The Knockout Rounds kicked off tonight on The Voice, featuring coaches Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani, who divided their teams of nine into three groups for thrilling three-way knockouts. Mega mentors Jennifer Hudson and Sting joined the action, with Jennifer assisting Michael and Reba, and Sting teaming up with Gwen and Snoop. Each artist performed a song of their choice in a head-to-head-to-head battle, with their coach selecting one winner to advance. Coaches also had one save to keep an eliminated artist, while rival coaches had a steal to poach talent for their own teams.
The first knockout saw Team Snoop’s Austyns Stancil, Christina Eagle, and Jake Tankersley stepping up to the mic. During rehearsals with Snoop and Sting, Austyns delivered an emotional rendition of Luther Vandross’s Dance with My Father, dedicated to his late father. Despite advising Austyns to perform with “joy” and “not sadness,” Snoop was visibly moved during rehearsal, even shedding tears as he recalled his own late mother. Sting praised Austyns for his “sweet regret” but cautioned against letting emotions overwhelm the performance. Snoop encouraged Austyns to channel positive memories of his father into the performance, transforming his grief into a powerful expression of love and strength.
Seeking advice, Austyns asked Snoop how he coped with loss on stage. Snoop shared his experience of crying during a performance after his mother’s passing but explained that focusing on making her proud helped him regain control. This heartfelt moment underscored the depth of emotion Austyns was set to bring to his performance.
When it came time to compete, Austyns delivered a heartfelt performance that left chills in the room. Christina followed with a soulful take on My Church, while Jake closed with a stirring rendition of Going, Going, Gone. Ultimately, Snoop declared Austyns the winner, commending his ability to balance “spirit, personality, and composure” despite his pain. “That’s real music,” Snoop said, moved by the authenticity of Austyns’s performance.
Before the knockout ended, Snoop used his save to keep Christina, igniting a battle among the other coaches, all of whom hit their steal buttons. Reba praised Christina for her “heart, soul, and light,” Gwen called her a “rare star,” and Michael likened her to a “superhero” he could help elevate to stardom. Christina, however, chose to remain with Snoop, citing his unwavering belief in her from the start.
Jake also sparked a showdown between Reba and Gwen, who both hit their steal buttons after Snoop didn’t save him. Reba reminded Jake of her admiration and the block she endured during the blinds, while Gwen highlighted her need for a country artist on her team. Ultimately, Jake chose to join Team Gwen, drawn to her enthusiasm and strategic use of her block.
Other knockouts featured in the episode included Team Reba’s Jaukeem Fortson (God Only Knows), Cassidy Lee (Love Me Like a Man), and Adam Bohanan (Colors), with Adam emerging as the winner and Jaukeem being stolen by Michael. Team Gwen’s matchups included Camryn Brooks (Glitter in the Air), Deon Jones (Nutbush City Limits), and Jose Luis (We Can’t Be Friends), with Jose taking the win.
Additionally, Tanner Frick’s unexpected departure from the competition left Team Bublé with a two-way knockout. Sloane Simon (Can’t Catch Me Now) and Cameron Wright (You’re All I Need to Get By) faced off, with Michael choosing Cameron as the winner and saving Sloane to keep her on his team.
The night was packed with incredible performances, emotional moments, and strategic moves as the coaches fought to build the strongest teams heading into the next phase of the competition.