Reba McEntire, the undisputed Queen of Country, officially joined “The Voice” as a coach during its 24th installment, and she won her first championship in Season 25 for Asher HaVon. She is a three-time Grammy winner who previously had a history on the singing show, as she served as the mega mentor for every coach in Seasons 8 and 23, and helped out Blake Shelton during Season 1. Now that the Season 26 blind auditions have begun, can Reba prevail for the second time on NBC’s reality TV show?
Tour our gallery below for a closer look at Team Reba McEntire on “The Voice” Season 26, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team Gwen Stefani, Team Michael Buble and Team Snoop Dogg.
Tanner Frick (4-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 26
Hometown: Brandon, MS
Resident: Manchester, TN
Tanner keeps the city of Manchester running smoothly by overseeing the sewer lines and pumps. He handles clogs, ensures that all machinery functions properly, and has the water filtered for E. Coli to keep the fish safe to eat. Although music has always been his passion, Tanner was taught early on that it wasn’t a practical career choice. Raised by his father, who was also his best friend, Tanner eventually gained a stepbrother, Garrett, who introduced him to the guitar when Tanner was 13. As he grew older, Tanner played at friends’ birthday parties and some bars, but he never performed for more than 125 people. Due to work commitments, he never had the opportunity to play at larger venues or fully pursue his musical dream. This changed when Tanner met his wife, Madison, who encouraged him to follow his passion. Now, they rent a trailer and live on two acres with their three dogs. They enjoy a fulfilling life together, with hobbies including fishing, hunting and spending time with family.
Danny Joseph (3-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 37
Hometown: London, England
Resident: Dallas, TX
Danny moved from London to the U.S. when he met his wife 10 years ago at a church conference in Dallas. Being a law student in the U.K. made coming to the U.S. a huge culture shock as it was the only home he knew. He eventually acclimated and started a family with Joanna. They have three kids, including their youngest daughter, who Danny delivered himself after their midwife didn’t make it in time. Before his daughter was born, Danny underwent major surgery to treat complications from Crohn’s Disease. Fighting extreme fatigue and pain every day, Danny struggled to be a full-time musician. He was bedridden for weeks but luckily got better just in time to welcome their new child. Danny now happily supports his family with his music. Besides being on stage and performing, Danny has also tried barbering. What originally started as an experiment on his dad quickly changed into more of an art form that Danny focused on perfecting.
Tate Renner (3-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 24
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Resident: Nashville, TN
A native Texan like both of his parents, Tate was born in Dallas. His family relocated to Illinois, where he spent most of his childhood, but Tate has always felt a deep connection to the South. Country music has been a significant part of his upbringing, which makes living in Nashville now the perfect homebase. Tate was introduced to legends such as Reba McEntire, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw at a young age. Tate fell in love with music when he started playing the drums at 12. By high school, he picked up the guitar and discovered that he could sing as well. Wanting to be closer to the heart of the music industry, Tate chose Belmont University in Nashville for his studies. He graduated this past May and has since focused on performing and networking. Last year, Tate had the chance to sing the national anthem with a friend at a Chicago White Sox game, an experience he believes will help him prove himself as an artist. With his parents’ support and growing momentum, Tate feels it’s the perfect time to take “The Voice” stage by storm.
Jaukeem Fortson (3-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 13
Hometown:Elberton, GA
Resident: Elberton, GA
The youngest competitor, Jaukeem, is a mature 13-year-old from a small-town in Georgia. Going to church is his favorite thing, so much so that he even wakes up his mom to go. Everyone knows everyone in his small town, and Jaukeem has made a name for himself as “the little music man.” What started as singing in church has now progressed to weddings, parties and local fairs. One of his breakout performances was performing at a Juneteenth festival in Greenville, S.C. Since then, people have contacted his manager (his mom) to book him for their events. Jaukeem has experienced some family hardships but maintains happiness and positivity through it all. His grandma has dementia, but he loves singing with her. Jaukeem doesn’t have the relationship he wishes he did with his dad, but luckily, Jaukeem has a father-figure relationship with his uncle, Mario. He attends all of Jaukeem’s performances and school events. Even though Jaukeem was only seven months old when “The Voice” premiered, he’s been watching the show religiously for the past three years, dreaming of the day he could be a contestant.
Creigh Riepe (2-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 32
Hometown: Charlotte Court House, VA
Resident: Nashville, TN
Creigh grew up on a farm in a small rural town of around 500 people, where he jokes there are more cows than residents. He began playing piano in elementary school and discovered his singing talent soon after, leading him to perform at church and in the community. Supported by his parents, Creigh started making music at home, sparking his interest in production and audio engineering. Tragedy struck in 2007 when his father passed away from lung cancer. Creigh turned to songwriting to cope with his grief, finding healing in music. He pursued a degree in audio engineering at Belmont University, where he also led two bands. After graduating, he joined the country band Chasin’ Crazy, which opened for stars such as Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, and Hunter Hayes before disbanding in 2017. Although this left him in a dark place, his faith guided him through. Today, Creigh owns a recording studio and leads the production team at his church. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Sarah, who is his middle school sweetheart, their two daughters, 12 chickens and three dogs.
323 (2-CHAIR TURN)
Jonathan Perry, Jacob Sumpter and Kinsley Treadwell
Ages: 33, 24 and 18
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Resident: Tallahassee, FL
Jonathan, Kinsley and Jacob make up the Tallahassee dynamic pop/country trio that is 323. This band formed about a year ago and is named after their city’s zip code. Jacob, a recent high school graduate, has a go-with-the-flow attitude every good group needs. Kinsley, 24, is the mama figure and the glue that holds everyone together. Jonathan, 33, the trio’s most senior and experienced, is the group’s dad. Even though the band was freshly formed, they have known each other since childhood and attended the same church. When they’re not leading worship, they’re busy gigging out at bars and restaurants in and around Tallahassee. 323 wouldn’t be what they are without their unofficial fourth member, Jacki, who arranges all their music and mixes and masters their songs. Unfortunately, Jacki has been battling health issues and has been in and out of the hospital, but she continues to arrange for 323 because it gives her purpose and something to look forward to. Currently, Jacob works part-time for Jonathan at a property management company, and Kinsley leverages her marketing background in the promotion of the band.
Adam Bohanan (1-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 40
Hometown: New York, NY
Resident: Minneapolis, MN
Adam, a self-proclaimed total nerd, loves everything that has to do with “Star Trek,” “Doctor Who,” Legos, comic books and writing goofy songs. Born to a white Jewish mother and a Black father, Adam struggled with his bi-racial identity. When his parents split at 4 years old, his mother relocated from New York to Israel where they lived for the next several years. Eventually, they moved to England, where Adam finished school. Adam participated in everything he possibly could pertaining to music, yet he never felt like he knew who he was as an artist. That all changed when he was working at a market in England as a teen and heard the song “Just Friends” by Musiq Soulchild. He immediately resonated with the soul-R&B sound. Once Adam discovered “Dirty Soul,” he began to take interest in the greats such as Al Green and Sam Cooke, reconnecting with his Black roots. Currently, Adam and his wife reside in Minneapolis, and they’re hoping to start a family of their own soon.
Kevin James Graham (1-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 33
Hometown: Boston, MA
Resident: Waltham, MA
By day, Kevin works from home as an account executive, making dozens of sales calls daily. His unique and compelling voice often captivates those on the other end, leading to long interactions and leaving memorable impressions. Kevin began his music journey early on, heavily influenced by his musical family. Growing up in his grandparents’ home, Kevin was hooked on classic country tunes from a young age, cementing a lifelong passion for classics across genres. His uncle, a drummer, got Kevin drumming at 7 years old. Kevin then picked up the guitar and began crafting his unique vocal sound. A Massachusetts native, Kevin has made a name for himself in and around Boston. As the proud owner, founder and manager of his Boston-based band, Rolling Nectar, he and his group have graced major stages, opening for acts such as Rusted Root and Foghat. Their original songs have even enjoyed radio play in the local area. Kevin wowed his biggest crowd to date at Fenway Park, serenading over 35,000 fans and earning a standing ovation for his unique delivery of the national anthem.
Kendall Eugene (1-CHAIR TURN)
Age: 35
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Resident: Indiana, PA
Having learned to play the drums at age 6, Kendall always had an affinity for music. Sadly, at 14, Kendall’s life turned upside down when his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Having to grow up quickly, Kendall stepped up as another parental figure for his two younger brothers. Things continued to get more complicated for Kendall when he and his high school girlfriend discovered they were expecting a baby boy. Only 17 and having a mother who was very sick, Kendall knew the responsible thing to do was to give the baby up for adoption. At this time, Kendall started picking up the guitar and writing his own music as an outlet. Luckily, Kendall has maintained a relationship with his now 19-year-old son, Nolan. Always wanting to raise kids, it’s no surprise that he now has three additional children with his ex-wife. He has started writing music again and joined a band in February. He performs with his band several times a month locally in Pennsylvania and looks forward to what “The Voice” has in store.
Who’s next?
Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire and Michael Buble are the Season 26 coaches for “The Voice.” Keep watching every Monday night and Tuesday night on NBC to see which artists are added to the competition.