Reba McEntire, a true dream weaver, graced the stage of The Voice's season 26 premiere on September 23rd, Monday, with an unprecedented act of kindness that left fellow coach Snoop Dogg emotionally overwhelmed. As Kendall Eugene's soulful rendition of Morgan Wallen's "Don't Thank Jesus" echoed through the air, with no chairs turning in his favor, the coaches offered words of encouragement, urging him to try again in a future season. However, McEntire, the country music legend, immediately felt a pang of regret.
"I liked everything about it," the 69-year-old vocalist confessed, prompting Eugene to jest that she "should've turned." McEntire, her voice tinged with regret, echoed, "I was going to say that exact same thing. I don't understand why I didn't turn around."
And then, she announced a groundbreaking moment in The Voice's history – she would be the first-ever coach to wield the Coach Replay button, a revolutionary feature that grants coaches a second chance to reverse their decision if they failed to turn during a blind audition.
"We've got this new thing this year – the Coach Replay button. I'm going to use mine," she declared, pressing the button with determination. The gesture touched Eugene deeply, tears streaming down his face, while Snoop Dogg, visibly moved, exclaimed, "Wow! Go give that man a hug." Later, the 52-year-old rapper was caught wiping away tears, his heartfelt reaction captured on camera.
"I adored the song Kendall sang. After it ended, I felt numb. In my heart, I knew I wanted him on my team. I'm overjoyed that for the first time, we have the Coach Replay button. It's a second chance for coaches like me who realize we've missed out on a golden opportunity," McEntire shared, her voice filled with emotion.
Returning for her third consecutive season as a coach, following her triumphant win with Asher HaVon in season 25, McEntire now mentors alongside newcomers Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg, as well as returning star Gwen Stefani. In July, the dynamic coaching quartet united for their inaugural coach performance, belting out a joyous rendition of the Four Tops' 1966 classic "Reach Out I'll Be There."
The Voice returned to NBC's primetime lineup on Monday, September 23rd, at 8 p.m. ET, with an evening filled with thrilling performances and heartwarming moments.
