The finalists for The Voice have been set, and Season 28 is heading into its live finale with a lineup shaped equally by audience votes and coach decisions.
For the first time in the show’s history, viewers at home played a direct role in determining which artists advanced, voting two singers into the Top 6 alongside four hand-selected by the coaches.
The result is a finale field that reflects both popularity and professional judgment, underscoring the evolving structure of the NBC competition.
The The Voice Season 28 Top 6 includes Aiden Ross, Jazz McKenzie, Aubrey Nicole, Ralph Edwards, DEK of Hearts and Max Chambers.
The Voice has long relied on a balance between public voting and coach authority, but Season 28 expanded that experiment.
Under the revised format, coaches selected one finalist from their teams, while viewers voted two additional artists into the live shows.
Producers said the change was designed to increase audience engagement while preserving the mentorship driven identity of the program.
Television analyst Mark Ellison said the shift reflects broader trends in reality competition programming. “Viewers expect more influence now, especially in live formats,” Ellison said.
“At the same time, shows like The Voice still depend on expert curation to maintain performance quality.” Each coach used a distinct strategy in naming their finalist.
Niall Horan selected college student Aiden Ross after his understated performance of Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter,” emphasizing emotional delivery over vocal power.
Ross, a Texas A&M student, said appearing on the show marked his first extended time away from home.
Michael Bublé, seeking a third consecutive win, chose Jazz McKenzie, whose gospel inflected rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” reworked a familiar anthem into a faith driven performance.
“She understands how to reinterpret a song without losing its core,” said vocal coach and music educator Linda Perez, who has followed the season.
Reba McEntire advanced Aubrey Nicole, a singer who turned heads with “Black Velvet” despite receiving only one chair turn during the blind auditions.
Snoop Dogg selected Ralph Edwards, whose polished version of “A Song For You” reinforced his status as a consistent frontrunner.
Historically, finalists chosen directly by coaches have won approximately half of the past ten seasons, according to internal network summaries shared with advertisers.
Viewer selected artists, however, tend to generate higher streaming numbers immediately after episodes air. Media researcher Thomas Kline said that balance could matter in the finale.
“Artists with strong fan voting often perform better digitally, while coach selected singers sometimes peak during the live performances,” Kline said.
The The Voice Season 28 Top 6 reflects that split, with two audience backed performers joining four coach selections.
Fans watching from home said the mixed-selection format added tension. “It felt like our votes actually mattered more this time,” said Carla Nguyen, a longtime viewer from San Jose, California.
“But you can also see why the coaches picked who they did.” Music industry consultant Rachel Monroe said the finalists represent a range of marketable styles.
“You have gospel, pop, soul and indie influences all in the same finale,” Monroe said. “That diversity keeps the franchise relevant.”
With the live finale approaching, producers expect heightened engagement across broadcast and streaming platforms. NBC executives said the hybrid voting model will likely be evaluated for future seasons.
Whether the winner emerges from America’s vote or a coach’s pick, the The Voice Season 28 Top 6 will compete under unprecedented scrutiny, with live performances expected to weigh heavily on the final outcome.
As The Voice enters its final phase, Season 28 stands out for redefining how finalists are chosen. By combining viewer participation with coach expertise, the show has produced a diverse Top 6 and set the stage for a closely watched finale.
The outcome will determine not only a season winner but also how future seasons balance audience power with professional judgment.
