Niall Horan’s return to “The Voice” for season 28 — set to premiere on September 22, 2025 — came with a wave of emotions for the pop superstar.
In a new promo posted to social media on September 9, the hitmaker said he’s thrilled to be back after a year away, but that return brought back all the nerves he felt 15 years prior, when he made it onto Britain’s “X Factor” in 2010 — a show that changed his life forever.
“I feel like I’m going to audition,” Horan said nervously when fellow coach Michael Bublé asked him how he was doing. “When you haven’t done this for a while, it’s weird.”
Niall Horan Says He Was ‘Terrible’ When He Auditioned for ‘X-Factor’
Recalling his early days on “X Factor,” where he became part of the global supergroup One Direction, Horan is seen in the new NBC promo telling one contestant, “I don’t think anyone really understands how hard it is to audition on a show like this.”
“I’ve done it, I’ve been there,” he continues, and then quips, “Wow, I was terrible.”
But Horan tells producers in the promo that he loves the format of “The Voice” auditions, with the chance to judge the contestants solely on how they sound before getting to see them or know them.
“It’s all about the voice for me,” he says. “The point of us facing the wall says enough. You know, that’s the whole point of the show — to be moved by a voice in the first place, and then the character comes afterwards.”
The promo then shows Horan turning his chair around for multiple contestants, telling one he loved her confidence and informing another, “I just couldn’t wait to get around just see what … you look like, the energy you were giving. You absolutely nailed it.”
Niall Horan Says He’s ‘Sandwiched Between 2 GOATs’ With Season 28 Coaches
NBCAlthough coaches Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, and Bublé have worked together before on the show, Horan came into the new season not knowing Snoop. Meanwhile, he only knew McEntire from their interactions during season 23, when he was a mentor on “The Voice.”
“Obviously, I’ve known Mike for a very long time,” he says in the new promo. “And I’m sandwiched between two GOATs. It’s mind-boggling. Every day I come in here to do this show and I’m like, ‘That’s Snoop Dogg! That’s Reba McEntire!'”
“But it’s an amazing experience just to get to know these people and then become good friends with them,” Horan added.
Niall Horan Says He Knew He’d Be Friends With the 4 Season 28 Coaches ‘Straight Away’
On September 9, NBC uploaded a YouTube video featuring the four coaches chatting at a table behind the scenes at “The Voice.” Their discussion began with McEntire asking them when it became clear to them that they were going to be fast friends.
“I think it was the first moment for me,” Snoop replied. “I’m one of those kind of guys, like, the spirit gotta connect instantly, off the rip. And it was like as soon as I walked in the room, as soon as I sat down next to each other, it was like, you could feel it. It’s in the air.”
Horan agreed, “Pretty much from straight away.”
“Like, I’d never met Snoop before and I’d obviously worked with Reba before and I’ve known you for too long,” Horan joked, looking at Bublé. “But I was excited to meet Snoop and work again with you guys.”
