On July 22, The Voice sent shockwaves through its fanbase after revealing a major change for season 29. In a post shared on the show’s official Instagram, NBC announced that John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and Adam Levine will serve as coaches for the upcoming season—confirming, for the first time in the show’s history, a three-coach lineup.
For 28 seasons, viewers have grown accustomed to seeing four celebrity coaches seated in the iconic red chairs, so the announcement immediately sparked confusion and backlash. In a follow-up post, NBC clarified that season 29, titled The Voice: Battle of the Champions, will indeed feature only three coaches.
Set to premiere in Spring 2026, Battle of the Champions will pit winning veteran coaches against one another in a high-stakes showdown to determine the ultimate “Best Voice Coach.” With Legend, Clarkson, and Levine all returning champions, the competition is expected to be intense—but the missing fourth chair has dominated fan reactions.
The Instagram announcement was paired with the caption:
“John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine face off in the Battle of Champions, coming Spring 2026. #TheVoice | @NBC and Peacock”
Fans quickly flooded the comments section with mixed emotions. While many were thrilled to see familiar favorites return, others were vocal about their disappointment.
“ONLY THREE COACHES?? BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS??” one fan wrote.
“👀 Wait who’s the 4th coach?” asked another.
Some viewers began campaigning for their favorite coaches to return, with Blake Shelton, Michael Bublé, and Kelsea Ballerini among the most requested names.
“WHOS THE 4TH PERSON?!?!?!!! BLAKEYYYYY????” one commenter pleaded.
Another added, “What about the love of my life @michaelbuble 😍”
“I want Kelsea back,” wrote a third.
Despite the speculation, NBC has confirmed that season 29 will stick with just three coaches throughout the main competition. However, fans will eventually see a fourth familiar face. During the In-Season All-Star Competition, original The Voice coach CeeLo Green is set to return as a guest judge.
While the format change has left some longtime viewers disappointed, others are curious to see how the new setup will shake things up. With John, Kelly, and Adam back together for a champions-only showdown, season 29 promises drama, competition, and plenty of memorable moments—even with one chair missing.