Season 28 of The Voice was jam-packed with electrifying Artist performances and hysterical moments between the seasoned Coaches, who, from the jump, set their teams up for success by selecting dynamite songs they knew would make their Artists shine.
While Artists get to choose their songs for a showstopping Blind Audition, after hopping aboard one of the Coaches’ teams, they hand over the aux cord to their trusted mentor. From Season 28 winner Aiden Ross‘ Knockout performance of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over” to the powerhouse Coaches performance of a Journey medley, the playlist was pumping all season long thanks to Coaches Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, and Season 28 red chair champion Niall Horan and their glimmering visions for a winner-worthy team. But what goes into a Coach’s decision to have their Artists perform a particular song?
RELATED: Reba McEntire Reveals the Surprising Song She’d Sing to Blind Audition on The Voice
Amid a climactic end to a delightful season, NBC Insider spoke with the Season 28 Coaches about how they decide on songs for their talented stars, and each icon has a different approach.
How Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé choose songs for their Artists
Country music icon and sitcom star Reba McEntire is no stranger to capturing an audience’s attention, making sure to choose songs that her Artists will enjoy so that they can focus less on studying new material and more time on putting together a ground-breaking set.
“I know my Artists. I know what they like…” McEntire told NBC Insider, adding that it’s “cruel” to throw a song at an Artist that they wouldn’t like. “You want them to go, ‘Oh, I love that song!’ And if they’re familiar with it, then they don’t have that much to cram and learn. It’s the best when you say, ‘Do you know this song?’ ‘Oh man, I’ve played it a million times. I love it!'”
Rapper and entertainment icon Snoop Dogg explained that he picks songs he feels will match the vibe and verve of that given episode, which we saw after Snoop’s second-place winner, Ralph Edwards, delivered a heartfelt rendition of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” for the Live Finale.
“It’s about what’s best for the scenario,” Snoop told NBC Insider. “What song is best to capture the abilities of my singer that could project him into a victory and show his abilities to sing with range, with all the things that you want from a superstar vocalist?”
RELATED: The Voice Season 28 Finale: Recap & Official Spoilers
As for two-time winner Michael Bublé, he tells NBC Insider that his song selection is a mix of songs he knows will wow an audience, mixed with selections he trusts will showcase his team’s specific talents.
“There were songs that I chose for my Artists that are going to be very emotional for me,” Bublé revealed ahead of the heartfelt Live Finale on December 16. Team Bublé frontrunner Jazz McKenzie delivered an incredible performance of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds Take a Look at Me Now,” one of Bublé’s all-time favorite tracks, which he felt McKenzie could make her own.
Bublé likes to take a cherished classic and tweak it a tad to help his Artists shine, like when McKenzie sang “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo for the Live Finale. “I had felt like if I could have her and we could sort of turn it into almost this Motown-esque thing, that we could give it energy that really allowed Jazz to be Jazz,” Bublé explained.
The Voice: Battle of Champions
The Voice Season 29 is shaking things up, premiering on Monday, February 23 at 9/8c on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
Officially titled The Voice: Battle of Champions, Season 29 features the show’s first-ever three-Coach lineup, putting The Voice OGs Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, and John Legend back in the red chairs for an epic showdown.
The Voice Season 29 will also introduce fresh format updates such as the “Triple Turn Competition” and the “Super Steal.” You also won’t want to miss the exciting return of CeeLoo Green in a totally new role.
Season 28 winner Niall Horan breaks down his song selection process
RELATED: Every Winner of The Voice From Season 1 Through Season 28
In Season 28, Team Niall claimed victory once again thanks to Aiden Ross’ spectacular performances throughout the season. Now an unbeaten, three-time red chair winner, Niall Horan tells NBC Insider that his song selection is rooted in finding something he knows the audience and viewers watching at home will connect with and recognize.
“It’s important that the people at home, everybody that’s watching the show, knows the songs,” Horan explained. “That’s a big one, and they’re not like deep cuts at this point. I don’t think we need deep cuts, I think we need songs that everyone knows.”
Horan was keen to add that while he sticks to mainstream song selections, he also prioritizes choosing songs that fit with his Artists’ given genre and style. As he put it, “Something that’s still true to them.”
“I never want to like throw some weird song in, and make them have to overthink, you don’t want that,” Horan continued. “You want people to know the songs, and you want them to feel super comfortable… The notes are going to hit, it all needs to just kind of slot in.”
Horan’s strategy remains unbeaten, so clearly something is working.
Watch The Voice on NBC and Peacock.
Reporting by Tara Bennett
