time daytime TV gig any time soon, Carson Daly has a couple of guest hosts who he thinks would be great fits for a permanent chair.

While Scarlett Johansson's explanation for why she took the temporary Today co-hosting gig also explains why she's not ready for hours of live TV every weekday, longtime Today contributor Carson Daly shared his take on the current vacancy with Us Weekly:

Daly, who is currently a feature anchor on Today, dropped some notable names as possible stars to join Jenna Bush Hagar's hour of the broadcast, previously known as Today With Hoda & Jenna and currently titled Today With Jenna & Friends. Apparently, two of those "friends" that made a strong impression on The Voice host were TV personality/sportscaster/former Dancing with the Stars host Erin Andrews and NBA legend Dwyane Wade.

That's not to say that Carson Daly was dropping hints when he named Erin Andrews and Dwyane Wade, however. He also shared that he asks "all the time" about who could take over as Jenna Bush Hager's next permanent cohost, but suggested that the Today team wants "to keep this rotating thing going." That fits with what Jenna Bush Hager herself said earlier this summer about still being on the search for somebody permanent to join her segment of the show.

Daly also shared that the rotating guest hosts "keeps things fresh," and acknowledged that "Jenna’s had a lot of really good people" in the months since Hoda Kotb stepped down. Other celebrities who joined the Jenna & Friends hour so this year include Taraji P. Henson, Keke Palmer, Ciara, Andy Cohen, Bowen Yang, Tyra Banks, Olivia Munn, and Wynonna Judd, among others.

Since the start of the year, both Erin Andrews and Dwyane Wade have hosted two full, nonconsecutive weeks of episodes opposite Jenna Bush Hager. Both guests spent the same amount of time in the seat that belonged to Hoda Kotb before her retirement from Today, but Andrews and Wade both bring different qualities to the show.

It remains to be seen when the time comes for Today to appoint a permanent cohost for Jenna Bush Hager, so guest hosts dropping in and out may continue to be the approach for the time being. Erin Andrews was the most recent cohost at the time of writing, but per Today, the daytime show will be airing "Best-of episodes" from Monday, August 18 - Friday, August 29.

In the aftermath of Brandon Blackstock’s death from cancer, those in his personal orbit have reportedly been taking steps to navigate the situation. That includes Blackstock’s ex-wife and mother of his children, Kelly Clarkson, as well as Reba McEntire, Blackstock’s stepmother. As of late, Clarkson and McEntire have also been in production on The Voice, which is set to return this fall amid the 2025 TV schedule. All the while, the show’s host, Carson Daly, is opening up about supporting his colleagues amid their loss.

Carson Daly has worked with both Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson on multiple seasons of The Voice and, based on his latest comments, they’ve become quite close. Us Weekly caught up with Daly at the opening of Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride on Broadway, and he discussed the atmosphere on the set of the NBC singing competition show. Daly started by admitting that it hasn’t been an easy time for his work “family”:

The former wife of Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire paid tribute to Brandon days ago, as she shared an Instagram post featuring throwback photos and a sweet caption. As of this writing, Kelly Clarkson has not publicly commented on her ex-husband’s death, though it’s been reported that she’s been providing support for her two kids at this time. In terms of the current dynamics on the Voice set, Carson Daly discussed working with McEntire, and he also discussed some of the ways in which he’s tried to be a source of support:

The Voice’s producers have reportedly also had to make some accommodations for the bereaved from a practical standpoint. Per reports, both Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson have missed tapings for Season 28, which is simultaneously in production with Season 29. With that, the EPs have apparently been looking for stars to step in to fill Clarkson and McEntire’s posts as coaches. The two names that have been floated thus far are Kelsea Ballerini and Miley Cyrus, who’ve both served as coaches on seasons of the show before.

In addition to reports about how Brandon Blackstock’s death has impacted production on the previously mentioned NBC show, details about his personal life and health struggles have also surfaced. Since Blackstock’s passing was announced, it’s been reported that he died due to skin cancer and, per People, he was in a relationship with Kelly Clarkson’s former assistant, Brittney Maries Jones, at the time of his death. Sources have also reported that Blackstock was living a relatively quiet life in Montana. As for his relationship with Clarkson, she reportedly aimed to keep everything “classy” amid Blackstock’s health struggles.

While it’s sad that Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson must grapple with Brandon Blackstock’s death, it sounds like their colleagues at The Voice have their backs. A support system can be incredibly invaluable during a time of bereavement, and I love hearing that Carson Daly has provided his colleagues with a shoulder to lean on. As McEntire, Clarkson and more continue to move forward following Blackstock’s passing, CinemaBlend extends its condolences.

It’s been 10 years since Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani went from coaches on The Voice to partners in life, and still it’s sometimes hard to believe the No Doubt rocker from Orange County fell in love with the country music star from Oklahoma. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on July 3, and even though I’m swooning over Shelton’s adorable tribute to his wife on social media, I absolutely cannot get over Carson Daly’s comment.

Throughout Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s relationship, the couple have taken every opportunity to rave about each other, so of course anniversaries are a big deal. After one year as a married couple, Stefani dropped a fun montage from their big day, and four years in, her husband shared to Instagram another gorgeous moment caught on camera:

That beautiful archway and scenic background is certainly not what I pictured when thinking about Blake Shelton’s ranch, but alas that is where his and Gwen Stefani’s 2021 wedding took place. Alongside the pic, the “God Gave Me You” singer called himself the "luckiest" guy to call Stefani his wife, writing:

It’s such a sweet, beautiful celebration of their love, so was there any doubt that Carson Daly would jump in to ruin the vibes? The Voice host was the only member of the NBC singing competition invited to the nuptials, and actually, Daly was the one who officiated the ceremony. That’s important to know when reading his comment on Blake Shelton’s anniversary pic, where he wrote:

Now I can’t be sure exactly why Carson Daly is invoking Johnny Cash by quoting lyrics from “Folsom Prison Blues,” but it feels par for the course of Daly’s rivalry with Blake Shelton that he would call the legal status of their marriage into question.

The former MTV veejay wasn’t the only member of The Voice family to send love to the couple. Other comments included:

• John Legend: Happy Anniversary, lovebirds!
• Chris Blue: Happy Anniversary [Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani]!!🎉🎉 Congratulations on your beautiful love story
• Emily Ann Roberts: Love y’all!!!!❤️❤️❤️
• Kristen Brown: Happy Anniversary you two!! ❤️❤️
• Tara Matthews: Love y’all!! Happy Anniversary 🥂❤️
  Colton Swon: Bless em Lord🙌🙌🙌 love yall

Not to be outdone, Gwen Stefani posted her own anniversary tribute, featuring several images of her and Blake Shelton playing over “Purple Irises,” one of the songs they wrote together.

It’s so cute to see these two continuing to show love for each other. The only bad thing is that neither one of them is on The Voice anymore, so we don't get to see them as often. Carson Daly will be there, though, hosting a Season 28 coaching panel that features Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan and defending champion Michael Bublé. Stay tuned to the 2025 TV schedule for that fall premiere date.

While a show like Today may not feel like a standout in a lineup like the 2025 TV schedule, the commonplace nature of such a program does always come with its own share of news. The recent passing of co-host Sheinelle Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, is one of the more unfortunate moments to make headlines, as that death has left Jones and her three children in a time of grief and remembrance.

Which, in turn, has inspired her colleague Carson Daly to offer some memories of a similar loss in his life, in the name of comfort. Those sentiments were part of a larger outpouring of support, which came in the form of the Today family’s announcement, which saw Sheinelle Jones very much in their thoughts.

When it came to the TV veteran of long-running NBC programs like The Voice and Last Call with Carson Daly, his remembrance of the loss of his father tied in through this introductory statement:

Uche Ojeh’s death came after undergoing treatment for glioblastoma, a condition that would take his life at the age of 45. Survived by his wife, as well as their three children - Kayin, Clara, and Uche Jr - the love story of Sheinelle Jones and the family she built with her late husband unfolded through beautiful memories of the friendships that the Today crew had built with both parties.

So, of course, Carson Daly’s story of losing his father Jim Daly to bladder cancer hits close to the heart of the subject in discussion. That unfortunate event may have been an inspiration behind Daly’s messages of wanting to “scale back” in TV, as wanting to spend more time with his family is another indication that the personality truly treasures his time in life.

That's also part of the silver lining in this hopeful message from the previous host of MTV’s pop culture landmark Total Request Live. Continuing to reflect on his own experience with young loss, Daly also had this to say:

Carson Daly's stoic optimism was only part of Today's tribute to Uche Ojeh. If you want to see the full clip, which includes a beautiful recap of Sheinelle Jones' romance with her dearly departed husband, you can take a look for yourself below:

This NBC morning show institution is certainly no stranger to heartfelt tributes, as we’ve seen in relatively happier times. Hoda Kotb’s big Today sendoff is another example of how the crew rallies together to make everyone feel like a proper workplace family. Carson Daly's humorous thoughts on Al Roker returning to work after a 2022 surgery only further prove how much everyone at this legendary news desk has each other's backs.

Though the circumstance of Sheinelle Jones’ husband passing is something much more dour and serious, the reaction is just as emotionally charged in both examples mentioned. It’s in that same spirit that we here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to Sheinelle Jones, her family, and friends, in this somber time of reflection.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals the results of The Voice Season 27 Semifinal vote from the May 13 episode. You can stream it with a Peacock subscription if you haven’t watched yet.

The Voice Season 27 finals are set, with five artists advancing to next week’s live finale on the 2025 TV schedule to compete for the $100,000 prize and a record deal. Getting there wasn’t easy, though, as Carson Daly revealed the results of America’s vote to cut the remaining contestants from 12 to just 5. In the end, reigning champ Michael Bublé’s team took top billing, and I have to admit I agree with John Legend’s somewhat bitter take on it all.

Michael Bublé Leads The Pack With Two Singers In The Finale

Carson Daly admitted it was a tough night for all involved as he announced the top four vote-getters from the previous night’s performances. Each coach was represented, as the finalists were revealed to be:

• RENZO (Team Legend)
• Lucia Flores-Wiseman (Team Adam)
• Jadyn Cree (Team Bublé)
• Jaelen Johnston (Team Kelsea)

The fifth- through eighth-place finishers then each performed for an Instant Save, while the bottom four were immediately eliminated. When all the votes were tallied, Michael Bublé’s Adam David claimed the fifth and final spot in next week’s live finale.

With two artists to everyone else's single singer, the Canadian crooner has a pretty huge advantage, and it puts him in a good spot to build on his Season 26 success by earning wins in both of his first two seasons as a coach on The Voice. However, I actually agree with John Legend, who voiced his displeasure in the voting results.

John Legend Felt Bryson Battle Should Have Advanced To The Finale

It was an emotional night for all of the coaches as they said goodbye to at least one member of their teams. But as Adam Levine, Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé validated their fallen team members’ talents and bright futures, John Legend struggled with his words to Bryson Battle because he had fully expected him to advance as part of the top four. Legend said:

Now, I’m sure if you asked any of the coaches up there, they’d make a good case for why their entire team should advance, and on live TV, John Legend didn’t really have time to give us anything but his honest reaction (at least he didn’t pull an Adam Levine and say he hates America). But I also think Legend is spot-on here.

All season, I saw Bryson Battle as a front-runner. He was a Four-Chair Turn in the auditions, and he won every battle that followed, never getting in a position to need to be saved or stolen.

It wasn’t just the coaches, either. Fans on social media seemed to love him, and after he blew the roof off the Semifinals with a performance of “Without You,” I wrote, “Definite finale,” in my notes. Circled and underlined twice, so you know I meant business! It’s easy to see why John Legend was so frustrated.

Here’s the thing, though: I think Adam David deserved that Instant Save. He made my jaw drop with his cover of Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control,” hitting some incredible and unexpected high notes. How in the world were we the audience supposed to choose between that and Bryson Battle’s gorgeous rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon”? If Battle had been part of the Top 4, we wouldn't have had to.

If this Semifinals brouhaha proves anything, though, it’s the caliber of The Voice Season 27’s talent, and the five finalists are quite an eclectic group of singers from different genres. I think we’re in for a treat at the finale, so tune in at 8 p.m. ET Monday, May 19, on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

The Voice hasn't quite wrapped its 27th season on the 2025 TV schedule after a night of live semifinal performances, but we’re already starting to look ahead to next season. That’s because NBC’s competition show announced which three musical superstars will join Snoop Dogg when The Voice returns this fall for Season 28. Three veteran coaches will sit alongside the West Coast rapper, and fans seem particularly thrilled about one mentor’s comeback.

Snoop Dogg’s return to The Voice for a second season was previously confirmed by NBC, and he’ll have his work cut out for him in Season 28, as the other three returning coaches all have wins under their belt. Reba McEntire will take her place atop her throne next to Niall Horan and Michael Bublé. You can see the official Instagram announcement below:

While I might have expected fans to be most happy that Snoop Dogg wasn’t a one-and-done coach, or that Queen Reba McEntire is back, it was Niall Horan that was drawing the majority of social media celebrations. Comments on The Voice’s social media post included:

• TEAM NIALL IS BACK AND LET’S WIN THIS AGAIN 🥰 – niallxupdates
• Niall baby TEAM NIALL ALL THE WAY – babygirllex22
• Team Niall 3peat incoming – stevenmbeck
• Yessss finally Niall is back!!! – toddyb07
• y'all already know Team Niall is going to step up and show out 🕺 – niallhflorals
• All the back for Niall! 3rd straight win please? :) 🙏 – toriantgalvez
• TEAM NIALL SLAY FOR A THIRD SEASON YOU BET!!!! – anamariasari

Even Carson Daly couldn’t contain his excitement to have “Blake Shelton’s son” back on the show, commenting:

The host may be channeling Snoop with his mind on his money and his money on his mind, but it’s pretty easy to see from the other comments that fans are more focused on Niall Horan’s win streak.

The One Direction alum is in an interesting position as he reclaims his place amongst The Voice coaches, as he currently stands as the only mentor to win every season he’s been on (23 and 24).

However, the same will be true of Michael Bublé if he pulls out a win this season after winning Season 26 last fall. Could we possibly see two undefeated coaches going head-to-head?

I love The Voice’s Season 28 coaching panel. Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg are going to be hilarious together, and I’ve also made no secret that Michael Bublé is one of my favorite parts of the past couple of seasons. I have to admit, though, I’m kind of bummed that Adam Levine is leaving again so soon. I really loved having the OG coach back, and I hope it's not 10 more seasons until we see him again.

Before we can get too focused on the future, however, we’ve got to wrap Season 27. The Voice will reveal its finalists live at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 13, on NBC before the live finale kicks off at 8 p.m. ET next Monday, May 19. Episodes can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

The Blind Auditions are rolling on Season 27 of The Voice, currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule, and fans are loving Adam Levine’s big return. It’s been six years since the Maroon 5 singer contributed to some of the singing competition’s wildest moments, but in a way, Adam Levine has been back longer than we may have realized. That’s because NBC has changed the way seasons of The Voice are filmed, and John Legend’s explanation is pretty fascinating.

John Legend visited his old friend and former coach of The Voice Kelly Clarkson on her talk show to talk about the new crop of singers who he, Adam Levine, Kelsea Ballerini and Michael Bublé are fighting over. When she asked if he missed the show when he took Season 26 off, Legend made a surprising revelation about the filming schedule, saying:

John Legend coached on Seasons 24 and 25, so even though he took 26 off, he said on The Kelly Clarkson Show that he (and Adam Levine) basically returned to set last summer at the same time as Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé. The Canadian crooner, meanwhile, is the only coach to appear on both seasons, so Bublé just stayed put while the other coaches traded out their chairs.

The EGOT winner didn’t specify if they filmed all of Season 26’s pre-recorded rounds before starting Season 27, or if they did the Blind Auditions for each season before moving on to the Battles for each season, etc., and that leaves me with so many questions.

For instance, 19-year-old Iris Herrera didn’t turn a chair in Season 26 but came back to audition for 27 and got to join Kelsea Ballerini’s team. Were her performances mere days apart from each other? Weeks? Was this schedule part of the reason Reba McEntire was able to tape The Voice and Happy’s Place at the same time, or was it part of what complicated that process?

Also, how grueling was that schedule for Michael Bublé, Carson Daly, the band and the rest of the crew? John Legend admitted it was “crazy for producers,” but I guess taking a bigger chunk of time to tape two seasons at once frees up some time over the rest of the year. I’d also imagine it’s pretty strange for the Season 27 contestants to just now get to watch the auditions that happened months ago. How long will have passed between when they auditioned and when the semifinalists return for live episodes?

Clearly I’m just looking for a “Making of The Voice” documentary, but I really do think this is all so interesting. Until I get that doc, I shall simply quiet my mind with the tunes of the current contestants, the gentle comedy of Michael Bublé and the excitement of Adam Levine bringing back something The Voice has been lacking since Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson left.

New episodes air at 8 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

For many people, today was a day like any other. They woke up, downed some coffee and began counting down the hours to the weekend. However, for those whose morning routine includes turning on NBC to watch The Today Show, it was much more notable. January 10 was a day on the 2025 TV schedule many have been dreading since September when Hoda Kotb announced that she was leaving the morning show after 17 years. Following her final broadcast, several of her co-stars, including Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker, paid tribute to the beloved host.

It’s hard to believe that Hoda Kotb’s last day has come and gone, as she prepares to start new adventures and spend more time with her two young daughters. Savannah Guthrie may not have been surprised that Kotb decided to walk away, given things her colleague had said about turning 60 — which Kotb did in August — but it was still an emotional day. Guthrie honored her co-host by posting some candid photos of the two of them on set to Instagram, and wrote this simple yet sweet message:

Famed weatherman Al Roker added his own social media photo montage, filled with images from the past two decades that showed he and Hoda Kotb have been friends and colleagues for a long time. He included a sweet message in the caption, too, joking about what she'll do with her mornings now. (Hopefully she sleeps in!)

Here's what Roker wrote:

Jenna Bush Hager, who co-hosted The Today Show’s fourth hour with Hoda Kotb, has been on quite the emotional roller coaster, trolling Kotb about her potential replacement while also admitting that it felt like she got dumped. That mixture of laughter and tears continued on Friday, as Bush Hager shared several clips honoring her friend, including the package that aired during the “Hoda-bration”:

Carson Daly also shared pics from Hoda Kotb’s last day, with a humorous caption that warned Kotb’s replacement Craig Melvin that he’s got some “big heels to fill.” The Voice host posted:

Monday may be Hoda Kotb’s first day to sleep in, but as Carson Daly noted, it’s also a big day for Craig Melvin. While the incoming co-host is already part of The Today Show’s third hour, his promotion to Kotb’s spot apparently comes with quite a massive pay bump. However, none of that was important on this day. Friday was all about Hoda, and Craig Melvin’s Instagram post paid homage to her with an adorable message and several photos of the two of them over the years. Here's what the incoming anchor had to say:

It’s a sad day for Hoda Kotb’s many, many fans, but it was so sweet and fitting of NBC to send her off with this Hoda-bration, and her colleagues’ tributes to her just prove how special she is to all of them. Tune in Monday morning to see Craig Melvin in his new role and what Jenna Bush Hager’s hour will look like sans Kotb.

Major spoilers ahead for The Voice Season 26, which revealed its winner on the December 10 live results show. The episode can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

History was made on The Voice Season 26 — by both the winner and their coach — as a champion was crowned following two hours of performances on a star-studded finale. However, the night was also somewhat bittersweet, because the end of the competition season also meant the last night for this tight-knit panel of coaches. When The Voice returns on the 2025 TV schedule, it will be without Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani and, most notably, Snoop Dogg. The rapper has become a huge fan favorite, and before Carson Daly put the season to bed, Coach Snoop addressed a possible return to the Big Red Chairs.

Will Snoop Dogg Be Back As A Coach On The Voice?

The Gangster Holy Ghost was in the building on December 10, as Snoop Dogg took the stage with his finalist Jeremy Beloate, as well as Sting for a pair of entertaining performances. But fans couldn’t help but wonder if this was really his final night as a mentor, as he is not set to return for The Voice Season 27. Alas, Uncle Snoop gave us what we wanted, and no, I’m not talking about an invitation to his dressing room. He seemed to confirm he does want to come back, telling Carson Daly:

The statement garnered huge cheers from the audience, and Carson Daly said they were going to hold him to it, as the host thanked Snoop Dogg for the “new life, heart, soul, authenticity [and] brotherhood” he brought to The Voice.

The rookie coach previously said that his contract was for one season only, and his plan was, “I'm gonna do this for one year and get up outta here.” However, he said he fell in love with Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé — not to mention the artists who became his family. During the Blind Auditions, he alluded to a possible repeat performance when he encouraged an artist to keep working and come back so that he could hit his button for her next time. Only time will tell if there really will be a next time.

Sofronio Vasquez Makes History As The Voice Season 26 Winner

As exciting as it was to have hope that Snoop Dogg will return to The Voice, that wasn’t the reason we tuned into NBC on this night. After two performances Monday that showed how much he deserved to win Season 26 and how badly he wanted it, Sofronio Vasquez was crowned the champion. He is the first Filipino singer and second Asian contestant to win The Voice following Season 5’s Tessanne Chin. Moments before the announcement, Vasquez’s coach Michael Bublé spoke to how much that representation meant, telling his team member:

Sofronio Vasquez dropped to his knees when Carson Daly read his name as the newest Four-Chair Turn winner, and he was quickly swarmed by his fellow contestants before seeking out his coach for a tearful hug. It was a big night for Michael Bublé, too. Not only did he become just the fourth rookie coach to win on his first season (following Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Niall Horan), he became the first of The Voice coaches to have both the winner AND runner-up on their first try.

Michael Bublé’s other finalist Shye came in second place, with Gwen Stefani’s Sydney Sterlace in third, Reba McEntire’s Danny Joseph in fourth and Snoop Dogg’s Jeremy Beloate in fifth place.

That's a wrap on Season 26, so now we've got a couple of months before Adam Levine makes his return to The Voice on February 3, 2025. I'll see you there!

This story contains minor spoilers for the final night of Knockouts on The Voice Season 26. Episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you need to catch up.

The Voice’s 26th season is in full swing on the 2024 TV schedule, as the coaches wrapped up the Knockouts on November 18, each picking five singers to take with them to the Playoffs. Snoop Dogg got off to a good start last week, when none of his team members were sent home, but that luck couldn’t last, and the rapper completely broke down in tears over having to eliminate two of his young artists. Tears ran down Coach Snoop’s face as he delivered a heart-wrenching speech to his team — only to have the moment ruined by Carson Daly.

As Playoff teams were finalized on Monday night, Snoop Dogg’s last Knockout featured Chrisdeo, Mikaela Ayira and Torre Blake facing off against each other. During rehearsals with Mega Mentor Sting, the “Gin and Juice” icon said that he felt like the singers were his nieces, so it wasn’t hard to predict that Snoop was going to struggle to eliminate two of them. The coach cried through all three performances, then addressed the trio afterward, saying:

The mood in the studio was somber, as Snoop Dogg’s words followed Michael Bublé saying that he was proud that his own daughter would be able to watch the show and see three strong, powerful women to look up to. Snoop’s speech continued:

Snoop’s heartache was palpable, but Carson Daly seemed confused by the rapper’s metaphor. Without missing a beat, the host interrupted the sweet moment with the retort:

The joke got a good laugh out of Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani, and I can definitely see where Carson Daly was coming from. While Snoop was choosing one artist to stay in the competition and sending the other two home, in his made-up scenario, two kids were allowed to go off to college while one had to stay home with Papa Snoop. Daly was simply questioning the logic of the comparison, but either way, come on man, read the room!

In all actuality, Carson Daly cracking a joke was probably a good thing to lighten what was kind of a heavy mood. Also, if the longtime host let The Voice coaches ramble on as long as they wanted to avoid making a decision, we’d never learn the winner of the Knockout.

Snoop Dogg, of course, let the Gangster Holy Ghost be his guide, ultimately leading him to choose Mikaela Ayira as part of his Playoff team. Tune in to see how she and the rest of the Top 20 do, as Playoffs kick off at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, November 19.

Hoda Kotb has been a co-anchor on Today with Savannah Guthrie since 2018, but the 2025 TV schedule will officially go on without her. Since Kotb announced her exit in September, the question high on the minds of viewers (and surely the network) has been regarding who would be her replacement. On Thursday morning’s show, the anchor's replacement was announced, and it's Craig Melvin! So, following the news of his promotion, he celebrated with his thrilled co-workers. However, they clearly do not share his taste in celebratory beverages.

As announced on a Thursday morning Today segment, Melvin will officially take over for Hoda Kotb on Monday, January 13, 2025 (alongside Savannah Guthrie) following Kotb’s last day on Friday, January 10. To celebrate, the NBC anchor raised a glass of bourbon with the rest of the team. However, the toast led to a hilarious reaction photo from the whole crew. Check it out:

Craig Melvin was joined by the NBC team -- Sheinelle Jones, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager and Carson Daly -- in a toast photo that had them smiling with Melvin’s dark liquor of choice.

However, in the next photograph after their toast, his coworkers seemed absolutely disgusted with his pick for a drink. Bush Hager and Guthrie called the beverage “awful” amidst taking a sip “for” him, whilst Melvin seemed pretty pleased with it. You could say Craig Melvin is about to bring a new flavor to Today!

Kotb shared in the segment that she’s excited to “throw a party” on her final day, whilst Guthrie claimed they’d be celebrating her that entire week. That puts the current co-anchor just two months away from her new chapter. She previously said that after turning 60, she realized it was time for her to “try something new”. The longtime host has also talked about her hopes to work in the wellness space, and she has things “that are percolating” that she’s hoping to have “fully formed soon.”

As far as Today With Hoda & Jenna goes, it was also announced that the 4th hour will become Today With Jenna & Friends, and feature Jenna Bush Hager with a rotating second host. During the announcement, Jenna joked that she’s “single and ready to mingle” on the new chapter of the show.

Despite their unhappy reactions to the bourbon, Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and the rest of the NBC team showed a lot of excitement and encouragement toward Craig Melvin about his new job. Guthrie shared that the announcement among the staff led to people breaking into applause, and Kotb said this to Melvin:

Al Roker also chimed in during the announcement via Zoom to tell Melvin he is “so worthy” for the job.

And so, a new chapter soon begins!

Now, Craig Melvin just needs to follow Hoda Kotb’s advice for what she calls the “best seat in television,” and he’s set up for success. Oh, and leave the bourbon at home, apparently.

I can’t imagine that Carson Daly’s got an easy work schedule over at NBC. In addition to 13 years as the host of The Voice, whose 26th season is currently airing on the 2024 TV schedule, the former MTV VJ added a morning gig when he signed on to The Today Show in 2013. Who needs sleep anyway? Now, with his morning show colleague Hoda Kotb planning to step away in 2025, I’m worried that Daly may not be far behind, especially after some worrisome comments he just made.

Fans were shocked when beloved Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb announced her impending exit from NBC’s longtime morning show. She said she wanted to be able to spend more time with her two young daughters, and while Carson Daly’s first reaction was sadness that he wouldn’t get to see her everyday anymore, it sounds to me like he doesn’t think leaving is such a bad idea. He told the Daily Mail:

Carson Daly has been on TV for over half of his life, and things are a whole lot different now than when he was counting down videos on TRL on MTV in the late ‘90s. Especially since he lost his dad at such a young age, I can see why he might be considering how his own children are affected by his demanding career. Hoda Kotb might just be the impetus to make a big change, as he continued:

Carson Daly’s wife Siri Pinter presumably is responsible for getting their four children to school these days. They share 15-year-old son Jackson and daughters Etta, 11, London, 9, and Goldie, 4.

My big question is if the NBC host does decide to cut back on his professional obligations, will he leave The Today Show, The Voice or both? He’s made no indication which job he would prioritize, but if being a part of his kids’ morning routine is important to him, that may be our answer.

On the other hand, he is the last remaining on-camera personality from The Voice’s first season — Carson Daly was not OK when his best buddy Blake Shelton finally stepped away in 2023 — so maybe he feels his time is running short there too? Personally, as a longtime fan of the singing competition, I couldn’t imagine anyone else trying to wrangle the celebrity coaches while guiding contestants through the competition at the same time.

This speculation about Carson Daly comes as yet another Today co-host was rumored to be planning an exit. According to sources, Savannah Guthrie had also been working on a plan to leave the morning show after the election. It will be interesting to see what she and Daly do in the new year, but at least for now, fans can continue to enjoy the crew at full strength on weekday mornings on NBC.

Fans of The Today Show were left in despair over the announcement that Hoda Kotb is leaving the show sometime in the 2025 TV schedule. The host, who celebrated her 60th birthday this year, has been a fixture on NBC’s mornings for over a decade but has now decided to devote more time to her young daughters. It wasn’t just those of us watching at home who were caught off-guard by the news, either; apparently “most people” at the show were surprised to learn of her impending exit, and Carson Daly revealed what his first thought was when he heard.

Carson Daly joined Today in 2013, so Hoda Kotb has been there for the entirety of his tenure. Talking to People following her tearful September 26 announcement, Daly admitted that his initial reaction was to think about how the decision affected him, and it made him “sad”:

I think it’s only human for your first response to be centered around your own emotions, and with Hoda Kotb being such an icon at the network, one can imagine how that news would come as a shock. Carson Daly continued:

It sounds like Carson Daly truly loves Hoda Kotb, and while he will miss getting to see her every day, he understands that this is the decision that’s best for her family, and he is supportive of that.

When Hoda Kotb made her announcement — wearing a very meaningful piece of jewelry that underscored her priorities — she talked about giving her children Haley Joy, 7, and Hope Catherine, 5, “a bigger piece of my time pie.” As disappointed as The Voice host and their colleagues may be, that’s not really a reason anyone can argue with.

As for who will replace Hoda Kotb, Carson Daly isn’t concerned about that right now, saying:

The longtime Today co-host assured fans that she was remaining a part of the NBC family in some capacity, but no details of her post-Today plans have been revealed outside of her commitment to her children.

While Carson Daly may have been shocked by Hoda Kotb’s news, Savannah Guthrie was not necessarily surprised, given the conversations they’d had about life and what they wanted from it. Guthrie herself was allegedly planning her own exit from the morning show when Kotb took the leap, according to rumors.

Jenna Hager Bush may also have been in the know about her Today co-host’s decision, as the two reportedly had several conversations about it.

In the end, it’s safe to say that most fans were taken aback by the news and probably — like Carson Daly — experienced some selfish feelings about it. At least we’ve got several more months to soak up all of that Hoda Kotb goodness, as she will remain with The Today Show for at least the rest of the 2024 TV schedule.

Spoiler alert! This story contains a minor spoiler for The Voice Season 26 premiere, which aired September 23.

Fans who have been watching The Voice for any significant amount of time are used to different twists being introduced for a new season. The show has added Steals and Saves over the years and experimented with different ways to give artists a second chance. As Season 26 premiered on the 2024 TV schedule, new coaches Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé will be amongst the first to experiment with the Coach Replay button, but after seeing Reba McEntire use it, I have to admit I’ve got mixed feelings about the new rule.

Every season you have a coach kicking themselves after passing on an artist during the Blind Auditions, saying they wish they had a do-over so they could get that person on their team. Now they have the power to do so. Host Carson Daly explained that the Coach Replay will give all of The Voice coaches one opportunity to hit their button for an artist after the audition has ended. Allow me to get into what this all meant, particularly for Team Reba.

I Loved Seeing Reba McEntire Give A Deserving Artist A Second Chance

Kendall Eugene took the stage on the premiere episode of Season 26 with a version of Morgan Wallen’s “Don’t Think Jesus.” However, the Fort Worth, Texas, native failed to pique the interest of any of the coaches despite a nice voice, good range and that highly coveted country sound. After the mentors turned around to discuss the seemingly failed audition, Reba McEntire expressed regret and bewilderment over having not hit her button, telling Eugene:

The tears flowed instantly — from Reba McEntire, from Kendall Eugene, even from Snoop Dogg — and I loved seeing how much the moment meant to the aspiring singer.

It really must be so frustrating for the artists who work so hard to get this audition just to have a coach say, “Man, I’m so stupid for not hitting my button. What was I thinking?” That’s not the singer’s fault, and this new rule does give some justice to singers who deserve to be on the show. But there’s a major reason why I can’t fully get behind it.

The Coach Replay Goes Against The Very Premise Of The Voice

The main quality that has always set The Voice apart from other singing competitions like American Idol is that it is a BLIND audition, based solely on the singing. Not the contestant’s story, not their charisma, not their looks. Allowing the coaches to change their mind about a singer after seeing them, talking to them and getting context into their nerves, song choice, circumstances, etc., flies in the face of the show’s concept.

In Reba McEntire’s case, she basically knew right away she’d made a mistake, saying:

It does seem like she regretted not turning before she even saw him or his reaction to not making the show, but this new rule makes for a pretty slippery slope. It will be interesting to see how Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé use their Coach Replay as the Blind Auditions progress.

The Voice will return to NBC at 8 p.m. ET next Monday, September 30, as the presidential election is affecting fall TV, and particularly The Voice's Tuesday shows. Episodes are available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription.

When I first clicked over to NBC on that fateful April night in 2011, I never could have imagined that today, as The Voice’s 26th season hits the 2024 TV schedule, the singing competition would remain such a prominent feature in my life. Yet, here we are, 13 years later, and I’ve been there for every Four-Chair turn, every live finale and every Adam Levine controversy. Heck, I’ve even made watching The Voice part of my job. So whether you’re a longtime fan or newcomer, hopefully I can provide you with everything you want to know, from how to watch The Voice to the winner of each season.

What drew me to the show initially was its intriguing premise — The Voice coaches pick singers for their teams sight unseen, based on their singing alone. I also liked the emphasis of “coaching” over “judging,” having grown tired of Simon Cowell’s rudeness on American Idol. There have been some ups and downs, but those qualities remain, and therefore so do I. Let’s get into everything you need to know about The Voice.

How To Watch The Voice Season 26 Premiere

The Voice Season 26 premieres at 8 p.m. ET Monday, September 23, on NBC. While episodes typically air on Mondays and Tuesdays, the upcoming presidential election is affecting the TV schedule this year, and NBC has chosen not to start Tuesday episodes until after the October 1 vice presidential debate. There will also not be a new episode on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5.

The Blind Auditions will air as follows:

• Monday, September 23: Blind Auditions 1 (premiere)
• Monday, September 30: Blind Auditions 2
• Monday, October 7: Blind Auditions 3
• Tuesday, October 8: Blind Auditions 4
• Monday, October 14: Blind Auditions 5
• Tuesday, October 15: Blind Auditions 6

Episodes of the current season are available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription; however, past seasons are not available due to licensing restrictions on the music performed, per NBC.

Who Are The Voice Coaches For Season 26?

Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé will make their coaching debuts in Season 26 after serving as advisors in previous years. They will be joined by reigning champion Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani, who is returning for her eighth season.

Adam Levine Returning For Season 27

NBC got a jump on announcing who would be in the Big Red Chairs for Season 27, announcing that Adam Levine was returning in 2025. The Maroon 5 singer initially left the show after Season 16, and longtime fans surely have strong opinions about his eventual return, given his controversies both on the show (like throwing his team member under the bus in Season 15) and in his personal life (Levine’s 2022 sexting scandal).

Adam Levine will join veteran coach John Legend, Michael Bublé in his sophomore season and newcomer Kelsea Ballerini.

Past Coaches Of The Voice

Almost from the beginning, The Voice allowed its coaches to come and go as their schedules allow, and all told, 20 big names in the music business have mentored hopeful artists, with three others making their debuts in Seasons 26 and 27.

Theoretically any coach could return at any point — just look at Adam Levine — but there do seem to be a few we’re unlikely to see again. Blake Shelton hung up his hat after a record 23 seasons on the show and has said the only way he’d return would be to get the original four back. Kelly Clarkson seemingly stepped away for good when she relocated her family and daytime talk show to New York City. Finally, Christina Aguilera was critical of The Voice following her exit in Season 10, which makes me think she has no interest in coming back.

Carson Daly Has Hosted Every Season Of The Voice

The coaches may come and go, but the host always remains the same. Carson Daly has been the one keeping everything running smoothly since Day 1.

Who Won The Voice Season 25?

Asher HaVon, a 31-year-old from Selma, Alabama, won The Voice Season 25 on May 21, 2024, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant to win. Not all finales end the way the audience thinks they should, but this time even the opposing coaches agreed that HaVon consistently gave the best performance week after week.

Every Winner Of The Voice

What Famous Singers Competed On The Voice?

There are a number of well-known singers who you may not know once competed for chair turns. Melanie Martinez, for example, competed on Adam Levine’s team in Season 3, and before Morgan Wallen (pictured above) became one of the hottest country music singers, he was singing pop on Team Usher in Season 6.

Several celebrity relatives have also been on The Voice, including Candace Cameron Bure’s daughter Natasha and Kaley Cuoco’s sister Briana.

The Voice Has Always Been Friendly To Country Artists

Thanks to Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, the NBC singing competition has always had at least one coach with expertise in country music, and they’ve attracted a good number of artists in that genre who hope to learn from the best. Despite public perception, however, fewer than half of the winners have been country music artists.

How The Voice Competition Works

The Voice tends to change its format slightly from season to season, adjusting the size of the teams and giving coaches additional tools like Saves and Steals to use during the different rounds. Here’s a quick breakdown of how Season 26 will work (according to NBC):

Blind Auditions

This is the round that separates The Voice from other singing competitions. Each singer takes the stage to audition, with the coaches’ chairs facing backward. If a coach likes what they hear, they hit the button to turn their chair around, signaling that they want that person (or duo or trio) on their team. If more than one coach turns around, the power goes back to the performer, who can then pick which team they join. For Season 26, each team will consist of 14 artists, and each coach will have one Block to use against another coach.

Battles

Once each coach’s team is full, contestants face off against another member of their own team in the Battle rounds. Two singers are assigned a duet by their coach, who afterward chooses which artist they want to continue working with. The other is eliminated. This season each coach will have two Steals, which they can use to bring the losing member of another coach’s Battle to their own team. Each team will go from 14 to 9 in this round.

Knockouts

Three-way Knockouts are back in Season 26, with each singer going against two teammates. Each contestant will sing a song of their own choosing, and after the three performances, their coach will pick one to move on. Coaches will have one Steal in this round, as well as a Save to keep an additional member of their own team from being eliminated. Teams will be 5 members strong leaving this round.

Playoffs

I was hoping that The Voice would go back to live Playoffs for Season 26, but NBC has confirmed it was pre-recorded. In this round all five members of each team perform, with their coach choosing just two to advance to the live shows. In previous iterations, America’s vote determined the two who moved on, and each coach was allowed to save a third. There are no Saves or Steals in this round, with 8 overall moving onto the Semifinals.

Live Semifinals And Finale

We’re only getting two weeks of live shows this season. All eight contestants will perform on the Monday of Semifinals week, with America’s vote determining who makes it to the live finale. The artists who are revealed on Tuesday to have the lowest number of votes will perform for one Instant Save, which is voted on by the home audience during the episode. Fans will vote again in the following Monday's live finale, with a winner being announced the next night.

How To Vote On The Voice

Voting will only be available to viewers for the Semifinals and Finals of Season 26. If voting works the same way as last season, fans will be allowed one vote per email address, per voting method. There are two ways to vote: 1) At NBC.com or 2) The Voice official app. The voting window will open at the start of the episode (8 p.m. ET) and remain open until 7 a.m. ET. Instant Saves are voted on through the app.

What Prize Does The Voice Winner Get?

Every winner of The Voice has received $100,000 and a record deal, though Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and many winners have bashed the recording contract, saying artists are not taken care of after the show.

Does The Winning Coach Receive Anything?

The coaches themselves don’t win anything except for bragging rights, but a banner was raised for Blake Shelton, who holds the record for most wins with 9, during his farewell episode.

The Best Things About Being A Fan Of The Voice

• The dynamic between the different combinations of coaches has always been almost as important as the musical talent on The Voice. Over the years there have been some fiery rivalries (Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera), bizarre matchups (Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg) and even romance (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani).
• It’s also amazing to watch the artists grow under the tutelage of their coaches. Getting to see them work with today’s most successful musicians over the weeks really gives fans a peek behind the music industry curtain, and when the finalists take the stage for the live episodes — which feature full productions with choreography, backup dancers and huge set pieces — it’s amazing to see how they’ve transitioned into stars.

The Worst Thing About Being A Fan Of The Voice

• The Voice’s Achilles heel has been its failure to produce any big superstars. While there are some recognizable names coming out of the show, it falls way short of American Idol when you consider the celebrities who started there (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, etc.). It does get frustrating to invest in The Voice’s artists and then never hear of them again once the season’s over.

Hopefully this guide helped you answer any and every question you have about The Voice, and I wish for all of us to enjoy a season of inspiring performances and newfound success for the show’s contestants.

Every completed trip around the sun is worthy of being celebrated, and it looks like Blake Shelton did it right, as he marked his 48th birthday by hitting the town with Gwen Stefani. The couple were vacationing in Italy, and apparently quite a few drinks were harmed in the making of said birthday celebration, as evidenced by photos of the country music singer showing off his hilarious new hat before falling asleep in his clothes. The whole scene earned buddy Carson Daly’s stamp of approval.

Blake Shelton shared a few select images from his big birthday night out to Instagram, where he remembered to thank his wife of nearly three years for giving him the “greatest birthday ever.” As for his wardrobe choices, you’ve got to see this disco ball helmet for yourself: 

The former coach of The Voice paired the disco hat with some silly novelty glasses and a Hawaiian shirt — the same shirt he can be seen sleeping in in the second photo on the post. It looks like Gwen Stefani put some work into making sure her hubby felt special on his big day, with balloons spelling out “Happy Birthday” floating above his bed. 

Carson Daly — whose amazing friendship (and rivalry) with Blake Shelton developed during their time on The Voice and Barmageddon — loved the whole scene, as he bro-ed out in the comments, writing: 

Blake Shelton’s post showing the “during” and “after” shots of his birthday bash followed a “before” post earlier in the day that showed him pedaling his way to the hotel via bicycle. That was apparently Gwen Stefani’s way of keeping her husband safe after a few drinks, and hopefully he also soaked up some of the booze by popping into a yummy Italian pizzeria like the we can see in the background: 

His birthday may have been spent globetrotting with No Doubt’s lead singer, but Blake Shelton still got lots of love from his friends on social media. In addition to Carson Daly weighing in, other well-wishes (and reactions to his celebrations) included: 

• Happy birthday Blake Shelton! ❤️ go eat some pasta for the hangover! The best in the world. – Kristin Chenoweth
• 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 – Niall Horan
• This is awesome 😂 – Carly Pearce
• Happy birthday Blake! Blake’s first Italy trip is a moment in history! – John Legend
• Lol love it! Happy Birthday Blake!! – Nikki Garcia

Several of his former team members from The Voice also made sure to drop in and wish the ex-coach a good day as well. While Blake Shelton isn’t likely to return to the Big Red Chairs, Season 27 will see the comeback of another OG coach in Adam Levine. The Maroon 5 frontman’s presence could also be seen as a good thing for Blake stans who refuse to give up hope that the cowboy will return to the singing competition someday. 

It looks like Blake Shelton enjoyed his Italian birthday party, and it’s nice to know that leaving The Voice means that he gets to take more of these trips with Gwen Stefani. Speaking of whom, Stefani will be back in her Big Red Chair when The Voice hits the 2024 TV schedule this fall. She’ll join Reba McEntire and newcomers Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé, so be sure to tune into NBC.. 

Blake Shelton has had some pretty hilarious rivalries over the years, especially during his time as a coach on The Voice. He and Adam Levine struck up a failed bromance that had the Maroon 5 singer dropping F-bombs long after he left the singing competition. Then there was Kelly Clarkson, a rivalry that fans loved, despite the fact that she seemed to get legitimately upset when the cowboy would undermine her knowledge of country music. Those coaches have all moved on now, but one of Shelton’s relationships from The Voice remains as strong as ever, and I need the cattiness between him and Carson Daly to live on.

For 23 seasons Blake Shelton and Carson Daly worked together on The Voice — the only two on-camera members to stay with the show for that long. John Legend confirmed recently that the “Come Back as a Country Boy” singer will likely never grace the Big Red Chairs again, and I’m OK with that — I actually think it’s for the best — but host Carson Daly’s latest shot at Shelton is something I’m not ready to give up. After the country star teased an upcoming collaboration with Post Malone on Instagram, Daly commented: 

The song actually sounds pretty good, but I took this jab with Carson Daly's intended humor. It's honestly the kind of unprovoked trolling that Blake Shelton himself became known for on The Voice, and fans got to see even more of it on their USA Network show Barmageddon. It’s nice to see everything is as it should be between the two.

Carson Daly previously even got his son in on the fun, having then-13-year-old Jackson Daly interview Blake Shelton about why he was leaving The Voice. In that interview, Shelton advised the teen to not go into music “because I’ve heard you sing, and please, for the sake of your own self-worth, don’t put yourself through that.” Jackson shot back that he preferred to take Carson Daly’s fatherly advice, telling Shelton: 

The Voice fans got to see plenty of back-and-forth between the coach and the host in its first 23 seasons on NBC. In the first live show of Season 22, for example, Blake Shelton was clearly getting to Carson Daly by shouting in the background when the host tried to introduce an artist or relay other information vital to moving the live episode forward.

That situation might have been payback for earlier that season, when Carson Daly put Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s marriage to the test by stirring the pot when he knew the No Doubt singer was already upset that her husband had stolen an artist from her team. It was a particularly low blow, given the fact that Daly was the one who officiated the couple’s 2021 wedding. 

With Blake Shelton off of The Voice and no word on whether or not Barmageddon will receive a third season, we’re not seeing much of the cowboy and the former MTV VJ these days. But if these little social media jabs are all I’m going to get, I’ll learn to be happy with it.  

Blake Shelton became The Voice’s biggest star after serving as a coach on the singing competition for its first 23 seasons. However, fans can’t forget that Carson Daly has stuck around even longer. The Voice recently wrapped on its 25th season — with Asher HaVon securing a deserving win — and Daly has been there for all of them. As the host reflected on the show’s longevity, he opened up about “the biggest hurdle” the series has faced, and of course it had to do with Shelton.

While the ability to swap coaches in and out of its panel has been one aspect that Carson Daly thinks has contributed to The Voice’s long-term success, it presented a huge challenge when Blake Shelton chose to step away in 2023. In fact the host told Gold Derby that Shelton's departure was “the biggest hurdle that this show has ever had to endure.” Daly continued: 

That’s a pretty huge compliment, but not an exaggeration, as any fan of the show could tell you. Not only was the cowboy fun to watch for how he trolled Carson Daly and the other Voice coaches, he was really good at the job. Blake Shelton gave honest feedback and unbridled support, winning nine seasons of the show, and he has famously continued to work with many of the artists from his teams long after their seasons ended.

In any competition show, like American Idol or America’s Got Talent, the judges become characters, with their individual personalities and preferences. The Voice’s format made its panel an even bigger part of the show by having the coaches form teams that compete against the others. This resulted in rivalries, and what viewer doesn’t love that? Blake Shelton excelled in that area, forming a bromance-turned-rivalry with Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine. Carson Daly said: 

Replacing Blake Shelton on the coaching panel was no small task for The Voice, and it made sense that they’d go with country music royalty. Reba McEntire has been on the show for two seasons now, and she’s set to reunite with Shelton’s wife Gwen Stefani and new coaches Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé when the competition returns to the 2024 TV schedule this fall. 

So far The Voice hasn’t totally been able to replicate the fun that Blake Shelton brought to it through his rivalries with Adam Levine and, later, Kelly Clarkson, but that just goes to show why the cowboy was such an important figure for so long.

It’ll be exciting to see what the new coaches bring to Season 26. Both Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé have served as guest mentors on past seasons — the “Gin and Juice” rapper most recently as the Mega Mentor in Season 20. Carson Daly will be back, too, and I wonder if he’s like me in hoping we’ll see a rivalry form between the Queen of Country and the D-O-Double G.  

Spoiler alert! This story discusses The Voice Season 25’s performance finale that aired May 20. If you missed it, you can stream the episode with a Peacock subscription.

The hard part is over for the contestants of the 25th season of The Voice, and now it’s all up to America’s vote. After Chance the Rapper’s final artists were eliminated in the semifinals, John Legend, Reba McEntire and Dan + Shay watched their remaining team members leave it all on the stage in the performance finale on May 20. Each artist sang a ballad and an up-tempo number in hopes of winning over the audience, so based on those songs, who deserves the crown?

In a strange twist, none of the five finalists — Nathan Chester, Bryan Olesen, Josh Sanders, Asher HaVon or Karen Waldrup — got the attention of all of The Voice coaches in the Blind Auditions, ensuring that Season 25 will not see another Four-Chair Turn winner. That’s no knock at this season’s talent, though, and may just be a sign that each singer found their perfect match. Let’s take a look at the finale performances, followed by who I think should win the competition. (The artists are listed below in the order they first appeared on Monday’s episode.) 

Nathan Chester (Team Legend) 

Nathan Chester kicked off the show with a spirited rendition of the Motown classic “It’s Your Thing,” before slowing it down with “A Song for You” later in the show. Chester has proven to be quite the entertaining performer this season, but I agree with John Legend, who said his ballad showed how well-rounded he is as a singer. It also seemed like Carson Daly may have a favorite, as he gushed over Chester’s up-tempo song before saying that if the contestant had a Vegas residency, he’d call up all of his friends to go. 

Josh Sanders (Team Reba)  

Reba McEntire’s country singer Josh Sanders had his coach’s emotions running high at the finale, eliciting tears with a heartfelt cover of “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” Sanders got to let go a little later in the show with “Boots On,” which had the whole place rocking, and the Queen of Country said she loved to see what a great time he and the audience were having. I thought both performances were the best the contestant has been all season. 

Asher HaVon (Team Reba) 

Disco is just not my thing, so the fact that Asher HaVon won me over with the Donna Summer classic “Last Dance” is a testament to his talent. There’s literally nothing I wouldn’t listen to him sing. John Legend called the song the perfect choice for the finale, and that was even before HaVon closed out the show by belting “I Will Always Love You.” Both of his performances got a standing ovation from all five coaches. 

Bryan Olesen (Team Legend) 

John Legend had a roller coaster of a night with Bryan Olesen. The EGOT winner was fired up with his team member’s cover of “Freedom! ‘90,” saying he felt Olesen’s passion and energy. He had the opposite response to the singer’s ballad choice, “Beautiful Things,” which got Legend choked up as he remarked: “It feels like when you’re singing it, that you know what it means to lose something. And I really felt it. I really felt it.” Oof, pass the tissues please. 

Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay) 

Dan + Shay couldn’t have been prouder of their country music power house Karen Waldrup, who earned a standing ovation for her version of “What Hurts the Most,” before taking on the country classic “I’m Alright.” Shay Mooney welcomed Waldrup to the country music community, and Dan Smyers commented that she was the most consistent singer on The Voice this season and said he can’t wait to see her in concert. 

Who Should Win The Voice Season 25? Asher HaVon

While all of the finalists are unquestionably talented, Asher HaVon was simply unmatched in my opinion, and the other coaches seemed to think so too. While his own coach Reba McEntire said that HaVon embodies what The Voice is all about — finding undiscovered talent — John Legend repeated his past sentiment that HaVon is the best vocalist in the competition. Chance the Rapper echoed that, saying that the artist hasn’t had a single week when Chance didn’t feel that HaVon was the best performer, and he deserves to win the show.

It’s not up to the coaches, however. Tune in for a recap of the finale performances at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 21, before the winner is crowned at the end of the two-hour live finale that starts at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Another season of The Voice is upon us, with Dan + Shay joining the coaching panel alongside Reba McEntire, John Legend and Chance the Rapper. Season 25 marks not only the second season without Blake Shelton but the first without any member of the Shelton family, as his wife Gwen Stefani’s exit seemed all but inevitable after he left. And yet he still apparently has kept in touch with his former colleagues, as they revealed the gifts they’d received from Shelton and kept his trolling legacy alive by firing some good-natured shots at him.

Blake Shelton was known to be quite the troublemaker during his 23 seasons as a coach on The Voice, picking fights with Adam Levine in the early days before Kelly Clarkson became a more worthy opponent. But if one ever needed proof that there’s nothing but love between the “Ol’ Red” singer and the stars of the NBC singing competition, consider the thoughtful gifts he sent to the Season 25 coaches. John Legend told E! News:  

I think it’s ridiculously sweet that Blake Shelton sent The Voice crew some produce fresh from his Oklahoma farm. For one thing, food is always a good gift option, and the fact that he produced it himself makes it even better. It also shows that he’s been putting all that free time to good use, after shooting two seasons of The Voice a year for over a decade.

Blake Shelton provided similar nourishment to the coaches last season as well, and while that was also super thoughtful, his wife was still a coach, so his continued contact with the show wasn’t altogether unexpected.

How much the current coaches are still in contact with the country singer is harder to pin down, as Reba McEntire took a jab at her longtime friend, saying:

Even Chance the Rapper, who worked with Blake Shelton on Season 23, got a shot in there, jesting: 

Of course these claims can only mean one thing — that Blake Shelton remains a true friend to the show and is probably in regular contact with the country music queen who replaced him, as well as his other buddies.

Gwen Stefani may be gone now too, but she was hardly the only connection remaining between The Voice and its winningest coach. Reba McEntire served as Team Blake’s mentor on his first season way back in 2012, and the same can be said for Dan + Shay, who mentored Blake Shelton’s team in Season 20. Shelton also has another show, Barmageddon, that he created with The Voice host Carson Daly and former EP Lee Metzger that has seen other former coaches like Stefani and Kelly Clarkson competing in exaggerated bar games.

Although we’re well into the post-Blake Shelton era of The Voice, I’m not sure the mark he made on the show will ever fully be gone, and the fans and friends he made along the way are probably just fine with that. Tune in to see what is happening with Season 25, which premieres at 8 p.m. ET Monday and Tuesday, February 26 and 27, on NBC, with episodes available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription. Be sure to also check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon. 

Ayo Edebiri had all sorts of delightfully surprising encounters during her big Emmy Awards night on Monday — during which she found herself on the list of the 75th Emmy winners as she took home the gold for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The evening included hilarious interactions with her childhood crush Matthew Macfadyen and, apparently, iconic TRL host Carson Daly. 

The TV and radio personality, who currently is the host of The Voice as well as a feature anchor on TODAY, was sat next to The Bear cast's leading lady during the awards ceremony Monday evening, so he had a front-row view of the actress' Emmy win. Not only that, but Edebiri ended up giving her famous seatmate a bunch of her stuff to watch as she took to the stage to collect her award. The funny moment surprised the TV host by going viral on social media, as Daly recounted to his TODAY cohorts on Wednesday: 

During a backstage interview with Entertainment Tonight following her Emmy win, Edebiri affirmed that she did hand Carson her purse and that she jokingly hoped he still "has all [her] stuff": 

The Bottoms' cast co-lead also poked fun at the fact that Daly — who she hilariously admitted she called by his first and last name upon meeting him — had closer seats to her than her own parents, who were sitting behind her: 

Carson did confirm that he eventually got Edebiri's belongings, which included her iPhone and a digital camera, back to the actress when she eventually returned to her seat inside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater:

However, Daly also noted that he left a little surprise for the actress who is about to start work on Season 3 of The Bear on said camera: a selfie of him and his wife, Siri, at the ceremony.

The actress-comedian was nothing but good-natured about the camera photo-bomb, leaving a sweet message of thanks to Daly, as Carson's TODAY co-anchor Samantha Guthrie revealed on January 19. Edebiri wrote: 

Hey, maybe Ayo can pay Carson back by getting him one of those snazzy little The Bear cameos à la Jamie Lee Curtis or Olivia Colman? Weirder things have clearly happened!

It’s been less than a year since we last saw Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson share the screen, as they both appeared on the cowboy’s final season of The Voice. The chemistry artist definitely hasn’t lost any of the competitive spirit that fueled her rivalry with Shelton, which she proved on the Season 2 premiere of Barmageddon, the show created by the cowboy and The Voice host Carson Daly. The episode saw a spirited Clarkson making jokes about her divorce, as she hurled axes at a target during a hilariously intense competition with Michelle Rodriguez.

Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton were known to troll each other pretty hard as coaches on The Voice, but when they reunited for his game show on USA Network, it was all fun and games (and shots), as the American Idol OG faced off against The Fast and the Furious star Michelle Rodriguez. During Drunken Axehole, Kelly Clarkson seemed to channel some of the pent-up rage of her split from Brandon Blackstock, as she hurled axes at a target with startling force. After the first round, her civilian partner commented on her ferocity, asking, “Kelly, who hurt you?” To which Clarkson replied:  

She was, of course, talking about her album chemistry, which was released in June and contains apparently only a fraction of the crazy number of songs she wrote after her marriage ended. It took nearly two years for Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock to agree on terms that included custody and child support for their two children and ownership of Clarkson’s Montana ranch and other property. 

Axe-throwing seemed to be quite the therapeutic experience, and I’d imagine that was especially true of Barmageddon’s amped up version, which included wearing “beer goggles” and also hurling saw blades. Kelly Clarkson admitted as much to Carson Daly, saying: 

Release and healing seem to be things that Kelly Clarkson has actively sought out since her divorce. The Emmy Award-winning host of The Kelly Clarkson Show has opened up about needing to make changes to her life. For one thing, she changed her legal name to Kelly Brianne and made the decision to relocate her talk show to the East Coast. 

She also quit The Voice, and her comments about how she was struggling on the show and didn’t “feel like smiling” anymore makes me think Season 23 wasn’t just Blake Shelton’s final rodeo on the singing competition, but Kelly Clarkson’s as well. As unfortunate as that is for longtime fans of The Voice like me, I was just happy to see the two of them palling around with Carson Daly one last time on Barmageddon. 

The Voice crossovers don’t end there, either. Gwen Stefani is set to go head-to-head with her husband when Barmageddon returns next Monday, November 20, at 11 p.m. ET on USA Network. Be sure to check out what other premieres are headed our way with our 2023 TV schedule. 

When it comes to celebrity couples, few are as cute as Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. The two became familiar with each other while serving as judges on NBC’s The Voice and, in 2015, it was confirmed that they were dating. They eventually announced their engagement during the fall of 2020 and, in the summer of 2021, Stefani and Shelton married. Since then, they’ve seemingly enjoyed their lives together, and the love they have for each other occasionally spills over into social media. That was the case when Shelton wished his wife a happy birthday. It was a lovely gesture, but it was a comment from their friend and colleague, Carson Daly, that really took the cake.

The former No Doubt singer turned 54 this week, and her spouse couldn’t help but celebrate her. He paid tribute to her on his Instagram account by posting a cute black-and-white photo of the two of them. Additionally, the “God’s Country” singer shared a sweet caption honoring the woman he considers to be his “favorite all time person.” You can take a look at the tribute in its entirety below: 

Cue all of the “awwws.” Blake Shelton found a simple and sweet way to show love to his wife on her special day, and the fans and stars who flooded the comments seemed to appreciate it. However, Carson Daly was humorously unimpressed by the gesture. The witty media personality responded to Shelton’s message with three words and an emoji. And the take was relatively on brand for Daly: 

The host – who handles duties on both The Voice and Today – loves taking the occasional jab at his buddies, especially Blake Shelton. That was especially true when Shelton decided to exit the singing competition show after 23 seasons. Carson Daly was not OK, and even his son trolled Shelton over his decision to leave the show. But seriously, there’s plenty of love between the two men, which is why Daly dishes out so many jokes like the comment above. 

As alluded to above, the TRL icon isn’t the only star who commented on the birthday tribute for the “Just a Girl” performer. Fellow stars from the long-running music show and a few other notable names sent their well wishes. Read some of the messages for yourself:

• Happy Birthday, Gwen! - John Legend
• OBSESSED 😍 - The Voice
• Cuuuute - Camila Cabello
• Happy Birthday, Gwen!! - Nikki Bella
• 🥳🥳🥳🥳 - Brie Bella

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s love story is truly one for the books. Both were going through separations around the time they met and eventually bonded over their shared experiences. Of course, one thing led to another, and they struck up a romance that still seems to be steady. Stefani recently recalled getting with Shelton, humorously referring to the love affair as a “a big old what?” Like anyone, their relationship probably isn’t perfect but, if anything, they seem perfect for each other – despite their mushy moments nauseating Carson Daly on ocassion. 

Here’s hoping Gwen Stefani enjoyed her birthday! Also, those who want to see her as a judge on The Voice should tune in when new episodes hit NBC on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers for The Voice’s Season 24 premiere that aired September 25.

There’s a new sheriff in town, now that Blake Shelton has officially retired from The Voice, but while Reba McEntire rode in on a horse, she quickly upgraded her status from cowgirl to queen, as she made her debut on Season 24, complete with crown and scepter. That doesn’t mean Shelton was merely a memory, however, as the coaches — and especially Gwen Stefani — spent much of the first night of Blind Auditions taking note of his absence. 

It was obvious from the get-go that Blake Shelton may be gone, but he’s definitely not forgotten after serving on the coaches’ panel for the first 23 seasons. After Carson Daly welcomed Reba McEntire to the stage officially for the first time, he presented her with a large pair of scissors to perform a ribbon-cutting on her Big Red Chair, of course, joking that it had been cleaned since the cowboy had vacated it.

That set the tone for the first sans-cowboy episode. Despite the first artist turning attention to Reba McEntire with a rousing rendition of “Fancy,” both Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani channeled Blake Shelton while trying to attract Jordan Rainer to their teams. The No Doubt singer said she’d get song recommendations from her husband, but the One Directioner really upped the ante by rigging his button to where every time he pressed it, Shelton’s voice boomed out something complimentary about him.

Niall Horan would strike again later, trying to win another Four-Chair Turn by hitting his button to feature a large foam finger that read, “Pick Niall,” with Blake Shelton’s name crossed out. Other mentions of the former Voice coach included: 

• Gwen saying Blake texted her to say Niall is a liar.
• Gwen saying Blake was so mad that he wasn’t there with the rest of the coaches.
• Reba joking that this season she’ll be bashful unlike Blake, while Gwen said her husband called her the new star of the show, and John Legend hoped that Reba could class up the chair or — Niall added — at least change the cushion.
• Gwen noting how much Blake would have loved Sam Dearie’s audition singing Patsy Cline.
• Gwen reminding everyone, “I’m married to Blake Shelton,” as she tried to win Jackson Snelling to her team.
• Gwen admitting that she rode Blake’s coattails to two No. 1 country singles (and doing his signature finger point) when trying to win Kristen Brown.

So not surprisingly, Blake Shelton remained the focus of The Voice, despite not being on it anymore, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t get a taste of what Reba McEntire will bring as Shelton’s replacement. She was, after all, able to secure Four-Chair Turn Jordan Rainer, who bravely took on the country queen’s biggest hit to kick off the season, which you can see below: 

All in all, The Voice seemed a little tamer without Blake Shelton — and his frequent sparring buddy Kelly Clarkson. Nobody blocked anybody from any of the artists (did The Voice finally get rid of the Blocks?), there was less passion in the bickering, and the only stunts pulled by any of the artists were Niall Horan’s recycled moves from Shelton. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, if it means putting more attention back on the artists. 

Blake Shelton’s absence might take some getting used to, but if Gwen Stefani has anything to say about it, he won’t ever be far from our thoughts. The Voice continues at 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, on NBC. 

In case you somehow haven’t heard, Blake Shelton will not be present when The Voice premieres September 25 on NBC for its 24th season. The cowboy gave his last yee-haw on the Season 23 finale earlier this year, becoming the final member of the OG coaching panel to exit the show. Twelve years is a long time, and as a fan from the beginning, I’m just as curious as anybody about how The Voice will go on without Shelton, but I’m starting to feel bad for the coaches who are still around, because it seems like the majority of the conversation remains centered around the country star.

All you have to do is take one look at the Season 24 coaches to see that Blake Shelton’s presence will still be felt on the competition. His wife, Gwen Stefani, is back on the show, as well as Niall Horan, who Shelton practically adopted as his son last season. Reba McEntire was tapped to fill the role of resident country music icon — after serving as Shelton’s Season 1 advisor and Mega Mentor on his final go-round — and longtime coach John Legend is also back after a short hiatus.

With this lineup, it seems impossible that Blake Shelton’s name wouldn’t come up in conversation, but I hope for their sake it doesn’t continue to be the sole focus. In the days leading up to Season 24’s premiere, The Voice coaches were asked what it’s like to not have the cowboy around, and Niall Horan told ET: 

Blake Shelton’s bond with the former One Direction member was one of the highlights of the “No Body” singer’s final season, which celebrated every milestone moment he experienced, from his last chair turn to his last Steal. Carson Daly kept the audience well-informed, even throwing out obscure facts like the number of times over 23 seasons that Shelton had pushed his button and how often the country singer didn’t know the songs being sung by the contestants. I’m surprised we didn’t learn his final lunch order!

While everybody certainly misses Blake Shelton — with Carson Daly perhaps having the roughest time — Gwen Stefani had a slightly different perspective when asked about it on TODAY. She said: 

As his wife, Gwen Stefani understands just how important it was that Blake Shelton stepped away from The Voice to make time for his music, his farm and his family. 

I love the cowboy as much as anybody, and yes, it’s hard to get used to not having Shelton around. But Reba McEntire ain’t too shabby as a replacement, and for the sake of her, John Legend, Niall Horan and even Gwen Stefani, I hope they stop getting asked about the former coach once the season starts. 

That premiere is coming quick, with Season 24’s Blind Auditions kicking off at 8 p.m. ET Monday and Tuesday, September 25-26, on NBC. Be sure to check out what other shows are starting soon with our 2023 TV schedule. 

Back in the day, when YouTube wasn't an option and Twitter was nearly a decade away, MTV's TRL was the place to be for the hottest music videos in pop culture. Debuting in 1998, Total Request Live was Carson Daly's big break on the small screen. Now, 25 years after the show first hit the airwaves, Daly reflected on his TRL hosting days, and I officially feel ancient. 

TRL tallied votes from viewers to count down the hottest music videos of the day, and launching in an era of pop princesses and boy bands helped to make it a huge hit. Episodes also featured celebrities who dropped by the set to chat with the host and promote their projects. Basically, Carson Daly was the face of pop culture for plenty of kids and teens in the late '90s - early 2000s. In an Instagram post commemorating the 25th anniversary on September 14, Daly wrote: 

Carson Daly hosted TRL from 1998-2003, and the MTV gig arguably launched his career that would go on to include Last Call with Carson Daly, New Year's Eve with Carson Daly, and The Voice, the latter of which he still hosts on NBC with Season 24 approaching. Personally, as somebody who vividly remembers tuning into Total Request Live on weekdays after school to see where the latest Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears videos would rank, I haven't felt this old since Daly celebrated turning 50. 

Of course, watching the video that he posted along with his message also helped me feel like a senior citizen, because he just looks so young! Take a look at his blast to the past (and some context for the BSB fangirl who got mad at him):

I may have been Team Backstreet Boys over Team *NSYNC back in the day, but I don't think I would have ever gotten that mad at Carson Daly during the boy band battles of the late '90s! The host's throwback to the show for its 25th anniversary really is a reminder of days gone by, and not just because 21st century teens may not even know what TRL was. The most recent attempt at a revival only lasted for a couple of years, and social media isn't going anywhere to make television the only medium for music videos again. 

You can soon find Carson Daly back on television in the 2023 TV schedule, though, in a gig that surely wouldn't have been possible if not for his TRL success! The Voice returns to NBC for Season 24 on Monday, September 25 at 8 p.m. ET before moving to its usual Tuesday night time slot the next day. It will be the first season without longtime coach Blake Shelton, and Daly had a hilariously relatable reaction to starting the Shelton-free era. 

We’re two months away from the premiere of The Voice Season 24, and it will be a historic moment for the longtime NBC singing competition. For the first time since its 2011 premiere, none of the original coaching panel will be in the Big Red Chairs as contestants take the stage hoping to find success in the music industry. The show recently gave us our first peek at the upcoming season’s coaches, and while Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, Reba McEntire and John Legend do look seem like they’re going to be a fun group, I still can’t get over how weird it is to not see Blake Shelton among them.

Blake Shelton went out in epic style on The Voice’s season finale in May, wrapping up his 23-season stint on the show surrounded by several of The Voice’s former coaches, all nine of his Team Blake champions and many more singers that he’d coached over the past decade-plus. The big event was likely intended to give fans — and the cowboy himself — some closure, but doesn’t it just feel the tiniest bit wrong that Shelton’s not here, just waiting to troll the next person who catches his eye? Take a look at the Season 24 coaches: 

Sure, the host of the show is all smiles here, but Carson Daly was not OK when he first returned to set for the new season, posting a photo of his obvious distress over not having Blake Shelton in hair and makeup with him, as was their tradition. Shelton was certainly beloved on The Voice — and not just by his colleagues, but the fans too — so Reba McEntire has some big cowboy boots to fill as his replacement in Season 24. If anybody’s up to the task, though, it’s got to be Reba-Freaking-McEntire, right? 

When The Voice shared the photo of the new coaches, the country music legend proved that she’s going to hit the ground running, as she tweeted: 

It should help take the sting out of Blake Shelton’s absence, knowing that The Voice replaced him with a literal legend. Reba McEntire is in the midst of a six-decade career that’s seen 25 No. 1 singles and three Grammy Awards from her 32 studio albums. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s been a friend of the show for a long time, serving as a mentor on Blake Shelton’s first and last seasons, with other appearances in between.

Reba will definitely have her work cut out for her though. Reigning champ Niall Horan will return for his sophomore effort, looking to become just the second coach to win their first two seasons on The Voice (after Kelly Clarkson) following his victory with Gina Miles in Season 23. 

Blake Shelton may not be around anymore, but his wife Gwen Stefani will surely be looking to carry on the family legacy, as she’ll return after taking a season off. Also back after a single-season hiatus is John Legend, who left The Voice after Season 22 as a father of two and returns as a father of four. He and wife Chrissy Teigen welcomed their daughter Esti Maxine in January, and the couple announced the arrival of baby No. 4 — Wren Alexander Stephens — via surrogate in June.

Season 24 will certainly look and feel different without Blake Shelton, but just wait until we get to Season 25, when Dan + Shay make The Voice history as the first coaching duo! If you want to get in on the madness, the new season is set to premiere Monday, September 25, on NBC. See what else is coming soon with our 2023 TV schedule. 

The reality that it was his final season on The Voice didn’t actually hit Blake Shelton until he started experiencing his “lasts.” The last turn of his Big Red Chair, his last Steal, his last live show — it all ended up being a way more emotional experience than he was ready for. Now the cowboy has officially moved on — hopefully getting the closure he needed in the epic season finale that saw Gina Miles crowned the winner — but apparently it’s all just now sinking in for Carson Daly, as the host posted a photo from his first day back at work, and he did not seem OK.

With Blake Shelton exiting the singing competition after 23 seasons, Carson Daly remains the sole on-camera personality from The Voice’s premiere in 2011. The cold, hard truth of his buddy’s absence must have hit hard on their first day back for Season 24, with the host looking positively wrecked: 

Carson Daly better pull himself together, unless he wants his hair stylist to accidentally take a little too much off the top. No meltdowns around the clippers, please! Apparently he and Blake Shelton made a point of always going to hair and makeup together — which is the most adorable thing ever — so it’s understandable that doing this without him for the first time in over a decade would be a pretty emotional experience. I can certainly respect a good work bestie.

While the Total Request Live VJ was clearly experiencing some trauma, his post signals good news for fans of The Voice! It looks like the pre-recorded rounds of Season 24 have begun, and while it will be strange to not have Blake Shelton in his Big Red Chair, the cowboy should be well-represented on the show. 

Taking his place for Season 24 is fellow country music legend Reba McEntire, who served as Team Blake’s advisor in Season 1 and has continued to make appearances over the past decade-plus. Really, Carson Daly should be excited about what’s to come, because I doubt the “Fancy” singer is the type to troll him on live TV like her predecessor.

In addition to maintaining the country music vibe Blake Shelton brought to the show, they’ve also retained the services of his wife, Gwen Stefani. The No Doubt singer was initially concerned that The Voice wouldn’t invite her back if she wasn’t part of that package deal, clearly forgetting that she’d been asked to join the panel in Season 7, before they’d even met.

Joining them will be Niall Horan, who is coming off a rookie-season win, and John Legend, who will return after a single-season hiatus. There’s no doubt the competition will be different without the “No Body” singer there to rile everybody up, but I’m actually excited and intrigued to see if viewers will continue to turn their chairs, so to speak, for the new combination of music superstars.

As for Carson Daly, we don’t need to feel too bad that he won’t have his friend there. He and Blake Shelton have another show, Barmageddon, which will return to USA Network for a second season, so there are still plenty of hijinks to be had between these two. Be sure to keep your eye on the 2023 TV schedule for that premiere date, as well as The Voice Season 24. 

Now that Blake Shelton has left The Voice, Carson Daly remains the only on-screen presence who’s been with the show since its 2011 premiere. The longtime host seems to really enjoy the gig of ushering contestants through the stages of the singing competition while keeping the celebrity coaches in check; however, Daly recently admitted he “hated American Idol” when it first started, and his opinion of singing competitions in general prompted a less-than-enthusiastic response to being offered The Voice.

Carson Daly has appeared on well over 500 episodes of The Voice, and he will continue to lead the competition sereis when it hits the 2023 TV schedule with Season 24 this fall. But he apparently didn’t always have positive thoughts about the idea of artists skyrocketing to fame on television, according to his comments on the Hey Dude… The 90s Called podcast. In fact, he admitted: 

There’s no doubt Carson Daly has seen his share of rags-to-riches stories from his time on radio and on MTV’s TRL, and he apparently had a bad taste in his mouth for singers who could get famous without having to put in the same amount of work and sacrifice as others he’d seen. 

He did say that line of thinking is “all crap now,” and American Idol remains a “juggernaut,” that paved the way for The Voice. But back in the early aughts, that wasn’t his mindset. Carson Daly continued: 

It’s hard to imagine The Voice without Carson Daly, but it sounds like he wasn’t too excited about the opportunity when it was presented. He went on to say that watching Holland’s version of the show helped to change his perspective, when he saw how “cool” it was. He also pointed out how NBC’s show was different because it didn’t make fun of its contestants the way American Idol did, and it allowed the artists to be themselves. Daly said: 

It’s kind of funny to hear his initially negative opinion of how American Idol helped launch its contestants to fame, especially given how close Carson Daly is now to Kelly Clarkson, American Idol’s first winner. In addition to welcoming the former coach of The Voice to New York amidst her talk show’s big move, Clarkson was also in attendance when Daly celebrated his 50th birthday on Today.

The music world has definitely changed since Carson Daly’s days of radio, and the path to fame looks a lot different. We’ll be able to see him attempt to help more singers find success when The Voice returns with Reba McEntire joining the coaching panel. 

Carson Daly and Ryan Seacrest have a lot in common. They both host singing competitions, they’ve done their fair share of morning news and talk shows, and they are both beloved TV personalities. They’re also good friends. So, when it was announced that the American Idol host would be taking over for Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune, The Voice host couldn’t help but share his excitement for his pal’s next career move. 

It was announced earlier this week, after many rumors, that Ryan Seacrest would be the new host of Wheel of Fortune. He’s clearly a natural fit for the role, and many have shared their excitement about his new gig. This includes Today’s Carson Daly, who gushed about his love for the former Live With Kelly and Ryan host as he told People:

While there may have been jokes about Seacrest taking over for Sajak, he really is the “obvious choice” to me too. He’s been in the business for decades, and folks really love this TV personality whether he’s hosting American Idol, New Year's Rockin’ Eve or his radio show. 

Daly continued to speak about how excited he was for Seacrest, noting how his friend and Pat Sajak low-key look alike:

The Voice host went on to praise Ryan Seacrest and his work ethic, noting that they’ve “been friends forever." After making a joke about how much both of them work on their respective projects, Daly got sincere, saying:

Over the course of the 2023 TV schedule, Seacrest left Live with Kelly And Ryan (which is now named Live With Kelly and Mark) and landed this new gig at Wheel of Fortune, talk about an eventful year. Reflecting on this upcoming job, the long-time American Idol host noted:

So, after all these years of jumping around from show to show, and helping maintain the legacies of others, like New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and American Idol, Seacrest has landed a job that really feels like a “full circle” accomplishment. 

Like Daly, we are wishing Ryan Seacrest the best of luck with Wheel of Fortune, and I’m sure he will be a fantastic fit for the job. However, Pat Sajak will still be running the show for one more season, which premieres in September. So, make sure you tune in to see the long-time host say his goodbyes as we get ready for a whole new chapter of the legendary game show. 

Millennials and young Gen Xers prepare to gasp as Today and The Voice host Carson Daly turned 50. That's right, the beloved media personality hit the major milestone this month, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. There’s nothing more surreal than seeing someone you’ve watched on TV for decades turn half a century old. Of course, the momentous moment didn't go unrecognized, as Daly celebrated it during an installment of the previously mentioned news telecast.

How Carson Daly's Birthday Celebration Played Out

The morning show brought the celebration to social media by posting videos of Carson Daly’s big day on the show’s official Twitter account. Daly really took in the celebration, as he was surrounded by his Today co-hosts as well as Voice coach and friend Kelly Clarkson. He even got his favorite meal prepared by his wife, Siri Daly. You can check out the clip below to see how exactly the festivities panned out:

It seemed that the star already relished getting to eat his favorite meal and share drinks with his family and friends. However, the best moment came when Carson Daly’s three young daughters came on set to surprise their dad with ice cream and cake. Watch how the Daly children wheeled out the sweet treats:

These clips truly highlight just how loved the Carson Daly is at this point in his career. I mean, he’s been entertaining the masses since his days as an MTV VJ. Now, the TV and radio personality has become a father of four, who is busier than ever with multiple TV shows.

Why Carson Daly Turning 50 Is So Important?

As a Millennial, I have watched Carson Daly’s evolution over the last three decades. Back in the mid-'90s, he was just a random MTV VJ who hosted MTV’s summer lineup, "Summer Share.” (Remember that?). He eventually became the network’s golden boy, hosting two shows – MTV Live and Total Request – before the two shows were merged into the ubiquitous pop culture phenomenon Total Request Live (or as we Millennials would say TRL).

During his TRL days, he served as a vessel for young music fans, as he interviewed acts across multiple genres while counting down the most popular videos. As he broke acts like Britney Spears, NSYNC, Korn, and Eminem, the TV newcomer became an industry tastemaker and a hot Hollywood commodity. As a teenager, he was the coolest guy, as the hottest young stars were hanging out with him daily at MTV Studios.

Not only was Carson Daly curating pop culture, but he also entered the zeitgeist himself by appearing in projects like Josie and the Pussycats and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He was on every Millennial and young Gen Xer’s TV screen almost every day. The Voice host even dated some of Hollywood’s rising '90s and '00s actresses, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tara Reid. He was definitely the man to millions of young people during that period, including me.

After looking back at his career, I feel a bit over the hill, as the "Millennial Dick Clark" turns the big 5-0. It’s just another reminder of how old I am getting, for sure. However, seeing the TV personality celebrate this milestone birthday is wonderful and brings back some fond adolescent memories.

Luckily, Millennials and other generations can catch Carson Daly on their screens weekdays on Today at 7 a.m. EST. Don’t forget that he'll return for The Voice Season 24 along with new coach Reba McEntire and returning coaches Niall Horan, John Legend, and Gwen Stefani. Stream past episodes of that show using a Peacock subscription. The new season will premiere this Fall so check out our 2023 TV schedule to keep updated.

Taylor Swift has been teasing her new music on her Eras Tour for months now. Over the last few months, we've got a new deluxe edition of Midnights plus the announcement of Speak Now (Taylor's Verison), and all this new music has sent fans into a frenzy over whether more is coming. However, that frenzy reached a fever pitch as The Voice and Today host Carson Daly unexpectedly started a rumor about new music from the popstar, which he later retracted.

Daly unexpectedly stepped into the world of Taylor Swift theorizers during the Today pop-culture segment “Pop Start” earlier in the week. While reporting on the potential 2023 songs of the Summer, the TV personality had a Freudian slip while mentioning stars like Ice Spice, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, and Ryan Gosling will appear on the upcoming Barbie soundtrack. Then, he casually brought up the ‘Karma” singer as a potential artist on the soundtrack. This slip-up set the internet on fire with excitement and confusion. After the moment went viral, Daly went on-air during Today and dispelled the speculation, saying:

Carson Daly tried saving face by mentioning Swift’s dedicated fanbase was the genesis of the rumor. However, the online reaction from the pop star’s fans said otherwise. They were surprised by the TV slip-up as they didn’t see Taylor Swift’s name mentioned amongst the expected stars on the Barbie movie's soundtrack. While Daly hinted at a potential theory floating amongst her fanbase, Swifties have speculated for a bit that her latest song “Hits Different,” which was previewed on tour as one of her surprise songs might appear in the satirical comedy. The speculation went into overdrive as dedicated fans called out a reference to Barbie’s boyfriend Ken in the new song.

Thankfully, Daly was able to correct the situation and calm down the Swifties (for now). If you’re in the dark about how this latest Taylor Swift rumor got started, check out the Today clip one attentive fan posted on TikTok below.  

Having Taylor Swift on the Barbie soundtrack would just be another big get for Greta Gerwig's comedy. If rumors turn into reality, Swift will join the previously mentioned artists along with other music superstars like Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX, and Karol G. Barbie cast member Dua Lipa got the honor of releasing the film’s first single “Dance the Night.” The upcoming film soundtrack is set to capture the potential blockbuster’s fun and irreverent essence, and if Taylor Swift ends up on it, it would be icing on the cake.

Along with the all-star soundtrack, Barbie features endless Hollywood A-listers portraying Barbies and Kens, including Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Dua Lipa, Simu Liu, and Issa Rae. Moviegoers won’t have to wait much longer for the big-budget comedy or its accompanying soundtrack as both will be released on July 21. As you wait for the satire of the summer to arrive in theaters, check out our 2023 movie schedule to see what other blockbusters are coming out.

Don’t forget to check out Carson Daly and co. on Today weekdays at 7 a.m. ET on NBC. Check out our 2023 TV schedule to see when other talk shows are premiering.

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers — including the winner — for The Voice Season 23 finale that aired May 23. Proceed with caution if you’re not caught up!

The night we were waiting for and dreading in equal parts finally arrived, with The Voice crowning its Season 23 champion as Blake Shelton bid a final farewell to the show that he’s been an integral part of for 12 years. Plenty of former members of Team Blake returned to congratulate their coach, and The Voice coaches who have sat beside the cowboy over the past decade-plus sent messages of their own during a celebrity-filled and emotional finale. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from Shelton’s goodbye episode. 

Niall Horan Spoils The Cowboy’s Farewell To Earn His First Win 

In the end, Blake Shelton’s farewell was close to perfect, but possibly not quite there, as he failed to notch a 10th win on his way out. But who better to take the crown than his newfound “son” NIall Horan, whose artist Gina Miles was named the Season 23 winner in what Carson Daly called the “closest margin of victory in Voice history” over Team Blake’s Grace West. The 18-year-old was utterly stunned as the confetti fell around her, and the One Direction singer got a congratulatory hug from the outgoing coach. 

It may not have been the closing moments Blake Shelton had hoped for, but it wrapped up an otherwise epic night for the cowboy that included celebrities from all walks of life and plenty of surprises, including a reunion with Adam Levine. 

Adam Levine Introduces Blake Shelton For His Final Appearance  

The celebrations began early, and the halls from Blake Shelton’s dressing room all the way to the stage were lined with crew members and other loved ones, who cheered and waved foam fingers that read “Team Blake” as he made his final walk. Rather than The Voice host and Shelton’s close friend Carson Daly introducing the cowboy for the final time, Adam Levine took the honors, welcoming the man he called “my dumbest friend” to the stage for “his final show — thank God.” After joking, “Don’t screw it up,” the Maroon 5 frontman dropped the schtick and said:  

He then joined his frenemy, sitting on the arm of the country singer’s Big Red Chair to take in the performance by their fellow OG coach CeeLo Green. 

Team Blake Alumni Join CeeLo On Stage 

It is possible that some fans went 12 years without knowing what a huge fan of ‘80s music Blake Shelton is, but CeeLo Green was certainly aware of it, and he promised to send his friend off “the right way.” CeeLo took the stage to sing a medley of “Jack and Diane” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” before being joined on stage by Team Blake alumni Chloe Kohanski (Season 13 winner), Wendy Moten (Season 21 runner-up), Bodie (Season 22 finalist) and Cam Anthony (Season 20 champion) for “Living on a Prayer.” 

It was such a cool performance, and it was great to see those artists return — not to mention sing together! Blake Shelton was clearly tickled, and he went up on stage to give big hugs to CeeLo Green and the past contestants. 

Blake Reflects As Gwen Stefani Arranges The Perfect Parting Gift 

When Gwen Stefani joined The Voice in Season 7, nobody could have predicted that she and Blake Shelton would fall in love — and that we’d get to watch that love develop right in front of our eyes. Stefani wasn’t able to be present for the finale, but she recorded a tribute to her husband, and afterward, Shelton spoke about that being the greatest thing that’s come from the show. He told Carson Daly: 

They really are couple goals! Gwen Stefani’s work wasn’t done, though, as Carson Daly later showed a video of Blake Shelton’s Big Red Chair being unloaded at their house. The No Doubt frontwoman said, “Blake, do I love you or what? I pulled this off,” which the cowboy was thrilled about, as he’d previously told People that those at The Voice “owe me a damn chair.” 

Every Team Blake Winner (And More) Surprise Their Coach 

We saw Chloe Kohanski and Cam Anthony perform early in the finale, but just before the winner was announced, an even bigger surprise awaited Blake Shelton, as the rest of his winners — Jermaine Paul, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, Craig Wayne Boyd, Sundance Head, Todd Tilghman and Bryce Leatherwood — combined forces to sing “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” 

Other members of Shelton’s past teams — going all the way back to Season 1 — joined them, including the Swon Brothers, Raelynn, Dia Frampton, Ian Flanigan and Xenia, as a montage played in the background, showing clips of the singers picking Blake in the Blind Auditions.

It was a truly perfect sendoff for the coach, and as if gathering so many of the people who crossed paths with the country superstar over the years wasn’t enough, several celebrities also sent well-wishes. Blake Shelton’s fellow GOATs George Strait, Peyton Manning, Wayne Gretzky, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jimmie Johnson, Dolly Parton, Lindsey Vonn and Al Michaels all appeared in video packages.

What a night it was, and congratulations to Gina Miles and Niall Horan on the win! While we wait for The Voice to return for Season 24 — where Horan will try to go back-to-back and Reba McEntire will take over Blake Shelton's coveted spot — check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

UPDATE with VIDEO.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the March 21 episode of The Voice Season 23.

The Blind Auditions have come to an end for The Voice’s 23rd season, and that means Blake Shelton’s final team is in the books. The longtime coach, who will exit the show after the current season, had one spot left on his team when the March 21 episode kicked off, and Grace West was the “perfect” artist to complete the cowboy’s 12-year run. He had a little help in securing her for Team Blake, though, and surprisingly, it was Kelly Clarkson who gave him the assist, with a sweet message in honor of her fiercest rival.

Grace West took the stage as The Voice neared the end of its audition round, singing the Pam Tillis classic “Maybe It Was Memphis.” In addition to getting Blake Shelton to turn his chair, the singer also enticed the cowboy’s “son” Niall Horan. As The Voice coaches presented their cases for why West should choose their team, Kelly Clarkson threw her support behind Shelton, telling the artist: 

Grace West did choose Team Blake — no surprise there — and Kelly Clarkson remarked that was her gift to Shelton on his way out. The American Idol champ may have been feeling a little bit sentimental in the moment, reflecting on how long she’s known the country star and recalling how much she’s seen him do for his team members, even after their run on the show is over.. 

Kelly Clarkson wasn’t the only one who got a little emotional, as Blake Shelton admitted that hitting his button for the last time affected him more than he’d expected it to. He told Carson Daly: 

For Grace West to be his final team member, he sure picked a good one, and he called her the “perfect female country singer.” You can check out her audition below: 

Now that the Season 23 teams are set, it’s time for the Battles to kick off! Team members will go head-to-head in the next round of competition, and we’ll get to see if Team Blake can bring it home in the cowboy’s final season. Tune into NBC at 8 p.m. ET Monday, March 27, to see it all go down, and check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming up. 

Blake Shelton is well-known for trolling his fellow coaches on The Voice. Over the years, even host Carson Daly — who, like Shelton, has appeared on all 23 seasons thus far — has gotten in on the fun, roasting the cowboy and even testing the strength of his and Gwen Stefani’s marriage. As close as Shelton and Daly have grown, it should come as no surprise that not only does the country superstar know Daly’s 13-year-old son Jackson, but the two have the same quippy back-and-forth dynamic, which Jackson showcased perfectly when he interviewed Shelton about his impending exit from The Voice, and trolled him for leaving his dad.

Jackson Daly, the oldest of Carson Daly’s four children, interviewed Blake Shelton for NBC’s Nightly News, and the teenager proved to have inherited quite a bit of his dad’s sense of humor, when he guilt-tripped the cowboy with the following question: 

Blake Shelton didn’t miss a beat with his own amusing response, deadpanning to Carson Daly’s mini-me:  

Yes, I’m sure Blake Shelton’s decision to leave The Voice had everything to do with Jackson Daly. The ribbing between the two continued when the youngster asked Shelton what advice he’d give 13-year-olds like himself, who were finally old enough to audition for the NBC singing competition. Shelton hilariously responded: 

If Blake Shelton taking shots at Carson Daly’s teenage son isn’t proof of how close the two have become over the years, I don’t know what is. The strength of their friendship, however, was already pretty obvious, as Daly was the only member of The Voice family to secure an invite to Shelton’s wedding to Gwen Stefani — and he even officiated the ceremony. The two also started another show together, USA Network’s Barmageddon, which has been renewed for a second season. 

And before you say Blake Shelton shouldn’t be so hard on the teen, don’t think Jackson Daly wasn’t able to hold his own against the cowboy. Jackson used his dad’s words of wisdom for one final burn, telling Shelton:

Even Blake Shelton couldn’t keep a straight face for that one! You can see Jackson Daly’s full interview with the “Come Back as a Country Boy” singer below: 

Although Jackson Daly isn’t likely to make any appearances on Blake Shelton’s final season on The Voice, you’ll be able to see his dad Carson Daly steering the ship, with new episodes at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on NBC. You can also check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what other shows are premiering soon. 

The Voice recently debuted its 23rd season on NBC, with new coaches Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper (who had a choice encounter with Martin Short recently) joining the seat-turning fun for what’ll be Blake Shelton’s final cycle with the long-running competition series. The country star would no doubt love to end his run with another big victory, but even before viewers can see how all that will play out, his fans will be pumped to hear that his TV future outside The Voice has been confirmed, even if Shelton already spilled those good-news beans a couple of weeks ago.

Without any singing involved, unfortunately, USA revealed that Blake Shelton and Carson Daly’s boozy and somewhat cozy game show Barmageddon has been renewed for Season 2, just over a month after its highly popular first batch of episodes concluded. That’s awesome news for everyone afraid that the Grammy winner might be completely absent from the small screen in the back half of 2023. (We probably don’t need to worry about him joining the food service industry, all things considered.)

Of course, anyone who regularly follows Blake Shelton’s social media posts might have been tipped off on Barmageddon’s future whenever he shared the below Instagram post three weeks ahead of the renewal news being confirmed:

I guess it's theoretically possible that Barmageddon could hold casting calls for a potential second season without it actually coming to light. It's probably a fairly time-consuming process to go from viewing video submissions to flying people over to Shelton's Nashville bar Ole Red. So it'd make sense that the producers would want to be as far along as possible by the time network execs made a decision about the show's future. After all, not just anyone can jump on TV and suddenly be a Sharts champion.

It's too bad neither Shelton nor NBCUniversal shared any details about who the celebrity guest competitors would be in Season 2. The first eight episodes included the talents of Elle King, Sheryl Crow, Trace Adkins, Lil Rel Howery, Brie Bella, Sasha Banks, Malin Akerman, Jimmie Johnson, Jay Pharoah, Martin Kove and more. Naturally, Blake Shelton's significant other Gwen Stefani was also in the mix, though they didn't compete against each other directly. That'll need to happen next time around, though.

For those who aren't familiar, Barmageddon was created by Blake Shelton and Carson Daly, and features celebrities paired up with everyday folks competing in large-scale bar games with specific twists, such as Air Cannon Cornhole, Drunken Axe Hole, Keg Curling and more. It's loud, it's rowdy, and it features some slightly NSFW language that fans might not hear from his other show.

Blake Shelton won out during his penultimate season of The Voice, with Bryce Leatherwood most recently taking home the gold. He’d no doubt love to also walk away a winner from his final season, especially with Reba McEntire back in Mega Mentor mode, and I’m sure the voting population will make it happen. 

Fans can rewatch Barmageddon episodes on USA’s website with cable, satellite or streaming package subscriptions. 

Considering Good Morning America has been an established and trusted branch for morning news for decades, one would think that ABC execs might be more on the ball when it comes to handling its anchor kerfuffle involving colleagues-turned-lovebirds T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach. But it’s now been a full month since the network pulled the journos off the air, with no indication of what will come of the in-house review. But should things potentially go south, a new report points to a shortlist of dream replacements that have allegedly been discussed and/or considered for the gigs.

It’s not entirely clear whether or not ABC can fire the duo, at least without any direct wrongdoing happening behind the scenes, or even if they’d want to stick around after all this time. And it seems like at least some of the network’s powers that be are considering a future where Holmes and Robach have shifted away from the GMA3 family, as a report from RadarOnline claims Today’s Carson Daly and Jenna Bush Hager are among those being viewed as possible replacements to head up the third hour of the morning staple. 

For what it’s worth, it’s not exactly likely that either Carson Daly or Jenna Bush Hager would be immediately available to pop on over to a wholly different network to lend their on-air talents. They likely had to sign contracts with non-compete clauses therein, which are meant to keep talent from jumping ship in such ways in order to work for a rival show or network. But it would appear that the duo were told they were being considered, and both were reportedly flattered by the thought. According to the source:

Carson Daly’s hosting work for The Voice would possibly also complicate things in that manner, even though the primetime competition isn’t direct competition for GMA. That said, it’s altogether possible that Daly is considering leaving the NBC series after buddy Blake Shelton’s final season, since he’s so bummed out by that eventuality. 

But those aren’t even the only Today mainstays that ABC is eyeing, as Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie are also on the list of on-air talents that could be worthy of poaching attempts. This duo seems like way more of a longshot, considering how long they’ve been part of the NBC show, but variety is the spice of life and all that. Maybe they’re looking for just such an opportunity to take on new responsibilities. Or maybe ABC will need to look somewhere other thanToday for a new batch of anchors. 

If T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach were already working for another network, this whole replacement conversation might not even be happening, since it’s thought that ABC’s Disney bosses are making the two anchors face repercussions from a morals standpoint, barring any major bombshells surfacing from the network’s investigation. That said, there have also been reports claiming that some GMA staffers are hoping for Holmes’ firing, given Robach allegedly wasn’t the first co-worker he had extra-marital relations with.

While waiting to see how things shake out on GMA3, head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.