The knockout rounds have historically been one of the most critical parts ofThe Voice. Once the blind auditions andbattle roundsare over, each coach selects two of their team members to gohead-to-head in a solo performance of the same song.The coaches then decide which contestant performed better and should go to the next stage. But during Season 27, the judges' decisions have come off as a bit of a surprise to longtime fans. With a brand-new format that hasled to quicker eliminations,the show seems to be losing the very depth that made it so successful in the first place.
The VoiceSeason 27 Knockouts are officially through, and this time around, they have left the fans feeling a little confused by the judges’ decisions.Maroon 5lead singer,Adam Levine,has particularlycome under firefor his controversial picks,Kolby CordellandLucia Flores-Wiseman.Even after Levine’s years of experience in the music industry, it’s baffling to see how he could ignore so many other talents on his team who overshadowed Cordell and Wiseman. Takerock singer,Britton Moore,for example, who was a consistent performer and a fan favorite for the Top 3. When Levine chose to eliminate him, it came as a shock to almost everyone. It’s hard to understand why the judge would miss the opportunity to work witha singer with such a powerful voice.
The Judges’ Knockout Picks Don’t Really Make Sense
One reason why I think Levine made this decision is that hewasn’t just looking at vocal abilityand strength. While it’s true that Moore had a loyal fan base, which would be an advantage in voting rounds. However, that is a risky move which may or may not pay off in the end. So, by eliminating Britton,Levine is essentially playing it safeand giving other contestants on his team the potential to grow. But then again, the show is calledThe Voiceand not “The Potential.”
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Similarly,Kelsea Ballerinishocked everyone when shedecided to eliminateJaelen Johnston, one of the fewcountry artistsleftin the competition. Johnston’s impressive range and emotional, raw performances stood out from the rest, and it was almost inevitable for him to advance to the live rounds. However, Ballerini chose to move ahead withIris HerreraandAlanna Lynise.Don’t get me wrong, both of them are strong vocalists in their own right, butJohnston’s elimination still feels unfair.
Is the Show’s New Format To Blame?
One important thing to consider during all of this is that the format for the knockouts duringThe VoiceSeason 27hastransitioned from five contestants per coach to just two.This means that eliminations are much quicker than before, which creates room for a lot of disappointment since the contestants don’t have enough of a chance to really prove themselves. Neither the viewers nor the judges have enough time to invest in the singers, and that’s pretty evident when you look at the results of the knockouts. Since the judgesabsolutely have to eliminate at least two contestantsfrom their teams, it’s not surprising that they’re making rushed decisions that contradict the audience’s opinion.
The knockout rounds have become entirely coach-driven, meaning it’s solely up to the judges,Michael Bublé,John Legend, Ballerini, and Levine, to decide who makes it through. Since the Audience’s votes don’t count as much with this new format,The VoiceSeason 27 feels more like a sprint than a show that once used to thrived on emotional build-up andmeaningful engagement with contestants.
The Twist Feels Like an Attempt To Save Face After Letting the Fans Down
During the August 25, 2025 episode,The Voiceannounced the “Super Save” twist, which allows each coach to bring back one eliminated contestant for the Top 8 live shows. As exciting as the twist is, it does acknowledge that the show did eliminate quite a few talented individuals too early and is giving them a second chance. But the “Super Save” once againcreates a sense of urgencyinstead of letting the contestants grow in their talent naturally. This highlights the underlying problem that the show is currently facing: a format that feels more like a race rather than a platform for potential singers to find their voice.
The VoiceSeason 27 airs on Mondays and Tuesdays onNBC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
