The Voice Season 28 Knockouts Recap
On November 3, Season 28 of The Voice continued with the Knockouts, featuring intense head-to-head duets from Teams Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire. This round introduced new dynamics: coaches chose pairings, artists selected their songs, and the traditional steal and save options were removed, allowing only one contestant from each pair to advance.
Mentor Support and New "Mic Drop" Feature
Joe Walsh and Zac Brown returned as "mega mentors" to support the artists during rehearsals. For the first time, each coach could nominate one winner with the innovative "Mic Drop" button, granting that performer a chance to perform at the Rose Parade, as determined by audience votes.
Team Snoop Highlights
- Natalia performed "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder
- Toni sang "Lady Marmalade" by LaBelle
Coaches' Guidance
Zac Brown to Natalia: "If you do 15 percent less runs, it makes it more special when you do 'em. You've got all the tools, just don't throw all of them at everybody the whole time."
Zac Brown to Toni: "Do your homework. Be super familiar so you're not thinking about mechanics; there's no disconnect between your brain and your voice. Your brain's out of it."
Reba McEntire on Natalia: "Your performance was spectacular."
Reba on Toni: "Golly, your range was incredible."
Three artists were eliminated as contestants competed for a playoff spot.
Author’s summary: Season 28’s Knockouts removed steals, introducing strategic coach nominations via “Mic Drop,” while mentors pushed artists toward more focused, authentic performances.