Season 28 Of The Voice Prepares For The Playoffs Following An Exciting Knockout Round
After several weeks of knockouts, Season 28 of The Voice is finally preparing to start the playoffs!
16 contestants (four from each team) have advanced to the playoffs following an exciting knockout round. Among those contestants are the four “Mic Drop” recipients. Fans will vote for their favorite Mic Drop artist, and the winner will get the chance to perform during the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
RELATED: “THE VOICE” CONFIRMS DATE FOR SEASON 28’S FINALE
The Mic Drop button was one of several new elements added to The Voice this season. The show also established plans to change how contestants advance from the playoffs to the live shows.
According to an article on the NBC website, after the playoffs, each coach can only select one team member to take into the live shows. In a “historic first,” Voice viewers will vote for the fifth and sixth competitors to round out the Top 6 (they could be from any team).
Head below to meet all 16 contestants vying for those Top 6 spots!
Who’s Competing In The Playoffs For Season 28 Of The Voice?
Aaron Nichols – Team Reba
37-year-old Bakersfield, California native Aaron Nichols auditioned for Season 28 of The Voice with a cover of Chris Stapleton‘s “Cold.” He earned a three-chair turn and chose Reba McEntire as his coach.
Then, Nichols performed “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” during the battles. McEntire chose him as the winner, and he advanced to the knockouts, where he performed an impressive rendition of The Band of Heathens’ “Hurricane.”
McEntire was so wowed by Nichols’ performance, that she chose him as the winner of his knockout AND pressed her Mic Drop button for him.
Yoshihanaa – Team Snoop
36-year-old Yoshihanaa of Sanford, Florida, performed Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” during the blind auditions. She turned three chairs, and chose Snoop Dogg to be her coach.
Next, she performed “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” during the battles, and won. She advanced to the knockouts, where she covered Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need to Get By.”
Snoop picked Yoshihanaa as the winner of her knockout, and to make matters even sweeter, he pressed the Mic Drop button for her performance.
DEK of Hearts – Team Niall
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, the trio DEK of Hearts earned a four-chair turn during the blind auditions for their rendition of Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” Much to everyone’s surprise, the group chose Niall Horan to be their coach.
DEK of Hearts performed Mumford & Sons’ “I Will Wait” during the battle round and won. Then, they sang Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over You” in the knockouts.
Horan named them the winner of the round and pressed his Mic Drop button for their performance.
Jazz McKenzie – Team Bublé
31-year-old Birmingham, Alabama, native Jazz McKenzie delivered a captivating cover of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” during the blind auditions for Season 28. She turned four chairs, but Snoop was blocked by Reba McEntire. However, McKenzie opted to join Team Bublé.
She performed “Virtual Insanity” by the funk band Jamiroquai during the battles, and won. After that, she sang Smokey Robinson’s “Crusin'” in the knockouts and won once again, advancing to the playoffs.
Peyton Kyle – Team Reba
26-year-old Peyton Kyle from Tampa, Florida, sang Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon” during the blind auditions. Reba McEntire was the only coach who turned a chair for his performance.
McEntire has continued to have complete faith in Kyle’s talent. He won his battle performance of “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and advanced to the knockouts, where he performed a cover of Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Want to Be.” He won the knockout and will now be advancing to the playoffs!
Ralph Edwards – Team Snoop
30-year-old Ralph Edwards from Fresno, California, covered Journey’s “Lights” during the blind auditions. He turned all four chairs and chose Snoop as his coach.
He performed Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” during the battles and won. Then, he sang Ed Sheeran’s “Dive” during the knockouts, and Snoop chose him as the winner again!
Aiden Ross – Team Niall
20-year-old Aiden Ross of College Station, Texas, earned a four-chair turn during the blind auditions when he sang “Love in the Dark” by Adele. He picked Niall Horan to be his coach.
From there, Ross performed Julia Michaels’ “What a Time” during the battles, winning the round. He then scored a win in the knockouts with his cover of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over.”
Trinity – Team Bublé
Trinity, a 25-year-old singer from Stamford, Connecticut, amazed the judges with her performance of En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go (Love).” She turned all four chairs and ultimately picked Michael Bublé to be her coach.
She performed “Virtual Insanity” with Jazz McKenzie in the battles. Bublé didn’t choose her as the winner, but he did press his “save” button to keep her on his team.
Then, Trinity advanced to the knockouts, where she covered Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and secured herself a spot in the playoffs for Season 28 of The Voice.
Ryan Mitchell – Team Reba
Ryan Mitchell had one of the most unique journeys on The Voice this season. The 25-year-old rocker from Los Angeles didn’t turn any chairs for his blind audition performance of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams.”
But host Carson Daly saw some potential. He awarded Mitchell the first-ever “Carson Callback,” which allowed Mitchell to return and audition for Season 28 a second time.
He performed Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” and finally got a coach to turn their chair. That coach was Reba McEntire, and she’s supported Mitchell ever since.
Mitchell sang “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” in the battles (and won) before further proving himself with a cover of “Zombie” in the knockouts.
Mindy Miller – Team Snoop
35-year-old Mindy Miller from Damascus, Maryland, kept it country with a cover of Lainey Wilson‘s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” during the blind auditions. Knowing that she’d be drawn to Team Reba, Snoop Dogg used his “block” on Reba to ensure he’d get to be her coach.
Miller has been on Team Snoop ever since. She won her battle over “Angel from Montgomery” and also won her knockout after singing Jamey Johnson’s “In Color.”
Kirbi – Team Niall
Kirbi earned a four-chair turn after singing For King & Country’s “God Only Knows” during the blind auditions. The 24-year-old from Florence, Alabama, chose Niall Horan as her coach.
From there, Kirbi covered Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” in the battles and won. She then performed a breathtaking version of Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah” in the knockouts, which earned her a spot in the playoffs.
Max Chambers – Team Bublé
At just 14 years of age, Shreveport, Louisiana native Max Chambers got two chairs to turn in the blind auditions with his rendition of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” He decided to join Team Bublé, and he’s been a standout member of the team ever since.
Chambers won his battle performance after singing “Just the Two of Us.” Then, he won his knockout with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing.”
On top of that, Bublé pressed the Mic Drop button for his performance!
Aubrey Nicole – Team Reba
Reba McEntire was the only coach who turned her chair for 19-year-old Littlestown, Pennsylvania native Aubrey Nicole in the blind auditions. She was moved by her performance of Cam’s “Burning House.”
Once again, McEntire showcased her faith in Nicole’s talent when she used her “save” on her after her battle performance of “Somethin’ Bad.” Then, Nicole won her knockout round with a cover of Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”
Toni Lorene – Team Snoop
28-year-old Toni Lorene from Houston, Texas, got three chairs to turn for her blind audition performance of Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You.” She decided to join Team Snoop.
Lorene won her battle after delivering a mesmerizing version of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain.” Then, she won her knockout with a cover of the classic hit “Lady Marmalade.”
Ava Nat – Team Niall
18-year-old Ava Nat of Garden City, New York, performed Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” during the blind auditions. She turned three chairs and opted to join Team Niall.
Nat didn’t win her battle after singing Julia Michaels’ “What a Time,” but Horan jumped in to use his one and only “save” to keep her on his team. Then, Nat won her knockout after delivering a spellbinding rendition of Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
Rob Cole – Team Bublé
34-year-old Rob Cole of Pembroke, North Carolina turned two chairs after singing John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life” in the blind auditions. But Michael Bublé used his block on Reba McEntire, so Cole joined his team by default.
From there, Cole won his battle over Blake Shelton‘s “Honey Bee.” He advanced to the knockouts, where he sang Red Clay Strays’ “Wondering Why,” securing himself another win.
There you have it, folks, those are the 16 contestants competing in the playoffs for Season 28 of The Voice! Who are you rooting for?