Kelly Clarkson Stunned as The Voice Season 29 Scraps Public Voting
The red chairs are back, but the rules have been completely rewritten. As Kelly Clarkson makes her highly anticipated return for Season 29, “Battle of Champions,” she—and millions of fans—have been met with a massive shock: America’s vote has been officially sidelined.
For the first time in the show’s history, the power to crown a winner is no longer in the hands of the home audience. Here is everything you need to know about the confusing new format and how the “voting” actually works this year.
The End of an Era: No More Live Public Voting
In a move that has left fans reeling, NBC has moved away from the traditional live voting system. Instead of texting or using the app from your couch, the fate of the contestants will be decided entirely in-house.
The “Battle of Champions” format introduces a new Voting Block that will make decisions in real-time during the Semi-Finals and Finale. This block consists of:
The Superfans: A hand-selected group of The Voice enthusiasts.
The Alumni Jury: Former The Voice artists who are returning to provide their “expert” assessment.
Why is Kelly Clarkson Shocked?
Kelly, along with fellow coaches Adam Levine and John Legend, is navigating a season that feels more like a strategic board game than a singing competition. Between the “Triple Turn Competition” (where coaches battle for 3-chair turns) and the “Super Steal” (which allows a coach to override another coach’s steal), the veteran coaches are finding the environment more cutthroat than ever.
“I’ve never been more shocked in the Blinds,” Kelly admitted. “There were random connections that I didn’t see in other seasons… it really is a hard season.”
How “Voting” Works in Season 29: A Guide for Fans
Since you can’t vote from home this year, the “competition” for fans has shifted to following the new mechanics. Here is how the winner will be determined:
The Triple Turn Race: In the Blind Auditions, the coach who wins the most “Triple Turns” gets the Super Steal for the Battles.
The All-Star Knockouts: During the Knockouts, coaches bring back two legendary former contestants (like Jake Hoot or Jordan Smith) for an “In-Season All-Star Competition.”
The CeeLo Factor: Original coach CeeLo Green returns to judge these All-Star sing-offs. The coach with the most wins here is guaranteed a second artist in the Top 4 Finale.
The In-House Finale: When the show reaches the Semi-Finals (Top 9) and Finale (Top 4), the Superfans and Alumni Jury in the studio will cast the final ballots to decide the winner.
Is This the Future of The Voice?
While the lack of public interaction has sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media, the network insists this “fast-paced” format raises the stakes for the artists. For fans used to being the “fifth coach,” the 2026 season is a major adjustment.