When country music legend Blake Shelton retired from The Voice, he was replaced by another country great, Reba McEntire. The show upped the country star power by welcoming Mega-Mentor Wynonna Judd for the Knockout Rounds this season. Additionally, country duo Dan + Shay made an early appearance to coach for Team Niall when panelist Niall Horan couldn’t make it.
Niall’s surprising absence due to his tour schedule raised eyebrows as he will also be sitting out the following season when Dan + Shay join the coaching panel full-time. However, the duo seamlessly took over, impressing their fellow coaches and taking a lead in the Knockout rehearsals.
During the Knockout Rounds, Team Legend’s Mara Justine chose Niall over Gwen, despite Gwen’s passionate pitch. Meanwhile, the Knockouts featured an array of standout performances, with Nini Iris impressing with “Karma Police,” Azán delivering a powerful rendition of “Caught Up in the Rapture,” and Olivia Minogue falling short with her performance of “Bring Me to Life.”
On Team Gwen, Tanner Massey surprised everyone with his performance of “In My Blood,” while Rudi stole the show with “Smokin’ Out the Window.” Gwen’s unconventional decision to save Tanner and the subsequent steals added another layer of complexity to the competition.
