“The Voice” is now two weeks out from the season finale — and the coaches are having to make some of their toughest decisions yet.
Monday night marked the start of the Playoffs, the penultimate round where each coach has to whittle their team of four down to just one singer.
During the episode, Michael Buble and Reba McEntire were in the hot seat as they each had to pick one singer to advance to the finale (Snoop Dogg and Niall Horan will make their own team decisions during next Monday’s episode).
Here’s a look at the first two singers to reach “The Voice” Season 28 finale.
‘The Voice’ Playoffs: Who made it to the finale?
Team Michael Buble — Jazz McKenzie
Following a soulful rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Jazz McKenzie has secured her place in the finale.
The 31-year-old singer from Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most sought-after contestants during the season premiere, with a performance of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It” that had all of the coaches fighting over her.
“That’s how you audition for ‘The Voice,’” Niall Horan said. “That was impressive. Anyone that takes on a Tina song at any point in their life is brave.”
“When a singer starts singing and it shoots through the air at someone’s heart, you know that person is truly blessed, and I was hit so hard by your beautiful voice,” McEntire added. “‘The Voice’ is very blessed to have you.”
It was Michael Buble, though, who had the most dramatic pitch that included bringing out some Irish dancers in what he called an effort to channel the luck of the Irish.
“Why do I feel like that didn’t help me at all?” Buble said to the singer with a laugh.
“You never know,” McKenzie teased, before eventually choosing Buble as her coach.
McKenzie has remained strong throughout the season, with Horan at one point calling her “arguably the best singer in this show.”
That enthusiasm continued in the Playoffs. Following McKenzie’s performance of “Don’t Stop Believin,’” Buble said he had “goosebumps.” He went on to compare McKenzie to great singers like Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion.
“There is zero that you can’t do,” Horan said. “You are a ridiculous singer. You’re on a different planet.”
Team Reba McEntire — Aubrey Nicole
As a one-chair turn who has now made the finale, thanks to her rendition of Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet,” 19-year-old Aubrey Nicole appears to be the dark horse of “The Voice” competition this season.
By the time the Pennsylvania teenager, who grew up watching “The Voice,” took the stage to audition, there were only a few spots left. But all she needed was one chair turn, and she got it from a country music superstar.
McEntire was visibly emotional following Nicole’s rendition of Cam’s “Burning House.”
“You know, sound penetrates walls, and boy, it went through this chair and hit my heart,” McEntire said through tears. “You’ve got that gift, sing and portray that feeling to another person that needs it.”
Nicole, who studies at Belmont University in Nashville, again made McEntire emotional during the Knockouts when she performed Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” a song about a husband who supports his wife following a cancer diagnosis.
McEntire, who recently lost her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, to cancer, was once again moved to tears.
“Some performances are more than just a song,” she shared on Facebook.
How to vote singers through to ‘The Voice’ finale
In total, six contestants will make it to “The Voice” Season 28 finale — four coaches’ picks, and two picks from viewers at home.
Following each Playoff episode (airing Dec. 1 and Dec. 8), viewers can select their favorite singer to remain in the competition by voting online or through “The Voice” app. The voting window closes at 5 a.m. MST the morning after the Playoff episode.
When is ‘The Voice’ Season 28 finale?
During next Monday’s episode of “The Voice,” both Snoop Dogg and Horan will select one singer from their teams to advance to the finale.
The top six contestants will perform in “The Voice” finals on Dec. 15, with the show revealing the Season 28 winner on Dec. 16.