Snoop Dogg has become quite a presence at the Olympics. This year, he was named Team USA's first-ever Honorary Coach for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. He has also been a correspondent for NBC’s Olympics coverage over the years, and his commentary with Kevin Hart is one of the most entertaining broadcasts (and something Snoop was paid handsomely for). He even got his hands on the Olympic torch. It seems like this year he took the honorary coach title quite seriously, as he texted ice dancers Evan Bates and Madison Chock after their performance, which was a mega-cool moment for the skaters.

During a recent interview with US Weekly, Bates revealed that the iconic rapper texted hims and dance partner (and spouse) Chock the day after the duo took home the silver medal for Team USA. He revealed that the message was incredibly sweet and also surreal, considering both athletes Snoop’s status as a public pop culture icon. Bates said:

According to Madison Chock, the message was simple, but very heartfelt, and pretty wise. Bates also said that the message surrounded the silver medal win, and how the medal was something to be proud of, even if it wasn’t the gold skaters naturally are hoping for. He said:

Notably, Bates and Chock took home the silver for their individual ice dance competition, but they took home the gold for the team event which they competed in. Bringing home both a gold and silver medal is far from coming home empty handed. I agree with Snoop Dogg, that they represented Team USA remarkably, and they should be proud of themselves.

It was a difficult competition, with France ultimately taking home the gold medal. Regardless, an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal, and Bates and Chock are still some of the best skaters in the world.

While it’s not a gold medal, a message from Snoop Dogg complimenting your prowess and admiring the way you represented Team USA is pretty amazing, especially paired with a Silver Medal. This shows that the Olympics truly are an event that brings people together in very unexpected ways. Snoop clearly took the role of an honorary coach to heart and did what he could to encourage the athletes in his unique way, with his particular brand of wisdom. I’d love to know what Snoop texted the other athletes, and how else he made himself a part of the Olympic community.

When Snoop Dogg isn’t giving wise, encouraging feedback to America’s best athletes, you can hear him on his animated show Doggyland, which is available on YouTube. He is also lending his voice to the upcoming 2026 movie schedule entry Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, which hits theaters on August 14th. Fans of the Winter Olympics can also experience this year’s best moments now with a Peacock subscription.

The evolution of Snoop Dogg has been wild to watch over the past 30+ years, to the point where I literally saw him showing up at 2026 Winter Olympics events as a kind of mascot, a far cry from his rapping days. People from all over the globe were flocking around him, marking him among the more popular figures to attend the games. It’s a good deal for Snoop, too, as he’s apparently paid pretty handsomely to show up and wear red, white and blue gear for two weeks.

Snoop Dogg’s official title at the Olympics is “Special Correspondent for NBC.” A while back, this meant he put together sports commentary with Kevin Hart. This time around, however, he showed up at events, and put together some viral clip packages for NBC that included him talking about his celebrity fashion, learning how to snowboard, and figuring out the basic mechanics of curling. I don’t know where he was when Jason Kelce and Colin Jost learned to bobsled, but it looks like he dodged that crazy bullet.

The more important takeaway, however, is how much Snoop Dogg allegedly made for these antics. NBC isn’t dropping salaries for all the announcers involved in varying events (doubtless, because they’d vary wildly), but the reali-tea is Snoop was paid a lot. Reports have him garnering about $500,000 dollars a day to be on hand for whatever NBC seemingly needed him for, though it’s worth noting those reports all seem to come from a tweet a venture capitalist sent out the last time Snoop appeared during the Olympic Summer Games back in 2024.

What we definitely know is new information and true information is the fact Snoop Dogg signed a large overall deal with NBC back in the Spring of 2025. Snoop was wanting to expand the imprint of his Death Row Pictures production company into film projects, and NBC and Peacock decided it was a good idea. As part of this, the rapper also appeared on The Voice, a gig he's said he loves. He also agreed to commit to more Olympics coverage. So no matter the payday, the rapper and NBC Universal are deeply embedded with one another at this point.

One of the major topics of conversation over the last several weeks has been about how much money Olympians and more make during the Olympics. Eileen Gu became a topic of conversation after news broke she’d been paid $6.6 million as part of a larger $14 million contract by China to participate for that country instead of her native US. Meanwhile, if you are wondering how much US Olympians make for medaling, the number is significantly lower than Gu’s pay day, with gold medalists taking home $38,000 from the government.

Of course, this doesn’t come close to giving the full picture. Athletes often make far more via endorsement deals. Popular gold medal-winning figure skater Alysa Liu, for example, has endorsements with Nike, Gillette (she's a "Blade Angel," after all) and Samsung, among others, which help to supplement the $76,000 she landed from the US for her individual and team wins.

Meanwhile, the fine folk at NBC are not paid out by the US government, and their salaries reflect the free market. If you’re Snoop, you have to believe the number he’s being paid is relatively high for two weeks of work given a lot of the random stuff he does at these events goes super viral. (The curling is coming to mind, here.) $500K per day may be on the high side, but I would still assume the number is steep.

Whether or not the rumored number is accurate, I think it’s safe to say that Snoop is bringing home enough money to buy whatever fly fits he wants to wear when the Olympics head to LA in the summer of 2028.

For the next two weeks, the Milan Cortina Olympics in Italy are going to dominate the 2026 TV schedule. Before the opening ceremonies kick off, which you can watch with a Peacock subscription, it’s a good time to look at how far the Olympic torch traveled and what stars took part in the traditional relay. It includes everyone’s favorite Olympic commentator, Snoop Dogg, and legendary action star Jackie Chan.

The Olympic torch relay has become a huge tradition over the past 100 years or so, since the first relay before the 1928 games in Amsterdam. I vividly remember getting to see the torch go by in St. Louis, MO, when I was a kid, as it headed for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It will likely be doing a similar trek across the U.S. in two years when L.A. will host The Games again, but first, it took a long route around Italy.

By The Numbers

The sheer number of miles traveled is pretty staggering. As is tradition, the relay began in Greece. The torch was lit on November 24th at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. From there, the relay began at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympics. It then passed through the hands of 450 torchbearers, covering 1,400 miles (2,200 km) across most of the country. It arrived in Athens on December 4th, and the handoff at the Panathenaic Stadium for the Italian leg was begun.

The torch arrived in Rome, its first stop in the host country, later on December 4th. By the time it reaches San Siro Stadium in Milan for the opening ceremonies, 10,001 runners will have carried it over 7,400 miles. That includes traveling through all 20 regions of Italy and 110 provinces. It will have made 60 stops over 63 days in that time. One of those stops was in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26th, just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Winter Olympics there. You might know that town from the Roger Moore-era Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.

The Stars Came Out To Carry The Torch

As is tradition, the vast majority of the runners are former Olympic athletes and well-known athletes from other sports, usually most famous in the host country. As such, a huge number of Greek and Italian sports stars carried the torch on its journey. That includes some well-known European soccer players, like Robert Pires, Fabio Cannavaro, and Cesc Fàbregas. Italian Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli also got in on the action.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, carried the torch in that country, along with American billionaire and owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong. The U.S. Ambassador to Italy, who owns the Houston Rockets in the NBA, Tilman Fertitta, ran a leg in Italy, and it’s in Italy where things got really fun.

Snoop Dogg, who might have started as a Gangsta rapper, has reinvented himself as America’s sweetheart (and coach on The Voice), ran part of the relay through the streets of Milan. Jackie Chan picked up the torch for a jaunt through the ruins of Pompeii.

Appropriately, the stars of a show about ice hockey, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, from Heated Rivalry, one of the hottest shows available with an HBO Max subscription, each took a turn in the town of Feltre. Italian actress Alessandra Mastronardi, who American audiences know from Master of None, available with a Netflix subscription, and the Nicolas Cage flick The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, got a chance to carry the torch as well.

All that’s left now is who will get the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremonies, which in the past has included sports luminaries like Mohammed Ali and Wayne Gretzky.

As the 2026 Golden Globe winners were announced, there was a lot of chatter about Jennifer Lopez’s sheer look, Jennifer Lawrence’s floral gown and more marvelous fashion moments from the women in attendance at the ceremony. However, the men brought their A-game to the red carpet as well, and I think we should give some of them, including Glen Powell and Michael B. Jordan, their flowers.

Glen Powell Looked Classy In Navy Blue

Alright, let’s start with Glen Powell. He was at the Golden Globes to celebrate Chad Powers. Wearing an incredible navy blue velvet suit by Brunello Cucinelli, the actor and his stylist, Warren Alfie Baker, paired the suit with a matching bow tie and cumberbund. Take a look:

According to Baker’s Instagram, Powell is also wearing an Omega watch. However, it’s the sunglasses that make the look for me.

All around, this fit was perfect, and the blue was classy. I also loved the different textures featured in this suit that was all navy blue (which also happens to be one of the colors for the football team Powell’s character plays for in Chad Powers).

It was classic, while also being so much more than the typical men's suits we see. Plus, it celebrated Chad Powers (which you can stream with a Hulu subscription) in such a cool way.

Michael B. Jordan Rocked A Classic Suit With Chic Glasses

At first glance, Michael B. Jordan’s suit looked like a sleek classic double-breasted outfit. However, I love how unique it is with its deep brown color that was paired with a lovely shining brooch, an off-white shirt, and a black tie. Plus, like Powell, he rocked some killer sunglasses too, take a look:

To get into the details, the Sinners star’s suit was custom Prada, per GQ. According to the actor’s stylist, Jason Bolden, this look was inspired by the movie Jordan was nominated for and his characters, Smoke and Stack. Meanwhile, those cool sunglasses were actually found by Jordan at a family-owned boutique in Japan, and his jewelry was David Yurman.

So, overall, the actor and his stylist created a 5-star look that fits right in with the 5-star reviews Sinners got.

I’d Also Like To Shout Out Colman Domingo, The Heated Rivalry Boys, Snoop Dogg And Duke McCloud

Now, obviously, the two aforementioned stars were not the only guys dressed to the nines at the ceremony. So, let’s go over a few other highlights.

Colman Domingo: If you have been paying attention to red carpets for the last few years, you know Colman Domingo kills any carpet he steps onto. He is truly a fashion icon, and he proved that again with this custom black Valentino suit.

The Sing Sing star actually told Vanity Fair this was one of his more “laid-back” looks, which is true. However, that impeccably tailored suit and the stunning silver Boucheron jewels sprinkled up the right side of the blazer are undeniably gorgeous.

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams: On the heels of Heated Rivalry’s Season 2 renewal and pop culture domination, its stars appeared on the red carpet of the Globes, ready to stun. According to Vogue, Hudson Williams, who plays Shane, wore a Giorgio Armani peak-lapel dinner jacket, a silk shirt, black pants and a beautiful gold Bulgari necklace. His co-lead, Connor Storrie, went for a classic black suit and tie by Saint Laurent, and the Ilya actor paired it with some rockstar sunglasses and a Tiffany and Co. brooch. They really dressed to impress as they continue to make a fantastic first impression on Hollywood.

Snoop Dogg: The pop of red in Snoop Dogg’s suit is perfect, and that mixed with the double-breasted cut and the otherwise all-black look is so sleek. Along with that, according to WWD, his shoes are by Stacy Adams and only cost about $100. Overall, it was a fun play on the classic black look, and it was perfect for the beloved rapper.

Duke McCloud: Last, but certainly not least, is Duke McCloud. The 6-year-old star of All Her Fault rocked a light teal suit and paired it with an exquisite emerald brooch. While chatting with ET, the young actor said he picked this particular fit, because “it was blue, and he could putted this jewelry on.” It also came with a pocket square. Those are all great reasons to pick this stand-out look!

All around, the guys came to play at the Golden Globes, and it was so fun to see. Now, as the awards season continues on the 2026 TV schedule, I’m looking forward to seeing how these men and other attendees continue to rock the carpets.

The Olympics are coming back to NBC (and streaming with a Peacock subscription) this year, showcasing the best of the best in the world of winter sports. Along with the crew of expert analysts to take us through the events, NBC has called up Snoop Dogg to add his unique commentary when the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics hit the 2026 TV schedule in February. That’s good news to anyone who saw the hilarity he brought to the past two Summer Games, and I love what he said he’s most looking forward to.

Snoop Dogg provided lots of laughs by adding his two cents on the most viral moments and athletes from London (2020/’21) and Paris (2024), like Tonga’s shirtless flagbearer. The rapper was asked last month on The Voice Season 28 finale what he was most excited about for his upcoming Italian job, and he said:

Given how important family is to Snoop Dogg, I’m not surprised to hear that he makes a point to talk to the athletes’ families when he’s reporting for NBC.

But mostly I love that he’s excited to learn about all of the different sports. Events like the skeleton or ski mountaineering might be less familiar to the California native than the summer events he’s used to talking about, like gymnastics and breakdancing.

Of course, it was the “Gin and Juice” rapper’s lack of understanding of equestrian events that led to those hilarious “horse crip walking” comments (rivaled in hilarity only by the bloopers from his and Kevin Hart’s in-studio coverage). His not knowing every detail about every sport is exactly what makes his Olympics commentary so relatable and enjoyable. I honestly can’t wait to see what Snoop has to say about curling.

According to NBC, the D-O-double G will be exploring northern Italy, from the streets of Milan to the Dolomite mountains, giving his unique perspective on the region’s culture and landmarks, as well as partnering with the network’s Olympics host Mike Tirico for “Snoop’s Greatest Hits,” which was a popular segment during the 2024 Paris Games.

In other big Snoop Dogg news, the rapper has also been appointed as Team USA’s first Honorary Coach by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which is a volunteer role that allows him to celebrate and support the United States’ athletes off the field of play.

I know NBC pays Coach Snoop a pretty penny to work the Olympics, but I have to imagine this honorary role and getting to interact with the athletes as a mentor is at least as rewarding.

I’m looking forward to seeing Snoop at the Olympics in whatever capacity we get him, whether that’s carrying the Olympic torch, mixing it up with the athletes and their families, or rubbing elbows with celebrities like Christopher Meloni. We’re only weeks away, with the Opening Ceremony set for Friday, February 6.

For many people celebrating the holidays, sports are a big part of their annual tradition, whether that’s seeing Shaq crash into a Christmas tree during one of the NBA’s offerings or taking in an NFL game. Netflix has gotten into the NFL holiday spirit for the past couple of years, and fans had some big feelings about Snoop Dogg’s halftime show during the matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.

Netflix showed what it was capable of as far as NFL halftime shows go last year, when its “Beyoncé Bowl” went off without a hitch. This time around, Snoop Dogg headlined the “Holiday Halftime Party,” which featured other artists from all musical genres in a Christmas-themed show that included an orchestra, a choir and lots of dancers for a performance that was widely praised by those with a Netflix subscription. One fan wrote:

I had pretty much the same takeaway after watching the performance, saying that the caliber and variety of musicians, as well as the energy projected by all involved, rivaled any Super Bowl Halftime Show in recent memory. (Snoop Dogg knows a thing or two about that, anyway, having been part of a historic Halftime Show back in 2022.)

It’s really hard to please a universal audience in these types of situations, and I can’t say I ever expected to see a trio of ballerinas dancing across the stage to the intro of Snoop Dogg’s “Nuthin' but a G'thang.” But somehow it all really, really worked, and fans couldn’t stop posting about it on social media, saying:

In addition to some of the classics by the D-O-double G, Snoop welcomed the Huntr/x singers from KPop Demon Hunters, whose shortened rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gave them the opportunity to sing a line from their Golden Globe-nominated hit “Golden” when they reached the “Five golden rings” portion of the song.

Snoop Dogg’s longtime friend Martha Stewart opened and closed the show, which also featured Christmas carols from country music singer Lainey Wilson, Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo. Dov Kleiman called it “one of the greatest performances of all time, writing:

And I guess we’ll forgive Pat McAfee for not knowing who Andrea Bocelli is, given how complimentary he was of his and Matteo's performance. In the end, the sports commentator gave Snoop and company a 10/10, writing:

Praise for the Holiday Halftime Party got back to Snoop Dogg, too, and he responded to the outpouring of love with his own message, writing on X:

If you want to see more of Snoop Dogg, you won’t have to wait too long. He’ll be back commentating on the Milano Cortana Winter Olympics from Italy when the games begin on the 2026 TV schedule in February.

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.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals some results from The Voice’s November 17 episode, which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you haven’t seen it.

The Voice Season 28 is rolling right along, with the coaches coming close to finding the four artists they’ll carry with them into the Playoffs. In fact, Michael Bublé’s team completed its time in the Knockouts on November 17, and one artist in particular really embraced the moment. Jazz McKenzie was declared the frontrunner of the competition by her coach, but it wasn’t just him. See the performance that had Snoop Dogg rapping and made Niall Horan feel sick.

The season of The Voice currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule has seen some unbelievable talent, and I’ll be the first to admit that I change my tune every week about who’s going to win Season 28. A couple of weeks ago, viewers basically agreed it would be Team Niall’s Aiden Ross, and before that I was super bummed that Niall Horan sent Camille Tredoux home on a song outside of her wheelhouse. Honestly, there are others I like, but this night was all about Jazz McKenzie’s cover of Smokey Robinson's “Cruisin’”:

It’s not hard to see why Jazz McKenzie was a Four-Chair Turn in the Blind Auditions, is it? The Voice coaches didn’t forget that fact, either, and it doesn’t sound like their passion for her has diminished during her time on Team Bublé. Snoop Dogg drew laughs when he couldn’t help but start rapping during his critique, saying:

Snoop rarely reveals who he would choose as the winner of any battle outside of his own team, so the fact that he told his fellow coach to pick the 31-year-old from Alabama is something in and of itself.

Niall Horan weighed in with high praise of his own, and if not for that sweet, Irish accent, it might have sounded like he was mad when he said:

Reba McEntire agreed the artist is “unbelievable” and said she’s been in awe of her talent from the beginning. As for her coach, Michael Bublé simply told Jazz McKenzie that “God’s light radiates through you.”

After making it official and sending her through to the Playoffs, Michael Bublé said in an interview:

I agree, she’s definitely up there! Next Monday we’ll see the final three Knockouts, including who Snoop Dogg chooses for his Mic Drop, but will we have yet another new favorite? Tune in at 9 p.m. ET November 24 on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses The Voice Knockout performances from November 3. Season 28 episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you need to catch up.

The 2025 TV schedule may have given us just one hour of Knockouts from The Voice this week, but it was a matter of quality over quantity. Three powerhouse duels took place on November 3, and forget the fact that we’re only halfway through the competition — fans think they already know who will be crowned the winner of Season 28.

The singers this season are goooood, so regardless of who takes home the prize, it won’t be an easy path to the top. That said, I just can’t argue that Niall Horan may just remain undefeated by earning his third victory on The Voice with Aiden Ross.

From his Blind Audition, where he got a Four-Chair Turn singing Adele’s "Love in the Dark" to his Battle with Team Niall teammate Ava Nat that sent me shamelessly stalking their social media to hear more of their gorgeous harmonies, to Aiden Ross’ Knockout Billie Eilish cover, the 20-year-old from College Station, Texas, hasn’t had an inkling of a slip-up. “When the Party’s Over” is not an easy song to sing, but Ross pulled it off perfectly. Fans on X were ready to call the competition, as infinityxlover posted:

Others echoed that sentiment, writing:

• Good grief, Aiden. I just sat here like rock listening to you. I may not have breathed. That was a glorious performance. You couldn't have done better 👍– usedscates
• I’ve watched Aiden Ross’ audition & battle performances wayyy too many times. He needs to release more of his own music. I genuinely think he’s winning it all. – xwanjau
• Aiden WOW! – super_star_96
• Aiden just doesn’t miss man. – briizyf_

See what all the fuss was about below:

As you can see from the video, The Voice coaches couldn’t even hide how impressed they were by Aiden Ross’ performance. Snoop Dogg — who’s known to get emotional about his Voice family — had high praise, telling the artist:

Michael Bublé, meanwhile, was practically brought to violence as he saw his chances of a three-peat slipping away. He told told Aiden Ross and his Knockout opponent Liam von Elbe:

I’ve definitely had trouble choosing my favorite singers this season, but Aiden Ross has always been one of my frontrunners, along with 14-year-old Max Chambers, who made his own convincing case to become the Season 28 winner with his rendition of “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing.”

It’s been one hell of a season so far, and we’re only halfway through it. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the Knockouts hold, and then how strong the competition will be in the Playoffs and beyond. Tune in at 9 p.m. ET Mondays on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

We’re only halfway through The Voice Season 28, and already it’s been such an emotional rollercoaster. From a surprise marriage proposal to Reba McEntire breaking down over the death of her stepson Brandon Blackstock, these superstars have bonded through the highs and lows. It turns out Snoop Dogg has been a big part of fostering that family atmosphere, and I love that he initiated a pre-show ritual for all of The Voice coaches.

The Knockout round is underway on the 2025 TV schedule, and it’s pretty obvious how important the familial side of The Voice is to the rapper. He regularly refers to his team as his “family,” and calls individual members “niece” and “nephew.” Snoop Dogg told NBC that relationship-building is the most important part of the experience, saying:

I’m sure that fact was never in doubt. The chemistry amongst the coaches — which started to develop back in Season 26, when Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé first worked together — definitely comes across as genuine on the screen. That may be due, in part, to the pre-show ritual they have, as McEntire told People:

I think that’s such a sweet tradition to have, and I can see how it would help to strengthen the bond they have with each other.

Michael Bublé also hasn’t been shy about singing Snoop Dogg’s praises. He called the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” artist a “sweetie pie” and recalled how Snoop bonded with his daughter after learning that their kindergarten class listened to his affirmations. While the Canadian crooner agrees the D-O-double G makes The Voice a fun place to work, Bublé is also touched by how important the artists are to him. He said on Sunday TODAY:

We’ve seen Blake Shelton give opportunities to his former team members, Michael Bublé producing his champion’s upcoming album and Kelsea Ballerini handing out her phone number to contestants, and now there’s Snoop Dogg, who has put at least some of his Season 26 contestants on his payroll.

It’s clear that having the West Coast rapper on the NBC singing competition has been a delight for his fellow coaches, and fans seem to love him just as much. It would be nice to see him pull out a win this season, but it kind of feels like joining Team Snoop is already a pretty big W for the artists.

Tune in to see how Season 28 plays out, with Knockouts resuming at 9 p.m. ET Monday, November 3, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Back in November 2024, a $1.3 million lawsuit was filed that named high-profile rappers Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg as defendants, tying back to the formation of their supergroup Mount Westmore, which released a Mandalorian-inspired music video some years back. Not much movement has been made on the case, with both musicians attempting to avoid showing up in court for an in-person deposition. But the latest update on the case is a setback for the duo on the front, as a judge formally denied the request, meaning they will likely be required to appear.

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube’s legal teams filed court documents back in August requesting a judge to side with their argument that they did not need to be present for a planned October deposition in relation to the lawsuit filed against them by the company Westside Merchandise. At the time, the currently winless Voice coach claimed to be unavailable until October 21, as he was shooting a movie, while the Friday franchise vet and championer claimed to be busy working with his Big3 basketball league while also preparing to go on tour. The request also included the stipulation that both would be willing to appear on camera for a virtual deposition, but only if it was under two hours in length.

In response to that paperwork, Westside Merchandise submitted its own documents requesting for the judge to toss out the rappers’ requests, arguing that its execs had been cooperative throughout the process with the Grammy winners’ legal teams, despite all attempts to schedule the meeting being thwarted. That filing also pleaded with the judge to demand the defendants pay upwards of $11,000 in legal fees for delaying the case’s outcome.

The Los Angeles Superior Court judge didn’t appear to lay down a ruling for that inquiry just yet, but did pass judgment on the deposition-avoiding paperwork, according to US Weekly, claiming the rappers did not successfully argue the point that they lacked the relevant knowledge about the deal with Westside. The judge specifically pointed to the fact that both Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube were “actual signatories” regarding the contract signed back in 2022 when the collaboration deal was first discussed.

Why Westside Merchandising Is Suing Ice Cube And Snoop Dogg

Back in 2022, Cube and Snoop teamed up with fellow marquee rhymers E-40 and Too Short to form Mount Westmore, and amidst the singles and videos that were released, conversations were had about a world tour. Enter Westside, whose attorneys say they contacted the rappers about becoming the exclusive vendor for the group's merch.

The company allegedly provided $1.3 million in advances, with the belief that the group would be headlining a 60-stop tour across the U.S. and Europe, and that tour merch would be sold at every performance. The agreement also reportedly included the assurance that both Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube would agree to make a public appearance at a retail location of Westside's choosing, and that the group would publicly acknowledge the partnership.

Cut to 2025, and Westside claims Mount Westmore only performaned at a "mere three concerts" throughout 2022, and did not perform live at all during 2023 or 2024. The company claims its attempts to recoup its $1.3 million were refused, with all members of the rap group denying any wrongdoing. Too Short and E-40 addressed not being active parties in the contractual agreement, which perhaps indicates why they're not named as defendants.

The rappers' lawyers released the following statement:

It's another less-than-positive turnout for Ice Cube, who co-starred in one of 2025's biggest film disasters, the 0%-earning War of the Worlds, and then tried explaining where it all went wrong. Snoop, meanwhile, is set to return to his bi-annual gig of covering the Olympics for NBCU, assuming this lawsuit doesn't cause any hiccups on that front.

It always fascinates me to hear when the coaches of The Voice keep in touch with the artists post-show, whether it’s Blake Shelton booking team members at Ole Red, Michael Bublé helping his Season 26 winner produce his album or Kelsea Ballerini handing out her phone number to eliminated contestants. Considering how close they become, I’ve always wondered how much time the singers actually get to spend with Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg and the other mentors. Thanks to an EP, now I know.

The Voice Season 28 changed up the Battles rules, as the artists picked their own duet partner instead of the coaches making that choice. This created some amazing and unexpected duos but also an added challenge for Niall Horan (who declared the Battles his “least favorite” part of the show) and the rest. So how much time did they have to work out each arrangement? Executive producer Audrey Morrissey told SheKnows:

If the coaches are meeting with every member of their team over four days, that probably means they’re getting a good few hours of face-to-face time. Then the contestants apparently have access to their coaches’ phone numbers or email addresses for further direction. Morrissey continued:

It sounds like the amount of communication that happens between the superstars and their proteges is dictated by the coach, but Ariana Grande — who admits she got too attached to her team — suggested in Season 21 that there may be a limit to such interaction. The Wicked star claimed she had “broken every rule in my contract” by talking to her artists “all the time” and was told (presumably by producers) that she wasn’t supposed to do that.

The EP didn’t mention any limit but did say the degree of coach involvement varied, with some loving to get involved with the whole production and others preferring to focus on the music.

But even those artists aren’t left high and dry. Snoop Dogg shouted out all of the people we don’t get to see helping the artists’ journeys, including hair and makeup, wardrobe, vocal coaches and, of course, the band. The “Gin and Juice” rapper told Access Hollywood last month (via E! News):

After 28 seasons, it seems like The Voice is probably a well-oiled machine that does make the job of the coaches pretty easy, but it sounds like it takes a lot of people to make that happen. I’m just glad to hear the coaches are actually involved with their team members and not just popping in on performance day.

I love to see the relationships develop, and I can’t wait to see what twists and turns await the next round of competition. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Monday, October 27, on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription, as the Battle round ends and the teams kick off Knockouts.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals a couple of the results from The Voice Season 28 Battles that aired Monday, October 20. You can stream episodes with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

The superstar coaches of The Voice Season 28 are nearing the end of the Battles with Knockouts on the horizon. After all of the fun that Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé had building their teams, they’ve reached the episodes on the 2025 TV schedule in which they have to start making cuts. The Battles are particularly brutal, and the former One Direction member explained exactly why this is his “least favorite” part.

Niall Horan had a pretty impossible decision to make when Aiden Ross and Ava Nat chose to go up against each other on Night 3 of the Battles. Just like I think the Season 28 twist of letting the artists pick their own battle partners resulted in the possible frontrunner going home last week, I was so afraid of losing either one of these singers. As good as their voices sounded individually, they blended even more beautifully together (to the degree where Reba McEntire suggested they become an official duo). Don’t believe me? Take a listen:

Having to choose a winner was almost too much for Niall Horan to bear, and he took a moment to rant to host Carson Daly about what makes the Battle round particularly difficult, saying:

That actually makes a lot of sense, because while coaches like Adam Levine have said the Knockouts are worse, by that point the contestants have gotten a couple of different coaching sessions and likely have something substantial to take away from what essentially a music boot camp.

In the Battles, however, they’ve only gotten to work together one time before the coaches have to cut their teams in half.

Luckily for Niall Horan, he still had his Save, so despite picking Aiden Ross as the winner, he was able to retain Ava Nat.

Snoop Dogg wasn’t so lucky when Emmanuel Rey and Mindy Miller went up against each other. He delayed his decision as long as he could before chastising his fellow coaches and trying to get Carson Daly to do his dirty work for him. He said:

While Carson Daly contended that those symptoms might have been caused by something else — aka Snoop’s “greenroom” — it was clear the D-O-double G didn’t want to lose someone he already considered family. In the end, however, he chose Mindy Miller. Did he make the right choice?

There is something that has always seemed cruel about forcing teammates to go up against each other in a “2 artists enter, 1 artist leaves” situation, especially so early in the competition, but that’s the game we play.

That game will continue next Monday, October 27, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and after a season that’s already brought us the Carson Callback and this pick-your-partner Battles twist, it looks like The Voice has another new rule up its sleeve for the Knockouts. Stay tuned!

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.

The Voice Season 28 teams are set, with the Blind Auditions wrapping on Tuesday after Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé and Niall Horan all made their final chair turns to fill out their teams of 12. This season has highlighted the importance of choosing the right song for your audition, and I really hope future artists are paying attention, because Snoop just dropped some really good advice on the matter.

Back on the third night of auditions, 35-year-old J. Blake took the stage with a version of Teddy Swims’ “The Door.” Nerves may have gotten the best of him, as he had some pitch issues and none of The Voice coaches were inspired to turn their chairs. After hearing from Blake, Snoop Dogg offered some advice that really could apply to anyone hoping to get on the NBC singing competition. He said:

Snoop Dogg offered these words of wisdom to J. Blake after hearing that he grew up singing in the church, but the idea behind the rapper’s message should strike a chord with artists of any background and of any genre.

With any singing competition, auditioners should pick songs that allow them to deliver an emotional message, because judges or coaches are going to remember how they feel more than what they hear. This is especially true on The Voice, since the mentors have their backs turned and can’t see the performances.

Check out J. Blake’s audition below, as well as Snoop Dogg dropping in his two cents:

The importance of song choice was spotlighted this season with the addition of the Carson Callback, which allowed the host to invite one rejected singer back to try again with a different song.

Ryan Mitchell was the lucky recipient of the Season 28 twist after getting no turns for his version of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams.” However, when he returned with a cover of Britney Spears’ “... Baby One More Time,” he landed on Reba McEntire’s team.

While the new song choice didn’t apply to Snoop Dogg’s specific advice to lean into spirituality, the Britney Spears hit did allow Ryan Mitchell to convey more emotion — almost desperation — that the country queen connected with.

Each artist has to find the song that allows them to connect with its story in that way, and I think Snoop Dogg found a brilliant way to convey that to J. Blake and whoever else was out there listening.

Song choice goes back to the coaches for the next round of competition, as the Battles kick off when The Voice returns to the 2025 TV schedule. Tune in at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

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.

Minor spoilers ahead for The Voice Season 28 episode that aired September 23. You can stream the second night of auditions with a Peacock subscription if you missed it.

There have been a lot of unexpected moments on The Voice stage over the course of 28 seasons, but never have we witnessed a Blind Audition quite like Jacob Ryan Gustafson’s. The artist took advantage of his moment on national television to ask his girlfriend to marry him, and I can’t get over The Voice coaches’ reactions — particularly Michael Bublé’s sweet words.

Season 28 of NBC’s singing competition kicked off this week on the 2025 TV schedule, and already there have been some great moments, like Niall Horan facing his self-proclaimed biggest fan and Carson Daly introducing the new Carson Callback. Jacob Ryan Gustafson, however, provided arguably the biggest shock of the season so far after taking the stage to sing Morgan Wallen’s “Spin You Around.”

The 35-year-old California firefighter didn’t turn any chairs, but he said he had no regrets and asked if he could bring his girlfriend Jennifer out on stage. Calling her the reason he was there, Gustafson said:

Jennifer burst into tears as the artist got down on one knee. She accepted the proposal as the coaches looked on with open mouths. Snoop Dogg practically stormed the stage, shouting:

Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan followed the rapper to the stage to congratulate the couple as Snoop continued his joyous yelling, and my heart just melted when Bublé told the newly betrothed singer:

How sweet is that? Snoop Dogg loved the sentiment, too, agreeing, “That’s the win. That’s the win right there, brother,” and the “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” singer continued:

I’ve always appreciated Michael Bublé’s corny comedy on The Voice, but he’s also got quite a way with words. You can see the full audition below, including the surprise proposal and the coaches’ reactions:

This audition — despite not resulting in an artist being added to a team — was one of the highlights of Night 2. We also got to see Ryan Mitchell return to use his Carson Callback. This time around he sang a unique version of Britney Spears’ “...Baby One More Time,” which intrigued Reba McEntire enough to hit her button.

I’m still disappointed that the Carson Callback has come and gone so soon, and I’m holding out hope that they’ll let the host be more involved by giving him another callback card, now that we know how it works and all.

The Voice Season 28 is just getting started, so I’m sure there are plenty of more surprises to come. Tune in for more Blind Auditions at 8 p.m. ET next Monday, September 29, on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Over the past few years, there has been a ton of conversation about the power of inclusion in the media, particularly LGBTQ+ representation. But while the industry has taken steps forward in this regard, there are still some naysayers who criticize studios telling queer stories. Snoop Dogg recently said he was "scared" to go to the movies after seeing Lightyear's same-sex couple, and now the alleged apology that's been circulating online is being debunked.

Lightyear (which is streaming now with a Disney+ subscription) is a Toy Story spinoff that tells the "real" life story of the titular action figure. It briefly features a same-sex couple with two women, which is something Snoop took umbrage with. While an "apology" from the rap legend circulated online, it's now been debunked thanks to his reps contacting THR and claiming it wasn't legit. The faux apology read:

While this response brought some relief to his fans out there, especially the LGBTQ+, his reps say it was "fake". So we'll have to wait and see if a real apology comes from Snoop, or if he addresses the ongoing controversy in another way.

For those who don't remember, Snoop Dogg's comments about Lightyear came from the It's Giving Podcast. In it he shared his surprise to see a same-sex couple on the screen, and not knowing what to say to his grandchild who apparently asked him about it. His viral comments read:

This statement quickly made its rounds online, thanks to how many fans Snoop Dogg has due to his music and ongoing collaboration with Martha Stewart. He's a very well-liked public figure, which is why his viral comments about LGBTQ+ representation in the media has gone viral so quickly.

Chris Evans voiced the title character of Lightyear, and his comments about the movie's queer characters have resurfaced as a result. When the Pixar movie was being released he was quoted saying:

Clearly the discourse surrounding representation the media is showing no signs of slowing down, thanks to how personal this subject matter is. Lightyear is just one recent example of LGBTQ+ stories being included in major blockbusters, including other Disney-related titles like Doctor Strange 2 and Strange World.

Lightyear is streaming on Disney+ now along with the rest of the Toy Story franchise. The flagship series is getting a new sequel with Toy Story 5, which is expected to hit theaters on June 19th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Snoop Dogg has found himself in a bit of controversy lately, after the rapper went viral for saying that the lesbian characters in 2022’s Lightyear made him “scared to go to the movies.” This is all happening in the weeks ahead of Snoop’s return to the 2025 TV schedule to serve as a coach on The Voice for Season 28, and a source is alleging that the drama has affected the NBC singing competition.

The rapper appeared on the It’s Giving podcast in August, saying that Lightyear’s LGBTQ+ story featuring two women who had a baby prompted questions from his grandson that he “didn’t have an answer for.” According to a supposed insider, per The Sun, NBC is “furious” about Snoop Dogg’s comments, which included saying that queer representation is “everywhere” and asking why it has to be shown to children. According to the source:

NBC has not made an official comment about Snoop Dogg’s viral podcast appearance or even acknowledged it. However, it is true that polarizing topics like politics rarely come up, regardless of the leanings of the various celebrities who rotate in and out of the Big Red Chairs.

Also, many contestants in The Voice’s first 27 seasons have identified themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ community. With that, the insider went on to say that the current situation could allegedly affect whether or not Snoop Dogg returns to the singing competition for a third season. The source said:

Whether or not the source is correct that Snoop Dogg’s opinion about Lightyear has caused some issues with the NBC brass, I wouldn’t expect to see it addressed when The Voice Season 28 premieres at 8 p.m. ET Monday, September 22, on NBC (streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription).

With much of the season already filmed before the viral podcast appearance, it’s unlikely that we’ll see any of the tension Snoop is alleged to have created with his bosses, and even if he isn’t invited back following this season, we’ll probably never know if or how much this controversy played into it.

Snoop Dogg stepped away for Season 27 but is returning as a coach for his second attempt, joining Niall Horan, Reba McEntire and Michael Bublé in helping budding artists try to crack their way into the music industry.

In his first appearance, Gwen Stefani said she thought the “Gin and Juice” artist struggled to critique his team members, and it’s true that he often became emotional during episodes and, growing to think of the singers as his family by the end of the show. We'll just have to wait and see if this affects his standing as part of The Voice family.

The conversation surrounding the LGBTQ+ moment in Lightyear — Chris Evans’ 2022 Pixar movie — has resurfaced after Snoop Dogg went viral for comments about being “scared” to take his grandchildren to the theater. This was a pretty hot topic back when the movie was released, and as the rapper’s comments circulate, so too does the response Evans had for critics of the queer storyline three years ago.

What Snoop Dogg Said About Lightyear’s LGBTQ+ Storyline

In Buzz Lightyear’s origin story (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), there is a lesbian couple who share a child. This apparently caused Snoop Dogg’s grandchildren to ask questions that he wasn’t prepared for when he took them to the movie theater. He said on the It’s Giving podcast that “they’re putting it everywhere,” in reference to queer representation, retelling the mid-movie conversation he and his grandson had:

Snoop Dogg — who will serve as a coach on The Voice when it premieres on the 2025 TV schedule September 22 — admitted he was caught off-guard and deflected by turning his grandson’s attention back to the movie. On the podcast he continued:

The rapper’s comments about the movie have caused some backlash, and many fans remembered how Chris Evans originally responded to such sentiments back in 2022.

Fans Recall Chris Evans Saying ‘Those People Are Idiots’

Chris Evans had some pretty strong opinions about the discourse surrounding Lightyear’s lesbian storyline and admitted that it was hard not to get frustrated that the same-sex kiss was even a controversial topic. So it’s no surprise that the Captain America actor’s own viral comments are circulating again in light of Snoop Dogg’s podcast appearance.

Back in 2022, Chris Evans addressed Alisha Hawthorne’s (Uzo Aduba) story in Lightyear in a Reuters interview, and of the people offended by it, he said:

How's that for a mic drop?

Lightyear was not the box office success that Pixar hoped it would be, and Disney apparently lost a lot of money due to its flop. However, the conversation surrounding LGBTQ+ representation, particularly in upcoming Pixar movies and other kids’ flicks, lives on.

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.

Easter is a bit different this year, especially if you're someone who observes the unofficial good-time holiday of 4/20. Snoop Dogg is basically the patron saint of marijuana these days, so it only makes sense that he's been able to celebrate both days of observation so perfectly, in this case with both a great meme and a new music video featuring Jelly Roll, Bob Marley and Tom Petty, at least sort of.

Safe to say Snoop isn't sparking up with his good pal Martha Stewart this Sunday, but he was able to deliver some inspiring tunes for his followers who may be bouncing between both holidays this weekend. Check out the meme he posted to X, which shows the "Doggfather" switching species to mark the occasion.

I don't think I've been this amused by a Snoop Dogg visual since he rolled joints at supersonic speeds on Kai Cenat's livestream. Nobody can look so simultaneously contented and displeased with the same face. It's a hilarious picture, and it made my Easter and 4/20 a bit brighter just by seeing it.

Of course, Snoop wasn't going to let 4/20 go by without sharing something else for his fans to pass around, and it came in the form of a trippy ass new music video for a reggae-fied version of Tom Petty's "Last Dance with Mary Jane," featuring Jelly Roll and...well...A.I.-looking creations representing not just the late, great Petty, but also Bob Marley.

I would say that's not a video anyone who experienes anxiety should watch, but it's far better than the last Snoop Dogg collaboration video I've seen. The music video itself is directed by Dave Meyers, who has crafted a list too vast of notable videos for big artists since the late '90s. But a personal favorite of mine that he worked on that shares similar vibes with this video is Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On."

Speaking of getting freaky, the D-O double G (much easier to say than write) shared a strange video to Instagram, which featured him voicing an animated version of himself set to get intimate with an anthropomorphic joint. Check it out, and be on the lookout for that Mike Tyson cameo:

Is Iron Mike on an infamous toad venom trip in this video? Is that what is going on here? That's the optimist in me, because I don't want to assume the fighting champion was depicted doing anything more questionable just on the other side of that window.

Considering all of this, it's somewhat amusing that Snoop Dogg can maintain such a lifestyle, where he can openly discuss marijuana all day long and still appear on shows like The Voice as a coach. I'm not too sure anyone who has been a coach on the NBC series could successfully wear those two hats at once, which may point to how rare of a celebrity he is.

Snoop Dogg has found his niche in Hollywood and might be the most family-friendly stoner to grace the spotlight. When you can honor blowing smoke and watching Frozen in the same breath and people love it, you gotta be doing something right! Happy holidays to the Doggfather, and how he's married these two holidays to each other.

Snoop Dogg's Missionary album is out on streaming and in stores now, so be sure to check it out wherever you listen to music. CinemaBlend will continue to track what's happening with celebrities and the wild things they decide to share with the world.

There are plenty of iconic Hollywood duos out there — Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Steve Martin and Martin Short, to name a few — but none of these relationships is as delightfully mindboggling as the friendship between Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. Some have suggested that the pair bonded over their shared love of the cannabis, but what's the truth? Have they ever smoked weed together? Snoop’s answer to that question is pretty sneaky.

Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart are reportedly hosting a cannabis pairing dinner in L.A. to celebrate the fast-approaching stoner holiday of 4/20, and while the rapper admitted that his 83-year-old buddy “knows how to have a good time,” he stopped short of confirming that he’s actually smoked with the lifestyle queen. When asked directly, he told OK! magazine:

I guess you could say Snoop Dogg puff, puff, passed on that question! The D-O-double G has zero qualms about letting everyone know he’s a friend of Mary Jane — even as a coach on The Voice, several cracks were made about what went on in his dressing room — but how polite of him not to smoke and tell!

When Martha Stewart started her podcast in 2022, she had Snoop Dogg on as a guest, where she said she hadn’t “taken up the habit,” per Business Insider, but that she thoroughly enjoyed the contact high that came with sitting next to the rapper.

Snoop, in turn, called her “the secondhand queen,” and said:

Again! What a gentleman he is!

Martha Stewart made a similar claim following the hilarious Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber in 2015. She said on Seth Meyers’ late-night show that contrary to what Jeff Ross said about her getting high with him and Snoop during the show, she hadn’t actually partaken. She clarified:

Despite who’s actually doing the inhaling, it’s pretty obvious that the dynamic duo have shared some fun times together over the years. We’ve gotten to witness plenty of it, too, on cooking specials like Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner, where they even recreated the famous Ghost pottery scene.

Snoop Dogg may not be willing to spill the tea on Martha Stewart’s habits, but he’s very open about why the two are such good friends. He told OK!:

I’ll raise a glass of “Gin & Juice” to that!

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.

With Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary celebration in full swing on the 2025 TV Schedule, cast members and hosts alike are divulging all the behind the scenes details from the past half-century. If the SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night docuseries taught me anything, it’s that an episode of the show goes through numerous changes before it airs, sometimes up to minutes before airtime Cheri Oteri remembers a sketch that was altered several different times at guest star Snoop Dogg's surprising request, but it actually ended up making it better.

Cheri Oteri was a regular cast member from 1995-2000 and is probably best known for her recurring Barbara Walters impression. When she recently guest-hosted TODAY’s Jenna and Friends, Oteri recalled a sketch written for musical guest Snoop Dogg, in which she interviews the rapper as Walters. According to the Grown Ups 2 actress, the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper requested Oteri include not one, but four of his cousins in the sketch, leaving her scrambling. In the end, it all worked out, and her reasoning behind the solution is funny:

Of course, the bodyguards are meant to be a bit intimidating in the sketch, as they surround Oteri and Snoop. The SNL alum’s TODAY co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, also makes sure to note that in 1997, when the episode premiered, the public’s perception of the “Young, Wild & Free” rapper was a bit different than today. She specifically said:

It’s quite interesting how the rapper has transformed over the years into a national media personality, most notably developing a beloved friendship with Martha Stewart. It’s turned out to be a gold mine for TV networks and stand-up comedians alike, with many joking about the seemingly mismatched pair's unique dynamic.

Whether it was his adorable friendship with Martha or the copious amounts of weed he still smokes to this day (although he did have a brief sober era), these days he is considered, as Oteri puts it, “America’s sweetheart.” I can’t disagree, as his side quests at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris were some of my favorite parts of the broadcasts. However, to the TODAY host’s point, his on-screen moment with Oteri’s Barbara Walters was back before his wholesome era.

Back in the day, the Voice host was somewhat of a regular face in Studio 8H, having made four appearances in the show’s 50-year run, once as host and three times as a musical guest. He was also one of the many big names flown in for the 50th anniversary weekend, performing at the SNL 50th Anniversary Concert this past Friday. His musical set, in which he smoked a joint on stage while rapping hits like “Gin & Juice” and “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” was his first time on the iconic late night comedy show since 2004. So I’d say he’s a little overdue.

In a perfect world, I’d love to see him and Martha Stewart host an episode together, as the famous cook has yet to add the hosting gig to her resume. However, I’d also settle for Ana Gasteyer’s hilarious SNL impression of the best-selling author. And perhaps Barbara Walters (a.k.a Oteri) will return to interview the bestie duo… without the bodyguards this time.

Be sure to check out the highly anticipated SNL 50th Anniversary Special, airing February 16th at 8 p.m. EST on NBC. It'll also be available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

The biggest NFL game of the season is about to hit the 2025 TV schedule and, with that, commercials are already starting to surface. Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg, for their part, have partnered for an ad readers will see should they livestream Super Bowl 2025, and it conveys a message of anti-hate. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the ad is striking a chord with the masses, as the comments that have been shared about it across social media are probably not what the ad-makers probably assumed it would receive.

As Tom Brady's lucrative TV career continues, he has joined forces with the Foundation To Combat Antisemitism and legendary rapper Snoop Dogg. The two stars came together and talked about the things they hate. In the end, both men agreed that it's terrible that the world has become so divided and hate-filled that they have to make a commercial about it. By the end, both men appeared united in their viewpoint. Check out the commercial below ahead of Super Bowl Sunday:

The ad made the rounds across the internet and, suffice to say, I don't think it's going to be as memorable as some of CinemaBlend's favorite ads from the 2024 Super Bowl. The message is clear in promoting anti-hate, which is a positive goal. However, social media users seem to ironically be showering hate on the ad by way of X. Check out some of the reactions:

• This is the cringiest commercial I’ve ever seen ngl - @Degen__inc
• This commercial kinda trash - @Messages_Left
• this is so stupid. - @elydia351
• This commercial did the opposite of what it was indented to do. - @ghostbestie057
• Lots of sexual tension - @Smackover7

The general consensus is that this commercial is a misstep and, to chime in with the Internet, pairing together Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady is an odd choice. One is mainly known for quickly rolling joints, and the other is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks who ever lived. There's not a lot to link Brady and Snoop together, let alone give them a reason to hate each other.

I would imagine the purpose of this ad was to move the needle and get people thinking critically about the divisive time the United States is in. Unfortunately, it's currently looking like it'll get less attention than a potential sequel to Ben Affleck's DunKings ad, which was so popular last year the company actually sold merchandise for it.

Then again, the people of X don't always represent the minds of the masses, so maybe the commercial will be best received before or after the game )which will also feature Kendrick Lamar's halftime show performance). I can only speculate, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we see a second wave of reactions on Sunday night when the commercial hits the airwaves. I know I've said it once, but it needs to be said again: Why did it have to be Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady delivering this message?

Super Bowl Sunday kicks off on Fox on Sunday, February 9th, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Expect more commercials worthy of discussion, an exciting halftime performance, and maybe a football game in the middle of all that as well.

Gladiator II was a major highlight of the 2024 movie schedule, and had plenty of great interviews and content surrounding the sequel. The movie and its stars, including Denzel Washington, are rightfully getting acclaim for the epic blockbuster. One of the lighter, and incredibly wholesome, highlights for the actor-director is meeting none other than Snoop Dogg on the red carpet, and the footage says it all.

The video comes from ParamountUK’s Instagram account, and the exchange is enthusiastic, a great time that is long overdue. Amongst paparazzi, their respective loved ones in attendance and other stars the two seem like kids eagerly catching up after a long school break. There are quick compliments exchanged between the two legends and the video ends with a photo op. Check out their initial meeting down below:

It’s hard to believe these two entertainment veterans and overall icons have never met, although, it makes sense with their respective places within Hollywood. All the same, I’m glad their meeting took place at a public event and was recorded for all their fans to relish the moment. And with Washington’s thoughts about how he probably won’t be in the threequel, I’m all the happier to have the small and earnest moment on the premiere carpet. I don’t think this match could be topped with how fun it was for them to be meeting each other.

The Tragedy of Macbeth actor was recently ranked as one of 60 of the best performers of the 21st century (and fans have a lot to say about the rankings, of course). His latest Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Macrinus marks an important milestone for his career as well as Black performers. And the official announcement of Washington’s involvement with the latest Black Panther movie has him excited (and fans like me) for what’s ahead. This reaction he has when greeting the beloved rapper makes me appreciate him beyond his body of work.

The Old School actor’s reaction, big grin and all, when meeting the Gladiator II actor confirms my continued love for him. He’s had a year, between being a USA correspondent, torch bearer, and all-around hypeman for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics to his mini-summer tour and being a coach on The Voice, to name just a few. The two men meeting each other, in my opinion, is probably a great cap to end their respective years.

Whoever shot the footage should be awarded something special for capturing the enthusiastic hellos. Hopefully, down the road, we’ll catch some more sweet content and footage of Washington and Snoop Dogg together, maybe even at another red carpet event.

Gladiator II is now showing in theaters and available on VOD streaming services.

The Voice wrapped an emotional 26th season last week, with Sofronio Vasquez nabbing a deserving victory for himself and his coach Michael Bublé. Now, as we start to look ahead to the 2025 TV schedule, there’s much speculation about which of the mentors might return to the Big Red Chairs in Season 28 and beyond. After Snoop Dogg addressed his future on The Voice at the finale, a source is alleging that Gwen Stefani may be following in her husband’s footsteps and calling it quits.

Lots of tears were spilled by the coaches of The Voice this season, with Uncle Snoop breaking down on a number of occasions and tissues regularly being passed back and forth amongst the panel members. The show is often an emotional experience for its coaches — so much so that Ariana Grande said she couldn’t do it again — but something about Gwen Stefani’s eighth turn as a coach seemed to really affect her, as an insider told The Sun she was “crying a lot this season.” The source continued:

Apparently Gwen Stefani was crying a lot of happy tears, but was she simply being present for her team members, or was she getting emotional because she was already thinking about leaving the show again? The insider pointed out that the No Doubt singer hasn’t made any official decision regarding her future with The Voice, but there’s a chance Blake Shelton might play into it when she does. They said:

I’m sure Gwen Stefani has been enjoying having her husband of three years Blake Shelton around more often since he left The Voice after Season 23, and maybe she is looking to spend more time with him (or even to hit The Road with him on his upcoming singing competition).

However, would that really keep her from returning to The Voice? Blake Shelton’s been gone for three seasons, and his wife has coached on two of them. Shelton once said Gwen Stefani had even worried that the show wouldn’t want her after he was gone, so I wonder why that would influence her decision now.

The only thing we really know for sure is that of the Season 26 coaches, Michael Bublé is the only one guaranteed to be coming back. He will try to defend his victory in Season 27 against John Legend, Kelsea Ballerini and returning OG coach Adam Levine. We don’t have too long to wait for that fun to begin, either, because The Voice is set to return to NBC on Monday, February 3.

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!

Spoiler alert! This story discusses The Voice Season 26 performance finale that aired December 9. You can stream the episode with a Peacock subscription, or tune into NBC at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, December 10, for a recap of the Top 5 performances ahead of the two-hour finale.

The Voice Season 26 is officially in America’s hands. The top 5 artists who were voted through from last week’s Semifinals performed on Monday’s live finale in hopes of hearing their name called when this season wraps on the 2024 TV schedule. Rookie coach Michael Bublé had two singers remaining, while one artist apiece for Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani took the stage on December 9 for two songs — one up-tempo and one ballad. Viewers were treated to a night of good music, but which contestant did enough to take home the big prize?

Each of the five finalists had all four of The Voice coaches fighting for them in the Blind Auditions, guaranteeing that we’ll see another Four-Chair Turn winner in Season 26. Strangely, however, there were no country artists in the finale. America’s got a tough decision to make, so let’s take a look at how Monday played out before I share my pick for who should win based on the finale performances. (Artists are listed in order of their first appearance.)

Danny Joseph (Team Reba)

After winning the Instant Save in the Semifinals, Reba McEntire’s rocker Danny Joseph said he had nothing to lose going into the finale. He kicked off the show with Luke Combs’ "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma," which was the high-energy note we needed. He got to show off his guitar skills and signature growl later in the night with “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse. He had a good night, but was it enough to earn America’s vote?

Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop)

I hope Broadway casting directors watch The Voice, because Jeremy Beloate seems destined for the Great White Way. He showed off his strong crooner skills first with “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” and oh my gosh, I forgot he has that gorgeous falsetto to pull out whenever he needs it. His coach Snoop Dogg was in tears, and Beloate brought the same emotion to Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” where his clear, bold voice boomed out to potential voters.

Shye (Team Michael)

I love Joan Osborne’s “One of Us,” but I found it a strange choice for an up-tempo finale song. Shye has been a powerhouse for Michael Bublé this season, though, so I wasn’t too mad at it. I have loved watching the 18-year-old singer grow and find her confidence on The Voice, and knowing her journey made her second performance — “Falling” by Harry Styles — the perfect way to close out the episode. Bublé and Snoop Dogg have apparently already been talking about her future after the show, and Coach Snoop said he can’t wait until she makes an album, “hopefully with my record label.” Girl, get that in writing!

Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen)

Gwen Stefani boasted the youngest remaining member of Season 26 in 16-year-old Sydney Sterlace, who sang one of the night’s only songs from this decade with Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” Her voice is beautiful, with a subtle vibrato that she doesn’t overuse, but I felt this was more of a showcase of the kind of album she could make than a finale performance. She followed that up with “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, which gave Grey’s Anatomy fans everywhere PTSD but elicited sweet words from Reba McEntire about being a good role model for her sisters and other young women.

Sofronio Vasquez (Team Michael)

All four coaches were on their feet after Sofronio Vasquez put his own spin on Sia’s “Unstoppable.” Michael Bublé said he wanted it to feel like a fight song, and it definitely did, which was exactly what you should do in the finals. Vasquez has an effortless tone, and he really showed off some amazing runs. His second song gave us more of that fight, as he performed “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman. The artist was so emotional he could barely sing the last line of the song, and it’s safe to say the people in that studio weren’t the only ones to get choked up.

Who Do I Think Should Win The Voice Season 26? Sofronio Vasquez

Based on tonight’s performances, Michael Bublé’s team member Sofronio Vasquez showed a sense of urgency in both of his performances that really made it feel like he wanted it. He’s been consistent all season, even getting a shoe thrown at him by Jennifer Hudson (the highest of compliments). The writing may have been on the wall way back in the Blind Auditions when Bublé told him:

Reba McEntire told Gwen Stefani then that Michael Bublé might have just won the show when Sofronio Vasquez chose to join his team. I certainly think he should. I have to admit, though, Shye nearly swayed me with her show closer, but really, it sounds like Snoop Dogg wants to work with her, so I hope the teen takes that opportunity and runs with it.

Either way, I'm thinking Michael Bublé might notch a rookie season victory, and if one of his artists is able to pull it off, he'll be just the fourth new coach of The Voice to win on their first attempt, along with Niall Horan, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson. That doesn't include Adam Levine, who won the first overall season of the show, but Bublé will get to see the Maroon 5 singer's coaching style up close and personal when The Voice Season 27 hits the 2025 TV schedule.

Whether you agree with me or not on who should win Season 26, be sure to get your vote in! Voting will remain open until 7 a.m. ET December 10, and fans can cast one vote per email address on the official Voice app and on The Voice website. Then tune in to see the results. A recap of Monday’s performances will start at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a two-hour finale that will feature performances from former coaches Kelly Clarkson and Dan + Shay as well as the two most recent winners of The Voice, Huntley and Asher HaVon.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals which five artists from The Voice Season 26 advanced to next week’s finale. If you haven’t watched the December 3 episode, it can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

For the entirety of The Voice’s 26th season, which is set to wrap on the 2024 TV schedule next week, Snoop Dogg has been calling on the Gangster Holy Ghost to help him as he struggled through tough eliminations. However, when the Top 5 artists were revealed during the Semifinals on Tuesday, he seemed to be summoning a different spirit. After just one country music artist competed in Monday's performance show, the rapper took the opportunity to tap into The Voice’s legacy with a strong message that would have made Blake Shelton proud.

On the Tuesday results show, Carson Daly announced the four artists who received the most votes from America based on Monday’s performances. The bottom four vote-getters then performed one last time for the Instant Save, which was also voted on by viewers. Snoop Dogg team member Christina Eagle found herself in the latter group, and after her performance of Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like a Truck,” the D-O-Double G got real with The Voice’s fans regarding why it was important to vote her through. He said:

With Blake Shelton being a coach on The Voice for the first 23 seasons, and the Queen of Country Reba McEntire replacing him for the last three (not to mention the other country music mentors along the way), the genre has always been wildly popular amongst the contestants and its fans. How strange is it that Season 26 featured just one country artist in the Top 8 — and she was on Snoop Dogg’s team!

As passionate as Snoop’s speech was, though, it wasn’t enough to push Christina Eagle through to the finals, and I’m actually really surprised by that. How often do we not get any country music on The Voice finale? What’s more, Reba McEntire very nearly didn’t have a single artist moving forward. Neither of her semifinalists made it to the Top 4, so thank goodness for that Instant Save. In the end, what will next week’s episodes look like? Here are your Top 5 finalists:

• Jeremy Beloate (Snoop Dogg)
• Sofronio Vasquez (Michael Bublé)
• Shye (Michael Bublé)
• Sydney Sterlace (Gwen Stefani)
• Instant Save: Danny Joseph (Reba McEntire)

Country music or not, the Season 26 finale should be a banger, as we're guaranteed another Four-Chair Turn winner, with every singer above enticing all of the coaches in the Blind Auditions.

NBC also announced some of the performers we can expect to see over the two-night affair, including Kelly Clarkson, Dan + Shay, Tears For Fears, and previous winners of The Voice Huntley and Asher HaVon. But first we’ve got those Top 5 artists singing for America’s vote, so tune in at 8 p.m. ET Monday, December 9, on NBC.

As The Voice Season 26 prepares for its final weeks on the 2024 TV schedule, production has already begun on next season, which will see the triumphant return of OG coach Adam Levine. He and newcomer Kelsea Ballerini have their work cut out for them, as I’m actually obsessed with the coaches’ chemistry this season — even Reba McEntire called it her “favorite.” However, after seeing a peek at their group chat, the incoming coaches might just have this current foursome beat!

Kelsea Ballerini shared a number of images from her Thanksgiving festivities to Instagram Stories, and it looked like a wild time. In addition to plenty of cooking and singing in front of the Christmas tree (I love that she’s already got her tree up, by the way), the “Peter Pan” artist showed that she was in touch with her fellow The Voice coaches, sharing this screenshot:

First off, just the fact that the Season 27 coaches touched base with each other on Thanksgiving is lovely, and you can already tell these guys are going to bring some laughs as well as some edge. That’s no surprise regarding Adam Levine, who’s been involved in several of The Voice’s wildest moments, but here we’ve got Kelsea Ballerini flipping the bird at, well, her bird.

I can’t help but laugh at the Maroon 5 singer calling her turkey “wee,” although I’m kind of on his side, because why does that view of what I assume is the brining process make it look so tiny? Michael Bublé, meanwhile, disagreed on the size of her turkey (the other pics in her Stories show just how huge it actually was) but found the exchange amusing all the same.

Although John Legend appears to be part of the chat, he didn’t ring in quick enough to be included in Kelsea Ballerini’s screenshot, which is understandable considering he had four little ones running around his and Chrissy Teigen’s Thanksgiving.

Getting just a peek into how fun and friendly the Season 27 coaches are — with their season filming simultaneously with the currently airing Season 26 — makes me even more excited for Adam Levine’s return, but I hadn’t expected to like any group more than Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé.

Like Reba McEntire, I think this has been one of the best seasons of The Voice due to the coaches’ chemistry. For a while it seemed like the show might be trying to force rivalries between its mentors in the way that Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson used to bicker. However, the feuds aren’t missed this season, and in fact, the show has benefited from the camaraderie.

Snoop Dogg cares so deeply about his team members that he’s calling them his nieces and nephews now. Gwen Stefani has come with wisdom this season on a level I’ve never noticed from her before, and Reba McEntire is riding high after scoring her first win last season.

Then there’s Michael Bublé, who is pulling double duty as the only coach to appear on both seasons. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him coming into Season 26, but it certainly wasn’t for his humor to be my favorite thing about it. So it definitely doesn’t hurt my anticipation to know we’ll be getting more silliness from him on the 2025 TV schedule, and now seeing a little of what we can expect from Kelsea Ballerini and Adam Levine, I think we’re in for a treat.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals the Top 8 artists of The Voice Season 26 from the episode that aired November 26. Episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

It was already set to be an emotional night, with Michael Bublé being the fourth and final coach to choose the two singers to represent him on The Voice Season 26 live shows, which premiere on the 2024 TV schedule next week. There was no way of knowing, however, just how emotional it would be, with one of the crooner’s team members being assigned a One Direction song just over a month after Liam Payne died tragically at the age of 31. As the Top 8 contestants were revealed on the third night of Playoffs, The Voice also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the fallen pop star.

The Voice Pays Tribute To One Direction Member Liam Payne

When Team Michael member Shye was chosen to sing One Direction’s “Story of My Life” in the Playoffs, there was no way anyone could have known what the band and its fans would be going through right now. The Playoffs were pre-recorded this summer, just months before Liam Payne fell to his death from the balcony of his third-story hotel room in Argentina on October 16.

Following Shye’s performance, Michael Bublé compared her to a different member of One Direction, saying:

It makes sense that Michael Bublé might mention Niall Horan — who has been a coach on The Voice twice, winning both of his seasons — but it’s undeniable that hearing a One Direction song on the show just hits different so soon after the tragedy. As The Voice cut to commercial, the screen went to black and read:

It’s safe to say that Shye did the 1D song justice, too, as she was one of Michael Bublé’s artists to advance to next week’s live episodes. So who else is still in the running to win it all in Season 26?

Michael Bublé’s Picks Round Out The Voice Season 26 Semifinals

In addition to Shye, the “Haven’t Met You Yet” singer chose Sofronio Vasquez to represent him in The Voice Season 26 Semifinals. Next week’s episodes will be live, allowing viewers to vote for the singers they want to see in the finale. Here’s what the Top 8 looks like, grouped by coach:

Gwen Stefani:

• Jan Dan
• Sydney Sterlace

Reba McEntire

• Adam Bohanan
• Danny Joseph

Snoop Dogg

• Jeremy Beloate
• Christina Eagle

Michael Bublé

• Sofronio Vasquez
• Shye

The talent this season is pretty high-caliber, and I might be so bold as to say I was surprised at some of the artists who were eliminated in this round (I really expected to see teenage phenom Jaukeem Fortson, for one). That's no shade to the eight above but speaks to the overall talent of the season.

Either way, if you want to ensure your favorite artists progress to the finale, be sure to tune in at 8 p.m. ET Monday, December 2, on NBC to check out the live performances.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals some of the results from Team Snoop and Team Reba’s Playoff performances that aired November 25. Episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you missed it.

The Voice Season 26 continues on the 2024 TV schedule, with Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire’s teams taking the stage for Monday night’s Playoffs. The coaches didn’t have to go it alone, bringing in advisors to help their team, and Snoop made a pretty bold move by bringing in not a fellow music icon but rather Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (a choice that admittedly confused me). However, what was arguably an even bolder move came when he assigned one of his team members the song “Fancy” to sing in front of McEntire herself, and the Queen of Country had the most on-brand reaction to the performance.

Last week we saw Gwen Stefani make the difficult decision of choosing just two of her remaining five artists to represent her in the upcoming live shows. Before making his own cuts, Snoop Dogg really challenged his team members with songs by artists including Whitney Houston, Prince and, yes, Reba McEntire. Christina Eagle was given “Fancy,” and she put her own spin on the classic tune, which also included some sassy hip-swinging. McEntire beamed through the whole performance, giving Eagle a standing ovation before raving:

Michael Bublé then jokingly inquired if Reba McEntire also did “the hip thing” when she sang that song on stage, which inspired the most “Reba” response, as she said:

Apparently I don’t live in the part of the country where one gets a “catch in their get-along” — or maybe this is just a Reba-ism like when she quotes Sir Mix-a-Lot by saying, “Oh my god Becky”? — but either way, that was a new one for me. The other Voice coaches were floored as well, and Reba McEntire doubled-down by saying:

Michael Bublé previously held my favorite moments from this season of The Voice by using Titanic and other movie plots to try to earn favor with the artists, but I’ve got to say, hearing Reba McEntire refer to herself as “sexy meemaw” is just something you don’t come back from.

In the end, Christina Eagle’s “Fancy” performance rose to the top, as she was one of the two singers Snoop Dogg chose to bring to the Live Semifinals. See her winning rendition of the song below:

Call me crazy, but I bet Reba McEntire’s still got some hip action left in her get-along (or something like that). Regardless, the hard part is over for her and 75% of The Voice coaches, with only Michael Bublé left to eliminate three from his team. Tune in to see the Top 8 rounded out at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, November 26, on NBC.

As television winds down for the year and we gear up for the 2025 TV schedule, it's worth noting that the younger kids are watching some entirely different stuff online. Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has especially blown up in the mainstream over the past year, thanks to his iCarly-esque web show that has welcomed everyone from Kevin Hart to Nicki Minaj. The streamer is going viral again, but only because he was amazed at how quickly Snoop Dogg could roll a joint.

Just a year after Snoop Dogg went viral for saying he's giving up smoking, only for it to be an ad for a smokeless fire pit, he's on Kai Cenat Live showing he'll likely never lose his green thumb, as it were. Check out a clip from the live stream below, in which he rolls a joint before the host can even find soemthing to time it with (via @FearedBuck):

Sure, there was that one time Snoop Dogg botched a weed category on Family Feud, but I don't think anyone has ever doubted his ability to smoke and handle it. All that being said, it was pretty well-circulated years ago that the rapper had someone on staff to roll his own weed. Considering how well he was able to do that on screen, I would say he's wasting money keeping someone on staff for that.

After hearing all the stories over the years from celebrities like Matthew McConaughey about Snoop Dogg and his love of marijuana, it's great to see something like this on Kai Cenat's stream. I mean, I know that I can't be the only person who has questioned whether or not he's actually smoking that much on a daily basis, or if it's part of his brand and the stories are largely exaggerated.

Moments like these are pulling younger generations further and further away from traditional television and more to platforms like Twitch and free streaming services to see these entertaining live streams. (Possibly while doing some rolling of their own.) It's interesting to see people like Kai Cenat rise to the top, especially as traditional talk-show programs like The Tonight Show lessened their number of new episodes in 2024.

And his reach speaks for itself for those who may not think Kai Cenat isn't on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in pop culture. He has over fourteen million followers on Twitch and six million on YouTube, and he's gone viral on social media for one reason or another several times this year already.

There's a reason that McDonald's tapped him to promote the launch of its Chicken Big Mac, and I would say it's because he represents the future of popular media when it comes to the talk-show format. It may seem as unbelievable as Snoop Dogg rolling a joint in under twenty seconds, but maybe it's a reality we should start to accept.

Kai Cenat can be tracked down with a simple web search for those looking to check out more of his content, and I feel like Snoop Dogg always springs up when we least expect it on television. I'm sure he'll have some special appearance coming up in 2025, though I doubt he'll be cleared to showcase his joint-rolling skills on television.

This story is SPOILER FREE after The Voice’s November 19 episode, but you can still stream Season 26 with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

The Voice Season 26 has officially entered the Playoff portion of the 2024 TV schedule, where all four coaches will have to choose just two of their remaining five team members to represent them in the live shows. On Tuesday, however, the focus was only on Gwen Stefani’s team, as all of her artists performed before she had to make her painful decision. Machine Gun Kelly helped a little, serving as a Playoff mentor for her team’s rehearsals, and while I was pleasantly surprised at how engaged he was, it was a different twist — learning who will be Snoop Dogg’s advisor — that really caught me off guard.

MGK Makes His Voice Debut To Help Team Gwen

It’s been a busy month for Machine Gun Kelly, as he made his debut on The Voice just days after Megan Fox announced in an oozy pic that they are having a baby. Although serving as a Playoff advisor for Gwen Stefani’s team probably pales in comparison to becoming a father again, MGK really seemed to embrace his role.

All due respect to the rapper, maybe I didn't expect the man who’s been known to climb to dangerous heights during his shows and smash his face with a champagne glass to give such sound advice to the No Doubt singer’s team members. But I loved how MGK made himself relatable to the contestants, pointing out that he, too, had worked a lot of fast food jobs and — like Team Gwen’s Jan Dan — had been on stage when his child was born.

He wasn’t shy about sharing his opinion, helping the singers connect to the emotion of the lyrics they were singing. He encouraged them to ad-lib and make unexpected choices, because “for some people, weird is the way.”

I actually would have welcomed the chance to see Machine Gun Kelly serve as the advisor for the other teams, but that’s apparently not the plan, and I’m actually a little confused by what that plan is.

Team Snoop Will Be Advised By … Simone Biles?

As The Voice teased the continuation of the Playoffs next Monday, Simone Biles was revealed to be Snoop Dogg’s Playoff advisor, and that kind of threw me for a loop. No doubt the West Coast rapper is trying to channel that GOAT energy, and nobody’s questioning how amazing and inspiring the Olympic gymnast is, but how well can she advise singing? I apparently wasn’t the only one confused by this, as fans on X (Twitter) chimed in:

• SIMONE??? That’s so random to me… so that tracks for snoop 😭😭 – McEnFancy
• Simone Biles????? – houseofwarwick
• I'm a huge Simone Biles fan but wtfork does she have to do with singing? Very odd – LukeEverhart1

Now, Simone Biles has performed on the biggest stage in the world, so maybe she will focus her advice on calming the nerves and performing under pressure. That honestly does sound like it’s right up Snoop’s alley.

I won’t make the mistake of underestimating the gold medalist, either, the way that I might have underestimated MGK. This also wasn’t the first time in Season 26 that I’ve been confused by this show that I’ve been watching for the past 13 years. First they introduced a new rule that seemed to undermine the whole point of The Voice, and then a Gwen Stefani contestant made history by doing something that I frankly didn’t know was allowed.

The Voice is keeping me on my toes, and believe me, I’m nowhere near as graceful as Simone Biles on that balance beam. I’m looking forward to seeing what she brings to the singing competition when Playoffs resume at 8 p.m. ET Monday, November 25, on NBC.

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.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses some of the eliminations made on the first night of The Voice Season 26 Knockouts. Episodes can be streamed with a Peacock subscription if you’re not caught up.

It’s no surprise that Snoop Dogg has been a bright light on The Voice since joining Season 26 on the 2024 TV schedule. Fans have enjoyed hearing his shockingly good vocal abilities and seeing him form fun friendships with the other Voice coaches and his team members. However, it seemed pretty clear to everyone that he might have trouble when it came time for eliminations. Well Snoop just proved there’s one way around that: Don’t have anybody go home. The D-O-double G dominated the first night of Knockouts and I especially loved the unique experience it gave contestant Christina Eagle.

All Three Team Snoop Contestants Avoid Elimination In Knockouts Night 1

This season sees the return of the Three-Way Knockouts, where three team members face off against each other with their coach choosing just one to move forward to the Playoffs. However, each coach gets one Save and one Steal to keep things interesting. After Snoop Dogg — with Sting as his Mega Mentor — chose Austyns Stancil as the winner of his first Knockout after an emotional performance dedicated to his father, the rapper chose to use his Save on Christina Eagle. Gwen Stefani then swooped in to save Jake Tankersley, effectively leaving Team Snoop unscathed. The rapper was straight-up buoyant as he told his colleagues:

None of the other coaches could say the same after the November 11 episode, with Gwen Stefani losing two and Reba McEntire losing one (her teenage contestant Jaukeem Fortson lost the Knockout but was stolen by Michael Bublé). Speaking of Bublé, he technically didn’t send anyone home, but Tanner Frick, who he stole from McEntire in the Battles, self-eliminated before the Knockouts, so he was still down one team member.

It was a great night for Team Snoop, but something pretty unique happened to one artist in particular.

Christina Eagle Got The Four-Chair-Turn Treatment

When Christina Eagle sang Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” in the Blind Auditions, only Snoop Dogg turned his Big Red Chair. However, she had quite a different experience in the Knockouts. After losing her Knockout to Austyns Stancil, Eagle was not only Saved by her coach but all three of the other coaches hit their buttons to Steal. Just like that, a former One-Chair Turn became a Four-Chair Turn, and the power was in Eagle’s hands to choose the coach she wanted to continue with.

I honestly thought she might jump ship to Gwen Stefani’s team, since the two of them were fangirling over each other the whole time, but she stuck with the coach who picked her from the start. Even though technically she just continues the journey she was already on with Team Snoop, I love that now she’s there because it’s her choice and not simply because he was the only one who took a chance on her.

How far will Christina Eagle fly in the competition? How high will Snoop Dogg and his team soar in Season 26? Tune in to find out, with episodes airing at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

As if The Voice’s star-studded coaching panel of Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé wasn’t enough, the singing competition is about to welcome two more superstars as Mega Mentors to help guide the Season 26 teams through the brutal Three-Way Knockouts. Sting is one of those celebrated musicians, who will help Stefani and Coach Snoop navigate this portion of the 2024 TV schedule, and he had a pretty big confession to make about agreeing to do the show.

Sting, the famed singer of The Police, will lend his expertise to Team Snoop and Team Gwen when the Three-Way Knockouts kick off on November 11, while Jennifer Hudson — who previously served as a coach on The Voice for two seasons — will assist the members of Team Reba and Team Michael. While the EGOT winner has plenty of experience on The Voice, it would seem her counterpart knows considerably less about the process. Sting told People:

I highly doubt that his lack of knowledge about the competition will hinder him in providing worthy advice for the contestants. Sting has, after all, been doing this for nearly 50 years, winning 17 Grammy Awards and an Emmy along the way, in addition to a Tony Award nomination and four Oscar nods.

As the other coaches have said multiple times this season how fulfilling their job is — Reba McEntire even proclaimed Season 26 her “favorite” — Sting loved giving "the nearest hint of advice and seeing that come to fruition," calling his experience both "nourishing and joyful." He continued:

It’s good to hear that Sting enjoyed the process as much as the coaches do, and that’s probably in part because he gets to leave before Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani have to make heart-breaking choices for their team.

In the Three-Way Knockouts, team members will go head-to-head-to-head, with their coach tasked with choosing just one to advance to the Top 20 for Playoffs. Each mentor will get one Save to bring back one of their eliminated players, as well as a Steal to take a member of a different team. If Coach Snoop thought the Battles were hard, he’s going to really need that Gangster Holy Ghost to get through Knockouts.

Before all that happens, though, I’m excited to see the fresh perspective that Sting brings to The Voice having never seen the show before, and we don’t have long to wait. Season 26 Knockouts kick off at 8 p.m. ET Monday, November 11, on NBC and can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

The Battles continued on the current season of The Voice, with the mentors making some tough decisions as they pare down their teams. Despite the struggles that come with the Battle Round, the morale amongst the four superstar coaches has been as high as the folks leaving Snoop Dogg’s dressing room. In fact, Reba McEntire even said of the three seasons she’s been a coach on The Voice, this one is her favorite, and after hearing all of their comments on the October 28 episode, I agree 100% with her reasoning.

The Voice seasons of yore were filled with rivalries. Adam Levine feuding with Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton trolling everyone, including his own wife Gwen Stefani. Season 26 lacks those hijinks, but this crew proves you don’t need them. The Queen of Country said as much when she was talking to Snoop Dogg a couple of weeks ago, telling him:

Snoop Dogg agreed that the chemistry between the two of them, Gwen Stefani and Michael Bublé is easy and organic, and I have to say that seeing how much these four really enjoy each other and how much fun they’re having is making it one of my favorite seasons as well.

On the third night of Battles, Michael Bublé said no fewer than three times how rewarding it is to be a coach and how happy he is that he joined the show. He’s turned out to be my favorite part of Season 26 so far, so it sounds like he and I are both happy he’ll be back when Season 27 hits the 2025 TV schedule.

Meanwhile, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg gushed over the feeling of watching the artists grow under their tutelage, saying:

• Snoop: The part I like — like I keep saying — is when they listen. When they listen and they do it.
• Gwen: It’s so cool to watch. And then they improve. Isn’t that the best?
• Snoop: Yes! Yes!

The coaches are just constantly laughing and smiling, giving out compliments like Halloween candy and showing so much love for the artists and each other. On this most recent episode, Uncle Snoop made sure to shout greetings when he saw Michael Bublé on the phone with his family, proving that the rapper really does have a connection with the crooner’s 6-year-old.

That’s not to take away from this season’s talent, either. The Voice is developing some really strong singers, and I’m sure that doesn’t hurt Reba McEntire’s opinion of this season overall.

The country music singer lost her initial season on The Voice to Niall Horan but then won Season 25 with Asher HaVon. Can she put the cherry on top of her favorite season as a coach by winning her second in a row? Keep watching to find out, as new episodes air at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC and can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

The Battles continued on October 22, as Season 26 of The Voice aired for a second night this week on the 2024 TV schedule. However, before the competition got underway, the four superstar coaches took the stage for a group performance of an Eagles hit, and as wild as it was to see so many genres of music represented on stage at the same time, I was blown away by how good they sounded together. Snoop Dogg in particular struck a chord (literally) with fans, and they had some wild reactions to the rapper breaking out his singing voice.

Snoop Dogg has been a refreshing addition to NBC’s singing competition, winning over everybody from Melissa Peterman on a crossover with Reba McEntire’s Happy’s Place to Michael Bublé’s 6-year-old daughter. I think he won over even more of the audience as well on Tuesday night, as he joined McEntire, Bublé and Gwen Stefani for a performance of “Heartache Tonight.” Check it out below:

It seemed inevitable that Snoop Dogg would make a good coach on The Voice, given his eclectic taste in music, experience as a record producer and passion for uplifting those around him. But you’re telling me he can sing too? So many comments on that YouTube video expressed shock at hearing the rapper take on a classic rock hit, including:

• Alright now, Snoop, we hear you Sir. – capricorn726
• Snoop singing a part in an Eagles song. Crazy ❤❤ Love them all – lross3565
• Snoop and Bublé harmonizing was amazing! Everyone's talking about Reba and Gwen, and for good reason, but that was powerful. – dragonwithamonocle
• Lots of rappers have good singing Vocals low-key 🔥 snoop has been solidified. – Young_gxi
• I did not expect this out of Snoop. Wow!! – juliesmith3144

Some fans watching The Voice simply took a step back to marvel at the pop culture phenomenon we’d just witnessed, with one fan posting on X (Twitter):

It sure is a wild world.

As the Battles resumed following the coaches’ performance, Snoop Dogg even mentioned how he’s able to be so versatile in the advice he gave to members of his team. Before the Battle between duo MisterMoon and Chrisdeo, Coach Snoop told them not to hold back just because a song isn’t in their typical genre. He said:

He sure did that. Many people (myself included) have loved having Snoop Dogg as a coach this season, and even if he is struggling a little bit during the Battle round, as Gwen Stefani said, I really hope he’s not just one-and-done as a coach and we’ll see him “Drop It Like It’s Hot” in that Big Red Chair on a future season.

For now, though, we can continue to catch him on new episodes of The Voice at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription.

For those who have been keeping up with The Voice since Season 26 hit the 2024 TV schedule, here’s where the competition really starts heating up. After choosing the 14 artists they want to take into competition, the four celebrity coaches will now be tasked with paring down those teams, pitting their own singers against each other in the Battle Round. Gwen Stefani explained why she thinks Snoop Dogg will struggle with this “2 singers enter, 1 singer leaves” concept, and yikes, I can definitely see her point.

Snoop Dogg is one of two rookie coaches on The Voice, along with Michael Bublé, who has been my favorite part of this season so far. The Blind Auditions saw the mentors adding people to their teams, lifting their spirits by giving them their big shot. The Battles are basically the opposite, and it sounds like the rapper may need to sip on some “Gin and Juice” just to get through it. Gwen Stefani told Access Hollywood:

That definitely tracks with what we saw in the Blind Auditions, where Snoop was always there with a hug and a positive spin, even when artists weren’t able to turn a chair. Michael Bublé spoke to how much of a “beautiful soul” his new colleague was when he told the sweetest story about his 6-year-old daughter being a Snoop fan, and it’s definitely going to be a little wild to watch the singer of the “Affirmation Song” picking off members of his own team.

However, I can’t imagine that he’ll continue to be anything but positive toward the artists, even during the Battles. My bet is he’ll choose to focus on how good the winning artist was instead of why the other may have missed the mark.

Still, if he wants to win The Voice, he’ll probably have to get in there with some constructive criticism at some point. Snoop Dogg said himself that he wasn’t building a team full of singers who are already there; he wanted to help people improve. I mean, he’s a coach outside of The Voice, after all!

New coaches do often struggle with eliminating their artists, but Blake Shelton is one who has set an example by finding ways to continue helping those singers with their careers even after the cameras stop rolling, so that could be an option to help the rapper feel better.

Either way, it’s been an exciting season so far, with a rule change that I’m kind of on the fence about and a history-making contestant that made me throw all my knowledge of the show out the window. So what the hell, bring on the Battles!

The second round of The Voice Season 26 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET Monday, October 21, on NBC, with episodes airing each Monday and Tuesday (except on Election Day). The current season can also be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

Reba McEntire fans get ready, because we’re just days away from her new sitcom’s debut on the 2024 TV schedule. Happy’s Place will air on NBC, where she’s also coaching on the current season of The Voice, and if you’re wondering if those two worlds are going to collide, don’t worry — McEntire is way ahead of you. While the other coaches on The Voice have expressed interest in making an appearance, we didn’t even have to wait for Happy’s Place to premiere to get our first crossover. Melissa Peterman delivered a hilarious cameo on The Voice that involved Snoop Dogg doing a trust fall.

Happy’s Place is not a reboot of Reba McEntire’s beloved show from the early 2000s, but it does reunite her with her Reba co-star Melissa Peterman, and on the October 15 episode of The Voice, we saw Peterman come face-to-face with Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé on their visit to the new sitcom’s set. Check out the video below to see how well she maintained her composure:

Honestly she probably handled herself better than I would have if two music superstars showed up at my place of business (i.e. my house), and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia seeing Melissa Peterman and Reba McEntire’s on-screen dynamic again.

The Young Sheldon actress was so funny asking to call Michael Bublé “Milky Bubbles” because his voice was “like a warm bath that just washes over you.” I also applaud her attempts to trap The Voice coaches by shouting at someone to lock the doors. All of this led to Melissa Peterman saying she was so strong she could carry Snoop Dogg.

The West Coast rapper didn’t miss a beat (naturally), and turned his back to the actress, spread his arms wide and trust-fell backward into her arms — where she held him without letting go and mused:

Despite Reba McEntire’s protestations, Snoop Dogg proceeded to invite Melissa Peterman to The Voice’s set — which conveniently films just across the alley from Happy’s Place — and I have to admit I was disappointed when she didn’t appear elsewhere in the episode. We’ll have to see if she takes him up on his invite maybe later in the season.

I’m also excited to see if any of The Voice mentors actually do show up on the NBC sitcom — maybe to catch a drink after a long day of coaching?

Happy’s Place takes place mainly inside the titular bar — a big change for Reba McEntire compared to her past shows. The Queen of Country plays Bobbie, who inherits her father’s tavern following his death and then learns she has a half-sister Isabella (Belissa Escobedo). Melissa Peterman plays bartender Gabby, while McEntire’s real-life partner Rex Linn plays the bar’s chef Emmett.

Tune in for that season premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, October 18, on NBC. Meanwhile, The Voice closed out its Blind Auditions on Tuesday, so catch Team Reba in action when the Battles premiere at 8 p.m. ET Monday, October 21. Both series will be available to stream the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story contains a minor spoiler for the third night of Blind Auditions. If you need to watch The Voice, episodes can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

Snoop Dogg certainly has brought a unique flavor to The Voice since its 26th season hit the 2024 TV schedule, smooth-talking his way to winning three Four-Chair Turns (so far) and starting to assemble an eclectic team of artists from different genres. I’ve been loving the feedback he gives during the Blind Auditions, as well as his hilarious relationships with his fellow coaches, so I was really disappointed when I read that he only planned to coach on The Voice for one season. However, something he said on the October 7 episode makes me think he actually would consider coming back.

What Did Snoop Dogg Say About Coaching For Just One Season On The Voice?

The Voice is well-known to substitute music superstars in and out from season to season, and there have been a few one-and-done mentors. Snoop Dogg said (per OK! magazine) that he planned to follow in the footsteps of Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello and Dan + Shay as single-season coaches, not expecting to enjoy his new colleagues as much as he has. In Coach Snoop’s words:

I’ve definitely noticed some overlap in the kinds of singers that the West Coast rapper and the easy-listening crooner seek out for their teams, and it’s been great to watch Snoop and Michael Bublé's brotherhood grow.

Could this also mean that Snoop Dogg might return to The Voice somewhere down the road? His comment on the third night of auditions makes me think so.

Did Snoop Dogg Allude To A Return To The Voice?

Tiffany Taylor took the stage on Monday night to sing Billie Eilish’s Oscar winner “What Was I Made For?” but failed to turn any chairs. Afterward, Snoop Dogg had some advice for the artist, and the hint of a promise, as he told her:

OK, so if Snoop wants to be there when Tiffany Taylor comes back, that’s got to mean he’s at least entertaining a second season, right?

Now, I fully understand that there’s no way the D-O-double G would know which season she’d be able to come back on, so unfortunately it amounts to a pretty empty promise, BUT I do like that he’s at least subconsciously thinking about coming back to The Voice. In fact, he talked about what he likes so much about the show in the same interview as above, saying:

Only time will tell how often we’ll see Snoop in the Big Red Chairs, but we can say for sure it won’t be in Season 27. That coaching lineup has long been set, and we’re gearing up for Adam Levine’s big return. He’ll be hitting his button in Spring 2025 alongside John Legend, Michael Bublé and Kelsea Ballerini, so keep your eye on the 2025 TV schedule for that premiere date.

For now, you can continue to catch this wild season of The Voice (where they're adding new rules and seemingly changing old ones) at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

Those watching The Voice this season have been treated to quite an eclectic group of coaches, as Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé have joined the show for its Season 26 premiere on the 2024 TV schedule. However, just because they — along with fellow mentors Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani — all specialize in different genres of music doesn’t mean they don’t have common ground. In fact, Bublé is going viral on TikTok after sharing the sweet story of how he learned his daughter was a fan of the D-O-double G.

Michael Bublé made an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers to promote this season of The Voice (which introduced a new rule that, frankly, I’m on the fence about), and he was surprised to find out that his 6-year-old daughter was already familiar with her dad’s new colleague. Listen to the story yourself on the TikTok video that’s garnered 9.8 million views as of this writing:

It’s easy to see why so many people love this post. How sweet is it to see the iconic 52-year-old rapper connect with Michael Bublé’s young daughter — over affirmations, of all things? I have to admit, Snoop Dogg’s “Affirmation Song” is often on my own kids’ playlist on our morning commute, and I probably get as much out of it as they do. I highly recommend it for people of any age.

Hearing the “Home” singer describe how touched Papa Snoop was to learn that the song he wrote for his own grandchildren was being played in kindergarten classrooms even up in Canada was just the purest thing ever, and fans in the comments of the TikTok video just couldn’t get enough, with Diana Karina commenting:

Indeed, that does seem to be the case, as we saw the West Coast rapper take over the Paris Olympics. Of course we’ve known Snoop Dogg for decades as the West Coast rapper behind hits like “Gin & Juice,” and he’s working to inspire generations to come as a successful Black businessman. He even owns Death Row Records. However, his grandpa era may just be his best, at least in the eyes of his fans, as other comments on the video included:

• Michael Buble callin Snoop Dogg a “Sweetie pie” is top tier 😭 – Adriiizshiiii
• Snoop dog is peaking in his grandpa years and I love it. – smartysloth
• Snoop done picked up another generation. – SamuelJ
• Snoop is a whole vibe! He has continued to stay relevant, booked and busy, while being himself! I love this! – Lynncee
• omg, Snoop is going to be the Gen Alpha Mr Rogers… – rafiki_excels
• He’s collecting us like Pokemon cards at this point 🤣 – Jayne

We’ve only just begun Season 26 of the NBC singing competition, but already I’m amazed that any of the other Voice coaches are getting any artists on their teams, because Snoop Dogg is so charming and intelligent and inspirational when he talks, I’m just eating it up at home. Apparently I’m in good company with Michael Bublé’s daughter and nearly 10 million people on TikTok.

If you want to see Coach Snoop in action, The Voice airs at 8 p.m. ET Mondays and some Tuesdays on NBC, though the presidential election is affecting some of the fall lineup. Season 26 episodes can also be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription.

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.

A big part of what’s kept The Voice popular all these years is the dynamic between the coaches. The rivalries, the relationships, the trolling, etc. is such an important part of the show, and with Season 26 approaching on the 2024 TV schedule, fans are excited to see how Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé fit into the mix. I can only imagine the hilarity that will ensue as they join reigning champ Reba McEntire and a returning Gwen Stefani, but Bublé spoke for himself and the West Coast rapper with a warning to anyone who thinks it’s all fun and games.

This will be the first season that Michael Bublé and Snoop serve as proper coaches on The Voice, though each has appeared as a guest mentor on previous seasons. That means they’re familiar with the show, and its impact on these artists’ careers is not lost on Bublé, who told EW:

As a fan of The Voice from the beginning, I can’t help but feel so optimistic about the attitude Michael Bublé is bringing to the upcoming season. He understands the need for balance — to both entertain the home audience and help the contestants be able to continue in the music industry even after they’ve left the show.

The same apparently goes for Season 26’s other new coach, Snoop Dogg, as Michael Bublé continued:

Michael Bublé said it’s not about judging the artists but mentoring them, which has always been what theoretically sets The Voice apart from other competition shows. Hell, Bublé doesn’t even seem all that concerned about winning. He’s more focused on how he can best use his experience to make the strongest impact on the singers during this short time they’ll have together.

I’m really excited to see these new coaches take their spots in the Big Red Chairs, and thankfully the wait is almost over. The Voice Season 26 will premiere at 8 p.m. ET Monday, September 23, on NBC and can be streamed the next day with a Peacock subscription. Be warned, however, that the upcoming presidential election will affect The Voice’s schedule a bit.