The chairs are turning again — and this time, it’s not just for the artists. A fresh mix of music heavyweights are stepping into the spotlight on “The Voice,” and fans are already voicing strong opinions long before a single note is sung.
NBC’s “The Voice” officially announced its coaching panel for Season 28 in a video shared across its social media platforms on May 12, 2025, sparking a buzz.
A netizen’s comment on Snoop Dogg, dated May 12, 2025 | Source: Facebook/NBCTheVoice
The short clip introduced music legends Snoop Dogg, Niall Horan, Reba McEntire, and Michael Bublé as the coaches for the fall 2025 season.
A description accompanying the announcement read, “Yes, you saw that right. Presenting our Coaches for this fall on The Voice…” A follow-up post engaged fans with the question of whose team they would join when the new season airs later this year.
The lineup prompted a flurry of responses from longtime fans, revealing excitement and dissatisfaction with the coach selection. Several viewers took to the comments section to voice concerns, particularly about Dogg’s return.
One person wrote, “Any but Snoop- won’t watch with him [sic]….” There were also remarks suggesting a shift in the show’s focus. A fan commented, “I like Snoop but the show centered on him too much, it was like the Snoop Dog show.”
Others expressed broader discontent with the show’s direction. One person remarked, “The Voice is going downhill fast. After what Adam did to Britton, I’ve lost interest in this show.” Another added, “Another season not watching, can’t stand snoop and Reba [sic].”
Still, many fans welcomed the new lineup with enthusiasm. One commented, “Now this is a great set of judges for once.” Another said, “Love this team! Perfect!”
Several viewers were specifically excited for Horan’s return. One viewer penned, “This looks like the best line up yahoo, #teamniall all the way of course [sic].” Another shared, “the way my jaw dropped seeing Niall back [sic]!!”
As “The Voice” prepares to launch its new season, returning coaches Dogg and Bublé carry with them insights from their experiences on the show. Reflecting on his Blind Auditions debut in Season 26, Dogg shared how he approached the process with careful observation.
“My strategy was to look, listen and learn,” the 53-year-old rapper said about his first day of Blind Auditions. “First of all, I’m glad they didn’t make me go first [during Blinds]. They made me go, like, second or third, so I was able to watch the other Coaches and see some of the things that they did.”
“And then once I understood that, I could add some Snoop-ism to the situation, as far as my conversation and my lingo, to the Artist to try to get them to come home,” he concluded.
Bublé also opened up about his experience during the same season. He admitted that Blind Auditions presented a unique challenge for him. “Honestly, it’s not what I’m best at. It’s hard to advocate for yourself in that way. And when I did, I tried to do it with humor, to be self-deprecating and to hope that you could break down barriers that way.”
“It would have been harder for me, I think in other seasons where there was a different energy, like more of an edge of Coaches kind of fighting each other. But I was trying to be genuine, to tell people that I might be able to help them, and use humor, again, just to break down those walls. Because my dad always said: If you’re good, you don’t have to tell people,” the 49-year-old Canadian singer revealed.
Bublé’s approach appeared to resonate, as his team member Sofronio Vasquez went on to win Season 26. His victory marked a strong showing for Team Bublé, setting high expectations for the upcoming season.
McEntire, also a coach in Season 26, discussed the weight of stepping into the role once held by Blake Shelton.
In a 2023 interview with Newsweek, she reflected on what that transition meant. “Nobody can replace Blake Shelton. He’s a huge personality and a wonderful person…. I’m just getting in there trying to have fun and represent country music as best I can.”
She also explained her approach to coaching, emphasizing encouragement over criticism. “I can’t be a mean judge. I mean, when I turned it down 15 years ago when they wanted me to do The Voice, I said, ‘I can’t tell anybody that they’re horrible.’ I can’t say to somebody, ‘Well is your mama gonna meet you at the bus station? Because you’re going home.’ I can’t do that.”
Reba McEntire mentioned that she has been learning from fellow coaches, including John Legend, Gwen Stefani, and Horan. “Every day that we’re working on The Voice, I’m learning more from them how to let ’em down easy if they don’t get picked up, coach ’em, and if you can give them any advice whatsoever… give them advice and encourage them to come back,” she added.
Horan described a passion for mentoring new artists. “I love finding new talent online and things, so I really wanted to get involved and find a new crop of talent that we can nurture and make careers of,” he said.
“I’m excited to win this thing. I’ve got an unbelievable team of ridiculous talent. I didn’t hit my buzzer every time, because I was being super picky about who I wanted on my team. I wanted all different types of singers, all different types of genres, just wanted character,” added the 31-year-old Irish singer.
With its Season 28 coaching panel now fully unveiled, “The Voice” continues to balance fresh talent with returning experience. As anticipation builds and fan reactions unfold, the stage is set for another season of high-stakes performances, strong personalities, and evolving dynamics among the coaches.
