Ahead of the season 28 premiere of “The Voice” on September 22, 2025, producers teased on social media that host Carson Daly would have a new trick up his sleeve this season, called the Carson Callback.
Toward the end of the premiere, viewers found out what it meant when Daly used his rare power to save an artist the coaches — Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé — didn’t turn their chairs for. Ryan Mitchell was the lucky recipient of the first-ever Carson Callback. Here’s how it played out!
Ryan Mitchell & His Parents Shared His Inspiring Sober Journey Before His Blind Audition on ‘The Voice’
After a number of auditions, it was time to meet 29-year-old Ryan Mitchell of Los Angeles. Mitchell, dressed in a black leather jacket with black polish on his fingernails, talked about playing in a band at age 12 with his brother and growing up with his dad’s music studio at home.
Mitchell said he sings a lot of alternative rock and pop punk, so he decided to perform “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant.
But before heading to the stage, Mitchell opened up to producers about how he went through a dark period during COVID, becoming dependent on alcohol and “pushing away” his family and friends, even “living out on the street for a while.”
“Eventually I decided I needed to reach out for help,” he said, and his dad told producers it was “super tragic because he was the happiest kid you could ever imagine.” He said that he and his wife sent their son an “emergency kit” of music-making tools and albums to listen to at his rehab facility. When he would send back MP3s with music that he’d recorded, his dad took as a sign he was going to be okay. His dad broke down talking about that time, and they embraced in a very touching moment.
Still sober four years later, Mitchell said, “I think music really kind of saved my life,” adding that “getting help was one of the best things I’ve ever done.” He said that he hoped he could inspire others currently in a dark place to not be afraid to seek help.
None of the 4 Coaches on ‘The Voice’ Turned Their Chairs for Ryan Mitchell, So Carson Daly Stepped In
When Mitchell did perform, Daly watched on the sidelines with his parents and was shocked that none of the coaches turned their chairs for him. Bublé told Mitchell that he loved his voice but that he was nervous it was “so stylized,” unsure if he could sing other types of music. Horan also said he wanted to hear a little more.
As each of the coaches tried to explain why they didn’t turn their chairs, producers kept showing Daly looking agitated backstage, standing with Mitchell’s parents. After Mitchell left the stage, Daly went up to him and said, “I’m really frustrated. Sometimes the coaches just don’t get it right. There is something I think I can do. I’d like to try and help if you’re willing to take a walk with me.”
“We rarely get a cool alt-rock artist like you on the show anymore,” Daly said, taking Mitchell further backstage. “In 28 seasons, I’ve seen coaches let great singers like yourself fall through the cracks sometimes, and I’ve never been able to do anything about it until right now. So, Ryan, this is the Carson Callback Card. You’re just too good to let go”
Daly continued, “I can only do this once, and from what I just heard, I’m gonna give you the Callback Card, and what I want you to do is, like, right now, pick a new song. Ryan, you have 24 hours to prepare for this second and last chance, ‘cause I believe you can definitely get a chair turn.”
“This is going to be the greatest comeback story of all time,” his dad sweetly said, and Mitchell — looking totally shocked — said, “I am very, very grateful to Carson – I can’t believe it.”
Mitchell will take the stage again on the two-hour Blind Auditions episode on September 23, to see if a different song can convince one or more judges to turn their chairs and give him a shot.
