Tonight on “The Voice,” coaches Michael Buble, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani sat for Part 5 of the Blind Auditions round of season 26. Typically in this stage of the competition the coaches are fiercely competitive and creative in their pitches to get artists to choose to be on their team. First time coach Snoop’s creative juices were really flowing when he stopped arguing for Kay Sibal to join his team and instead advocated for her to join Team Gwen.

Though Kay was not a four chair turn (Reba said she had no chance against the other three coaches), she received some of the most glowing critiques of the night following her audition to “From the Start.” Snoop told her that he loved the “jazziness” of her performance and how she broke down the pieces of the song. He also noted her confidence and excitement on stage as reasons why he turned his chair. Reba added that she has great range and a “lightness” in her voice that gives her freedom to sing anything.

Gwen said that Kay’s “heart just feels really open” and she could hear the positivity in her performance. When Gwen told her that she has “so much potential” and she knows “exactly what to do” to help her improve, Kay said that she’s “dreamed of [Gwen] saying exactly that.” Michael did his best to appeal to Kay’s strength at jazz and how he could help her transition to pop because it’s what he’s done, but that’s when Snoop stepped back in to back out of the race and throw his hat in the ring for Kay to choose Gwen.

Snoop told Kay that she should be with Gwen because of their California connection and the bit about her own dream coming true. Earlier when Kay spoke about her father who passed away from cancer three years ago, Snoop seemed touched and so the idea that she dreamed of working with Gwen felt meaningful. Then, with her brothers watching from side-stage and expressing that she’s “listening to what [her] dad is sending [her],” Kay made the decision to become the newest member of Team Gwen.

By the end of Episode 5, Kay and 10 other artists earned a spot on a team. Team Snoop recruited Eliza Pryor, Mary McAvoy and Brad Sample. Team Reba picked up four chair turn Lauren-Michael Sellers, Tsola and Deon Jones. Team Gwen added Kay Sibal, Beya and four chair turn Camryn Brooks. Team Buble brought in four chair turn Cameron Wright and Mark Shiiba.

The teams so far:

TEAM SNOOP  (12 of 14 full) – Brad Sample, ChrisDeo, Christina Eagle, DREION, Eliza Pryor, Gail Bliss, George Starnes, Jake Tankersley, Mary McAvoy, Michael Alexandersson, MisterMoon, Torre Blake

TEAM REBA (12 of 14 full) – 323, Adam Bohanan, Creigh Riepe, Danny Joseph, Deon Jones, Jaukeem Fortson, Kendall Eugene, Kevin James Graham, Lauren-Michael Sellers, Tanner Frick, Tate Renner, Tsola

TEAM GWEN (12 of 14 full) – Austyns Stancil, Beya, Camryn Brooks, Felsmere, Frankie Torres, Gabrielle Zabosky, Jan Dan, Jaylen Dunham, Kay Sibal, Rowdy Shea, Sloane Simon, Sydney Sterlace

TEAM BUBLE (11 of 14 full) – Cameron Wright, Edward Preble, J.Paul, Jamison Puckett, Jeremy Beloate, Kamila Kiehne, Kiara Vega, Mark Shiiba, Mor Ilderton, Shye, Sofronio Vasquez

The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” is in its 26th season featuring five stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockouts, Playoffs and Live Performance Shows. In the coaches’ chairs, Reba is the defending champion after winning season 25 with Asher HaVon, the show’s first openly LGBTQ champ. She is joined by Gwen, in her 8th season, and Snoop and Michael, both competing for the first time. The Blind Auditions are expected to continue through October 15 when the 6th part of first-round performances airs.

‘The Voice’ winners: All seasons

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