Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, and Niall Horan may be all about developing new talent as coaches on “The Voice” right now.
But before they became household names and mentors, they had to develop their own talent to carve out a career in music.
As Labor Day approaches, EntertainmentNOW takes a look at the first jobs that set up the coaches of season 28 of “The Voice” for success.
Whether it was a rodeo performance or a rap demo, each coach’s “first big moment” is as unique as their coaching style.
Reba McEntire: Rodeo Anthem Sparks Stardom
Growing up on an 8,000-acre cattle ranch in Oklahoma and performing early alongside her siblings as the Singing McEntires, Reba’s musical roots ran deep.
According to NBC, Reba’s breakout moment came in 1974 when she sang the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo—where country star Red Steagall heard her and helped her secure a demo and a Mercury (then PolyGram) Records deal the following year.
Reba’s rodeo connection is one she’s never waivered from. Her late father, Clark McEntire, was a steer roper inducted into both the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.
That leap from rodeo performer to recording artist paved the way for her first Top 20 hit and, eventually, her ascendancy as one of country music’s most successful female artists.
Snoop Dogg: Long Beach Rhymes to Rap Royalty
Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus Jr. didn’t ease into fame—he battled adversity through law issues and even homelessness after high school.
According to IMDb, it was his early rap experimentation—starting in sixth grade and later forming the group 213—that honed his style. And his participation in his church choir gave him a musical foundation he leans on even to this day.
According to Snoop’s own website, he can thank a homemade demo tape of Snoop covering En Vogue’s “Hold On” for launching his career. That tape found its way to Dr. Dre, who liked it so much he featured him on “Deep Cover” and on “The Chronic” in 1992.
Snoop’s rap career exploded with his debut solo album, “Doggystyle,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1993.
Michael Bublé: Jazz Gigs, Prime Minister’s Wedding, and Stardom
Michael Bublé’s journey began as a child when he was inspired by his grandfather’s love of old‑school crooners like Bing Crosby, according to IMDb.
In fact, Michael’s first public gig came at 16 after his grandfather arranged singing opportunities with musicians he knew from doing plumbing work for them.
In the early 2000s, an assistant to former Canadian PM Brian Mulroney caught one of Bublé’s independent CDs and got him a wedding gig for the PM’s daughter—where producer David Foster discovered him and signed him to a major label.
From there, Michael’s self‑titled 2003 debut soared, launching a career built on smooth vocals and swing‐era charm.
Niall Horan: From “The X Factor” to Global Pop Success
At 16, Niall Horan auditioned solo for “The X Factor” UK in 2010.
But it wasn’t until judges grouped him with four other acts that One Direction was born—a formation that would become one of pop’s biggest boy bands
After worldwide success with five studio albums, Horan has evolved into a successful solo artist—and now brings empathy and experience back to the reality show world as a coach on “The Voice.”
In fact, according to Entertainment Weekly, his experiences have made it hard for him to say no to Voice hopefuls.
“That’s the part I’ve struggled with,” Horan admitted of the rejection process. “Because I know what it’s like to be 16 and stood on a stage. I’m looking at some famous dude that’s got your future in his hands. The easy part is pressing the red button, spinning the chair, and saying how you like someone. But when the chair turns around and you’re not with them, how do you give them that rejection feedback?”
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