'Nah': 'The Voice' Season 25 viewers disappointed with Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee's guitar-heavy battle performance

Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee failed to impress 'The Voice' Season 25 viewers
'The Voice' Season 25 contestants Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee perform 'When It Rains It Pours' during the battle round (X/@NBCTheVoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 contestants Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee perform 'When It Rains It Pours' during the battle round (X/@NBCTheVoice)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: During the most recent episode of 'The Voice' Season 25, viewers were treated to a performance by country singers Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee from Team Reba.

These two talented artists showcased their skills by performing the popular song 'When It Rains It Pours' by Luke Combs.

What's even more impressive is the fact that these two contestants, who have become fast friends since joining the show, have managed to find time to jam together despite being competitors.

It is evident that Josh and Donny have grown as artists throughout their journey on 'The Voice' and their hard work and determination have paid off. Their ability to connect with the audience and showcase their vocal prowess is a testament to their dedication and passion for music.

Although they initially appeared a bit timid and struggled to find the right balance in terms of volume control, as the performance progressed, both singers demonstrated a remarkable presence and unleashed their vocal power.

This impressive display caught the attention of not only the audience but also the judges, particularly John Legend, who couldn't help but nod at Reba in approval.

After their performance, Chance the Rapper said, "Donny out the gate I was like, this is a clear cut star."

He told Reba McEntire, "Either way you win."

Soon after, the viewers shared their take on Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee's performance.

An X user said, "Kinda wish they wouldn’t have stuck themselves behind those guitars… " Another user chimed in, "Nah. John and Donny were not good." A user commented, "Few people can have good stage presence behind a guitar and mic stand." Followed by a user who chimed in, "1000% I think they would've been able to express themselves more without it."



 



 



 



 

Who did Reba McEntire pick between Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee on 'The Voice'?

 Reba McEntire was faced with a difficult decision as she had to choose between Josh Sanders and Donny Van Slee to determine who would advance to the next round of the competition.

She expressed a deep sense of connection and familiarity, stating that it felt as though their bond had been established for a significant amount of time. She acknowledged that making a decision would be challenging due to the strong connection they had formed.

"I feel like I've known you forever... we really really bonded. This is going to be a tough decision," Reba said.

The coach expressed great admiration for the talent and skill exhibited by both artists. In the end, she picked Josh Sanders to advance further in the singing competition.

'The Voice' Season 25 coach Reba McEntire picked Josh Sanders (X/@NBCTheVoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 coach Reba McEntire picked Josh Sanders (X/@NBCTheVoice)

Who is Josh Sanders on 'The Voice' Season 25?

Josh Sanders is a veteran contender in the field of singing competitions, having twice managed to win the coveted Golden Ticket during his appearances on 'American Idol'.

In 2012, Josh achieved his first success in Season 11 of the show, and he continued to impress judges in Season 14 in 2015, establishing himself as a notable talent in the music industry.

In Season 11, Josh appeared on TV performing 'Burning Love' by Elvis Presley with a group that included Caleb Johnson, the eventual winner of Season 13.

He made it to the final stages of Hollywood Week in two seasons but was eliminated before reaching the live shows both times. Josh's father, Darren, who was a Baptist preacher, passed away in 2013. He introduced his son to music at a young age through church activities.

At the age of 8, his son was already displaying his musical abilities by singing and playing multiple instruments at church services.

When Josh first auditioned for Idol, he was a 23-year-old lead singer of a southern rock band called Preacher Stone. At his second audition, he was still performing secular music and also served as a music leader at Mission Baptist Church in Locust, North Carolina.

'The Voice' Season 25 contestant Josh Sanders has appeared on 'American Idol' before (X/@NBCTheVoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 contestant Josh Sanders has appeared on 'American Idol' previously (X/@NBCTheVoice)

Who is Donny Van Slee on 'The Voice' Season 25?

Donny Van Slee is a versatile person who is skilled in both chiropractic care and music. He uses his expertise as a chiropractor to help his patients feel better and improve their physical health.

Furthermore, Donny's skills as a songwriter and musician are impressive, as he captivates audiences with his beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics.

Whether he is healing patients or playing his guitar, Donny's passion and commitment are evident in all that he does, leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to witness his talents.

 'The Voice' Season 25 contestant Donny Van Slee is an expert in chiropractic care (X/@NBCTheVoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 contestant Donny Van Slee is an expert in chiropractic care (X/@NBCTheVoice)

'The Voice' Season 25 airs on NBC at 8 pm on Mondays and 9 pm on Tuesdays. The episodes will be available on Peacock on demand the next day. The streaming site also includes entire episodes from the show's prior seasons.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

‘The Bachelor’ is set to return after almost two years since its last season on air
2026-11-07T11:25:50.000Z
The ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 11 cast has more to unpack, and here’s what to know about catching the reunion before its Netflix release.
2026-11-05T19:30:37.000Z
‘The Amazing Race’ Season 39 heads to Sri Lanka, where a live Double U-Turn vote creates tension and forces teams to fight to stay in the race
2026-11-05T06:20:44.000Z
After a chaotic merge vote in Episode 7, a 27-year-old professional wrestler became the first ‘Survivor 51’ juror
2026-11-05T05:47:05.000Z
A former ‘RHOBH’ star has filmed with the Season 16 cast, but questions remain about her role. Her latest update offers a glimpse of the reunion and the drama ahead.
2026-11-04T20:49:29.000Z
‘Dancing with the Stars’ will host a brand new theme along with a face-off in next week’s episode
2026-11-04T10:25:19.000Z
‘Love Is Blind’ Season 11 finale sees Wilson and Wilnie clash over expectations before splitting
2026-11-04T09:35:45.000Z
Among the engaged couples featured on the show, only one made it to the altar and said ‘I do.’
2026-11-04T08:23:28.000Z
During his recent appearance on Oliver Hudson’s podcast, David Charvet reflected on his feud with Collin
2026-11-04T07:40:50.000Z
Riley Green also struggled to accept the young singer as a ‘human’ after witnessing her latest performance.
2026-11-04T05:48:33.000Z