Chairs are turning, and The Voice is back! The Voice has been around since 2011, and it’s still going strong. Season 28 just kicked off, and it’s looking like it’s gonna be a good’un. The iconic red chairs are still there, and Carson Daly is still showing up as host, proving that he just might be the most consistent man on television after Tom Bergeron.
In the past, The Voice has had some of the biggest names in music waiting in those red chairs to judge each contestant. Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Miley, Usher, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, and so many others have all lent their expertise to the show. This season has some impressive names sitting in those big red thrones. Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Niall Horan, and Snoop Dogg are all presiding over contestants, bantering with one another, and doing the thing we all love the most: absolutely roasting the ever-loving crap out of each other in between songs.
If you’re unfamiliar with the format of The Voice, here’s how it generally works. The celebrity judges face away from the stage during auditions initially, and if a judge decides they like what they hear, they’ll smash the big button and turn their chair around. If one judge turns around, the contestant gets to stay and work with that celebrity singer. If multiple judges turn around, then the contestant not only gets to stay — they have options — and can choose which celeb they’re going to work with. The show’s formula has kept things comforting and meme-worthy (which we all know is the mark of celebrity status in this day and age).
The rules for The Voice have been more or less the same since the show’s inception, but Season 28 is seeing a few pretty major changes. First of all, Carson Daly finally gets to have some say in the matter. The Carson Callback Card gives the host the power to give a rejected singer a chance at a do-over. Artists will now get to pick their own Battle opponents, because who doesn’t love a little drama? Each celebrity also has a Mic Drop button that they can press once for one of their contestants. Each contestant who gets a Mic Drop goes up for a fan vote against the other three contestants who also received a Mic Drop. It’s essentially an early “fan favorite” sort of thing. There’s also been a tweak in the way playoffs work: only one coach’s golden child goes straight to the live shows, and fans can vote to save two more. Apparently, after 28 seasons, it’s time for a remix.
The Voice has seen its share of notable winners and has a backlog of receipts on the losers. Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, and Jordan Smith all saw their stars rise courtesy of The Voice. However, while the show does make stars, it doesn’t always lead to those stars becoming household names (Kelly Clarkson will always be my American Idol — argue with the wall). Who do you think will win this year? Will we get a new country superstar or a quirky indie heartthrob? My money’s on whoever makes Blake Shelton openly feel big feelings.
In an entertainment universe that rapidly changes, The Voice has some serious staying power. With Carson Daly likely to outlive us all, how could it not? Anyhow, place your bets now for who you think will win — but maybe don’t get too attached until we see how the new rules mix things up.
