The season 28 premiere of “The Voice” on September 22, 2025, was jam-packed with talented artists vying for a spot on one of the four celebrity coaches’ teams.
Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé battled over many of the singers, some of whom made surprising decisions about which team they wanted to join. Here are the 10 artists who got at least one chair turn, meaning they’re moving forward in the competition.
Aiden Ross, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
Aiden Ross, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, took producers into his dorm, where he has as many instruments as textbooks, and gave a tour of his family’s farm, which includes over 24,000 strawberry plants.
On September 19, just before his national TV debut, 20-year-old Ross released his first single, “Everything and More.” Ross, who was Homecoming King at his high school, was accompanied to “The Voice” set by his parents and merely hoped to get one coach to turn a chair. But within seconds of his audition, singing Adele’s “Love in the Dark,” all four coaches turned around for him.
McEntire told Ross his voice was mesmerizing, and Bublé said it was obvious that all four of the coaches were “enchanted” by him. Snoop then called him “Aiden Ross the Boss” and promised he’d work closely with him after the show, so Horan made another plea to Ross to join his team – and it worked. Aiden Ross is on TEAM NIALL.
Mindy Miller, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
Nashville mom Mindy Miller told producers that making a team would be “absolutely life changing.” The singer-songwriter has released multiple songs; her most recent is a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman,” recorded in March and released on September 16.
Snoop turned within a second of hearing Miller’s, as she sang “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” McEntire turned, too, only to discover that Snoop had already used his Block on her.
When Snoop went to give Miller a hug and welcome her to his team, her little boy Leo adorably ran out onto the stage, into Snoop’s arms. Mindy Miller is on TEAM SNOOP.
Max Chambers, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
The youngest contestant of the night was 14-year-old Max Chambers, who was dressed smartly in a powder blue suit as he sang Michael Jackson’s “I Want You Back.” Bublé and McEntire turned their chairs.
When they asked if Chambers liked Michael Jackson’s music, he revealed that he starred on Broadway as a young Michael in “MJ the Musical.” That made both coaches want the young singing sensation on their teams even more, but in the end he chose to go with Bublé. Max Chambers is on TEAM BUBLÉ!
Manny Costello, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
Girl dad Manny Costello, from Athens, Georgia, brought McEntire to tears with his rendition of Craig Morgan’s “Almost Home.” The 28-year-old said the song gives him a good perspective on life, choking up as he talked about his beloved girls – who are big fans of McEntire’s show “Reba” — and wanting to show them that they can put anything they put their minds to.
Costello noted that he’s “new to music” and only plays at home – but you couldn’t tell it from his performance. As soon as Costello hit the chorus of the song, McEntire turned her chair, quickly followed by Snoop.
As McEntire told Costello “you made me homesick,” and that he had pieces of many great, classic country artists in his voice – from George Jones to Randy Travis — she got choked up. Snoop handed her some tissues, and she said she was crying tears of joy. Horan said it was amazing that he’d “moved the queen of country music to tears.” Not surprisingly, he chose to go with McEntire. Manny Costello is on TEAM REBA.
DEK of Hearts, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artists
A Nashville-based trio called DEK of Hearts blew the coaches away with their rendition of “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” and McEntire instantly looked impressed with their harmonies. Almost immediately, she turned her chair, followed by Horan, Snoop, and then Bublé. The trio’s rousing performance got all four coaches to give them a standing ovation.
The group then explained that their name, DEK of Hearts, stands for their first names — Dylan, Emily, and Kollin — and that they have been a group for about 14 months. They released their single “TAILLIGHTS” days before their blind audition aired.
After Snoop and Horan spoke about how impressed they were, McEntire hilariously said it was her turn to talk and said, “I love three part harmonies. It touches the core of my being. I can’t tell you how important this is to me for y’all to be on my team” and she also predicted they’ll make it to the finals.
Everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion that the trio would choose McEntire, but in a huge shock, though, they said they’re a “country-pop trio” so they chose Horan, who looked absolutely stunned and later called it “one of the biggest shocks in ‘Voice’ history.” McEntire sprawled out on the floor in defeat, pretending to sob. But TEAM NIALL gets DEK of Hearts!
Peyton Kyle, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
After a break, “The Voice” returned with a Freddie Mercury lookalike, in a rhinestone-covered black jacket, who introduced Don and Susan Parr with him backstage, whom he described as “the sweetest couple I’ve ever met in my life.”
The artist, 26-year-old Peyton Kyle, explained that when he moved from Tampa, Florida, to Georgia three years prior, they attended one of his shows and became huge supporters. After a show, they gave Kyle a $400 “tip” to do whatever he needed to do to try out for “The Voice.”
“He actually started crying,” Don told producers. “He’s just like one of our kids. We love him to death.”
Kyle then shared that upon landing in Los Angeles, his appendix ruptured. “A lot of pain, I needed to have surgery immediately. In the hospital bed, not knowing if I was gonna be able to be here after all this hard work, it was extremely scary.”
He made it to the audition just three days later to sing Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon.” He said that a specific line in the song – “At night, when I sit in my room, I talk to the stars talking to the moon” – resonated powerfully with him because he didn’t have much to hold onto in his hospital room, wondering if he’d make it to “The Voice.”
“Everything that I overcome, it’s a part of my story, it’s a part of who I am. The next chapter’s all up to me. I realize that now more than ever.”
After a soft start, McEntire hit her button, but no one else did – and Horan looked pained about it on Kyle’s last note, telling him once he turned around, “I’m kicking myself.” But Kyle Peyton is on TEAM REBA!
Ralph Edwards, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
The next artist, 30-year-old Ralph Edwards from Fresno, California, revealed he has watched “The Voice” since it began in 2011 and has auditioned 11 times, “but this is the farthest I’ve ever gotten.”
“Today is gonna be the biggest nerve-wracking day of my life because I’m auditioning for the biggest show in the world,” he told producers. “I’m gonna put my entire body and soul into making those chairs turn around, but I’m very nervous.”
As he sang Journey’s “Lights,” all four coaches hit their buttons, and his parents and girlfriend went crazy backstage with Daly as they did.
“That is how you audition for ‘The Voice,’” Horan told him, before they all passionately made cases for being Edwards’ coach. McEntire told him it was a “perfect performance” and Bublé predicted, “Whoever you choose is gonna win ‘The Voice.’”
Snoop upped the ante by bringing out members of his “family” who are on his label to show Edwards he’s serious about signing artists he loves. That seemed to do the trick because Ralph Edwards is on TEAM SNOOP!
Jack Austin, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
Jack Austin, 21, is a musical theater student at Western Michigan University, performing in theater productions since he was a kid.
He made a bold decision to sing Horan’s “This Town” in front of him, admitting he was “really nervous but excited.” Horan smiled as he heard his song, and Bublé almost immediately turned his chair, followed by Horan. McEntire eventually turned, too.
Once the song was over, Horan cutely said, “Thank you for the song! I really appreciate it.” He told Austin he loved his melody choices and then suggested they sing part of it together! It was beautiful, and Austin said it was a “dream come true.” Bublé knew after that it was a lost cause to even try to fight for Austin, and he was right – he chose his “new duet partner” as his coach. Jack Austin is on TEAM NIALL!
Jazz Mackenzie, ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Artist
The final audition of the night was by 31-year-old Jazz Mackenzie from Birmingham, Alabama, who revealed her big personality right out of the gate. She works at a cell phone store, but performs occasionally, she said. Her family watches “The Voice” all the time, her mom said backstage, “and to know my baby is here, she’s a part of it, I just can’t even contain how much joy I have.”
Mackenzie then went out to perform Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” As she hit the powerful chorus, McEntire turned her chair and blocked Snoop! Mackenzie got a four-chair turn, and Horan tried to point out to Snoop that he was blocked, but it didn’t register with him. When the coaches finally explained, he hilariously said he just thought his name was in red and hadn’t read the word “blocked.”
McEntire then told Mackenzie, “When a singer starts singing and it shoots through the air at someone’s heart, you know that person’s truly blessed, and I was hit so hard by your beautiful voice. I’d love to have you on my team, but wherever you wind up, ‘The Voice’ is very blessed to have you.”
Bublé then amusingly said he felt like if he only had the “luck of the Irish” on his side like Horan and McEntire, he might get someone to choose his team. Suddenly, three Irish dancers came out to do a jig, and Horan joined in. Snoop and Bublé tried their best, dancing their own steps. Incredibly, it seemed to have worked because Mackenzie chose Bublé! Jazz Mackenzie is on TEAM BUBLÉ!
“The Voice” season 28 Blind Auditions will continue with another two hour episode on September 23. Here’s where the teams stand after the first night:
- TEAM BUBLÉ has Max Chambers and Jazz Mackenzie
- TEAM NIALL has Aiden Ross, Jack Austin, and DEK of Hearts.
- TEAM REBA has Manny Costello and Kyle Peyton
- TEAM SNOOP has Mindy Miller and Ralph Edwards
1 thought on “Who Got Through ‘The Voice’ Season 28 Premiere? Meet the 9 Artists Who Aced Their Blind Auditions”