What is 'The Voice' 29's All-Star Competition? New twist brings back fan-favorites as Knockouts begin

The Knockouts officially kicked off on March 30, trimming the field once again as artists performed solo
PUBLISHED MAR 31, 2026
Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend in a still from 'The Voice' Season 29 (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @nbcthevoice)
Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend in a still from 'The Voice' Season 29 (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @nbcthevoice)

Season 29 of ‘The Voice’ is not playing it safe. The competition has been stacking twist upon twist, and now another challenge is being thrown into the mix. Earlier in the season, Coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Adam Levine went head-to-head in a smaller internal showdown over the contestants who received Triple Chair Turns. It resulted in Clarkson walking away with a Super Steal, which she didn’t waste, using it to keep one of her preferred artists from slipping away. Now, according to NBC Insider, the show is pushing things further with something called the ‘All-Star Competition,’ and this is where it gets interesting. Instead of focusing only on the current batch of contestants trying to survive the Knockouts, the show is opening the door to past winners and fan-favorite artists.

Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend pose for a photo on the set of 'The Voice' Season 29 (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @nbcthevoice)
Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend pose for a photo on the set of 'The Voice' Season 29 (Image Source: Instagram | @nbcthevoice)

The format is pretty straightforward on paper, but the implications are major. Former contestants, each tied to one of the three Coaches, will go head-to-head in a series of sing-offs, but with a twist. They won’t be facing people from their original teams. Instead, they’ll be matched against artists representing rival Coaches. The winner of each round adds a point to their Coach’s total. By the time all the matchups are complete, the Coach with the highest number of wins gets a huge advantage heading into the Finals: an extra artist slot. Legend is bringing back Maelyn Jarmon, who won Season 16, along with Renzo, a Season 27 finalist who finished in third place.

Clarkson, meanwhile, is taking a different approach, bringing back Girl Named Tom, the Season 21 winners who count as three performers in one act. She’s also adding Jake Hoot, the Season 17 winner. Then there’s Levine, who is tapping into the show’s early history by bringing back Javier Colon, the very first winner of ‘The Voice’, along with Jordan Smith, a Season 9 champion. Overseeing all of this is CeeLo Green, one of the original Coaches from the show’s early days. He returns this season not only as a Mega Mentor but also as the one calling the shots in these All-Star matchups. He decides who wins each face-off. And while all of this is unfolding, the main competition isn’t slowing down either. 

Alexia Jayy, Lucas West, and Syd Millevoi performing on 'The Voice' Season 29 Knockouts round (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @nbcthevoice)
Alexia Jayy, Lucas West, and Syd Millevoi performing during 'The Voice' Season 29 Knockout round (Image Source: YouTube | @nbcthevoice)

The Knockouts officially kicked off on March 30, trimming the field once again as artists performed solo. Night 1 alone saw six contestants exit the show, while Alexia Jayy, Jeremy Keith, JW Griffin, Liv Ciara, Lucas West, and Syd Millevoi moved forward, securing their spots in the next phase. More Knockout performances are scheduled to take place, with the next episode airing on April 6. However, with the finish line drawing near, there’s one more twist in store for the contestants. This season’s winner will not be decided by viewers watching from home. Instead, the final call will be taken by superfans sitting in the studio audience.

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