The highly anticipated Knockouts for The Voice Season 28 kicked off with a bang on Monday night, seeing Aubrey Nicole, Ava Nat, and Ralph Edwards advance to the next round, while fan-favorite Sadie Dahl, Kenny Iko, and Leyton Robinson were eliminated. This intense round introduced the new “Mic Drop Button” and featured legendary Mega Mentors Joe Walsh and Zac Brown guiding the artists.
The highly competitive Battles have concluded, and the stage is now set for the even more intense Knockouts on The Voice Season 28. Monday night marked the thrilling premiere of this pivotal round, where each team, meticulously curated by coaches Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, and Niall Horan, has been narrowed down to eight exceptional artists. Unlike previous stages, for the Knockouts, artists take the reins, selecting their own songs to showcase their true identities as performers, adding a unique personal touch to their performances.
A Closer Look at the Knockout Rounds: What’s New?
The Knockouts are designed to push artists to their limits, forcing coaches to make difficult choices. This season, the intensity is amplified with a fresh format and legendary guidance.
Mega Mentors Bring Industry Expertise
Adding unparalleled experience to the coaching process, two musical titans joined The Voice as Mega Mentors. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Joe Walsh lent his expertise to Niall Horan and Reba McEntire’s teams. Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning multi-hyphenate Zac Brown, frontman of the Zac Brown Band, made his Voice debut, working closely with Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg’s artists. Their combined wisdom provided invaluable insights to the contestants as they prepared their crucial performances.
The Game-Changing “Mic Drop Button”
Season 28’s Knockout Rounds introduced a brand-new element: the “Mic Drop Button.” This twist allows each coach to use the button on an artist from their own team whose performance truly blows them away. Unlike traditional saves or steals, the “Mic Drop Button” gives viewers at home the power to vote for a single “Mic Drop” winner from the four selected artists. The artist with the most votes will earn a coveted performance slot at The Rose Parade presented by Honda, live on January 1, 2026. This adds a compelling layer of fan engagement and a unique opportunity for one standout performer, as detailed by Parade.
Night 1 Eliminations and Advancements: Who Made the Cut?
The first night of the Knockouts delivered high drama, with strong performances leading to some heartbreaking goodbyes and triumphant advancements. Here’s a breakdown of who moved forward and who went home:
Eliminated Artists on Night 1:
- Kenny Iko
- Leyton Robinson
- Sadie Dahl (a four-chair turn artist)
Advancing Artists on Night 1:
- Aubrey Nicole
- Ava Nat
- Ralph Edwards (a four-chair turn artist)
Knockout Round 1: Team Reba’s Emotional Showdown
The night kicked off with Team Reba, featuring Aubrey Nicole facing off against Leyton Robinson. Aubrey Nicole delivered a powerful rendition of Martina McBride’s “I’m Going to Love You Through It,” while Leyton Robinson performed “I Could Use a Love Song” by Maren Morris. Ultimately, Reba McEntire chose Aubrey Nicole to advance.
Reba praised Aubrey, stating, “I always look forward to the Knockout Rounds because that is where you have everybody narrowed down. The cream of the crop is rising to the top. Aubrey is definitely an emotional singer. That emotion just comes through the microphone into your heart. She held it together better than I did because that song really got me.”
Knockout Round 2: Team Snoop’s “It Factor” Performance
Next up was Team Snoop, with Ralph Edwards taking on Kenny Iko. Ralph Edwards captivated with Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” while Kenny Iko performed Usher’s “There Goes My Baby.” Snoop Dogg declared Ralph Edwards the winner, citing his unique star quality.
Snoop commented, “The thing is Ralph has the it factor. The it factor is he could actually win it, this competition. Ralph’s performances have been groundbreaking, award worthy, top-of-the-line, performing at his highest level.”
Knockout Round 3: Team Niall’s “Shatterproof” Storyteller
The final matchup of the night came from Team Niall, pitting four-chair turn artist Sadie Dahl against Ava Nat. Ava Nat delivered a heartfelt rendition of Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” while Sadie Dahl sang Sam Smith’s “Too Good at Goodbyes.” Niall Horan ultimately chose Ava Nat to advance to the playoffs.
Niall praised Ava’s reliability and storytelling, saying, “Ava is the most consistent one we have on the show. Every time she comes out, she gives a shatterproof performance. Her ability to tell a story is insane. I just feel so confident with Ava going into the Playoffs.”
The first night of the Knockouts certainly set a high bar for The Voice Season 28. With incredible talent, strategic coaching, and new twists, the competition is heating up. Viewers can continue to follow the journey of these aspiring artists as The Voice airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with episodes streaming next day on Peacock, according to NBC’s official site.
