The Voice kicked off Season 29—titled The Voice: Battle of Champions—on February 23, 2026, with a fresh twist: only three superstar coaches, all former winners—Kelly Clarkson (four-time champ), John Legend, and Adam Levine—battling it out in a high-stakes format.

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No fourth chair meant fiercer competition, smaller teams (10 artists each), and the new Triple Turn Competition, where the coach snagging the most three-chair turns earns a powerful Super Steal advantage in the Battles.

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The premiere’s Blind Auditions delivered instant drama, emotional backstories, genre surprises, a fun Reba McEntire cameo, and some shocking artist choices. Here’s a full breakdown of every key performance, chair turns, surprises, and team picks from Night 1.

Opening with a Classic Twist: Lucas West – “Bennie and the Jets” (Elton John)

• The night started strong with 20-year-old Lucas West, who delivered a soulful, piano-driven cover of the Elton John hit, nailing high notes and adding his own flair.
• Chair Turns: Adam Levine (first) and John Legend.
• Surprise: Kelly Clarkson stayed seated, but the coaches praised his unique energy.
• Final Choice: Team Legend.
• A solid opener that set a fun, retro vibe for the season.

First Triple Turn of the Season: Alexia Jayy – “(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman” (Aretha Franklin)

• Mystery artist Alexia Jayy (31, mom from Mobile, AL) stunned with a powerful, soulful rendition.
• Chair Turns: All three—Kelly (quickly), John, then Adam—for the premiere’s first Triple Turn.
• Highlights: Coaches bonded over her mom life (Kelly especially), and pitches flew with John emphasizing soul connection and Adam using reverse psychology.
• Surprise: Despite John’s strong pitch, she shocked by picking Adam, giving him the early Triple Turn lead.
• Final Choice: Team Adam.

Country Charm: Julia Golden – “Strawberry Wine” (Deana Carter)

• 19-year-old Julia brought nostalgic country vibes with her sweet, heartfelt take.
• Chair Turns: Kelly and John.
• Highlights: Kelly connected instantly, and the coaches hyped her vintage style.
• Surprise: Kelly called Reba McEntire live on the phone for backup (Reba endorsed her gut feeling toward Kelly), adding hilarious coach rivalry.
• Final Choice: Team Kelly.

Instant Three-Chair Magic: Abigayle Oakley – (Country Powerhouse Performance)

• Abigayle delivered a raw, emotional country performance that earned instant praise.
• Chair Turns: All three in a quick Triple Turn.
• Highlights: Described as “soft but powerful,” she wowed with her storytelling.
• Surprise: Kelly secured this one after fierce pitching, marking her second Triple Turn contender.
• Final Choice: Team Kelly.

Global Flair: Jonah Mayor – “Il Mondo” (Jimmy Fontana, in Italian)

• Jonah brought something fresh with an Italian-language classic.
• Chair Turns: Kelly (and possibly others, but she sealed it).
• Highlights: Coaches loved the unique, worldly vibe.
• Final Choice: Team Kelly.

Rock Revival: Bay Simpson – “The Waiting” (Tom Petty)

• Bay revived rock energy with a gritty take.
• Chair Turns: Adam (key turn).
• Highlights: Praised for bringing rock ‘n’ roll attitude back.
• Final Choice: Team Adam.

Young Powerhouse: Liv Ciara (16) – “We Can’t Be Friends” (Ariana Grande, reimagined as ballad)

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• The 16-year-old delivered an emotional, belting comeback story.
• Chair Turns: Kelly (fast turn).
• Highlights: Her transformation of the pop hit into something deeper stunned the panel.
• Surprise: Youth and maturity combo made her a standout.
• Final Choice: Team Kelly.

More Standouts

• Aaron LaVigne – Joined Team Kelly with strong vocals.
• AJ Robinson – Earned a spot on Team Legend.

Team Rosters After Premiere (Partial)

• Team Kelly (leading early with depth): Abigayle Oakley, Julia Golden, Jonah Mayor, Liv Ciara, Aaron LaVigne (5 artists so far—strong country and youthful mix).
• Team Adam (Triple Turn edge): Alexia Jayy, Bay Simpson, Jeremy Keith (the finale shocker with “You Are My Lady” by Freddie Jackson, another Triple Turn that gave Adam the lead after a heated three-chair battle and unexpected pick over John).
• Team Legend: Lucas West, AJ Robinson (soulful and piano-driven picks).

Biggest Surprises and Takeaways

• Adam’s late-game Jeremy Keith steal handed him the Triple Turn lead, despite Kelly’s momentum in team-building.
• Reba’s phone-in cameo stole the show during country battles, highlighting the open field without a dedicated country coach.
• Kelly quietly dominated with multiple high-quality picks, setting her up as an early favorite for her 10th win.
• The three-coach format ramped up tension—no blocks, just pure pitching battles.

The premiere set a thrilling tone for the Battle of Champions, with more Blind Auditions ahead. Who will pull ahead next? Drop your thoughts on the biggest surprise or favorite performance below—Season 29 is already delivering! Tune in for the next episode as the chairs keep turning.