The chairs are spinning. The tension is thick. Honestly, watching The Voice season 26 episode 4 felt a little bit different than the previous weeks because you could finally start to see the panic setting in for the coaches. By the time the fourth night of Blind Auditions rolled around, the rosters were filling up. Snooze, you lose. Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, and Gwen Stefani aren't just looking for voices anymore; they're looking for the "one" who can actually win the whole thing. It’s getting cutthroat.
What Actually Happened During The Voice Season 26 Episode 4
The night kicked off with a level of energy that felt almost frantic. We’ve seen this show for years, but the dynamic between Snoop and Bublé continues to be the standout surprise of the season. Snoop is basically the "Uncle" of the set, offering wisdom while Bublé plays the role of the technical perfectionist. In this specific episode, the talent pool leaned heavily into indie-pop and soul, which put Gwen and Reba at odds more than once.
One of the biggest moments involved a singer who tackled a massive soul classic. You know the type. The kind of song where if you miss one note, the whole thing falls apart like a house of cards. When the four-chair turn finally happened, the room shifted. It wasn't just about the singing; it was about the coaches' pitches. Michael Bublé has this way of talking about "breath control" and "vocal placement" that makes him sound like a professor, while Snoop just looks at the artist and says, "I can make you a star." It’s a wild contrast.
The strategy this deep into the blinds is tricky. If you're a coach, you don't want to fill your team with ten people who all sound the same. If Reba already has three country powerhouses, she’s going to be much pickier in The Voice season 26 episode 4 than she was on night one. This led to some "no-turns" that honestly felt a bit unfair, but that’s the nature of the game. The talent was there, but the "lane" was already occupied.
The Snoop Dogg Factor
Can we talk about Snoop for a second? People expected him to be a gimmick. He isn't. In episode 4, he showed a depth of musical knowledge that clearly caught the other coaches off guard. He isn't just looking for rappers. He's looking for "soul." He used his Block early in the night, a move that felt aggressive but necessary. When you see someone you want, you take them. Period. He’s not here to make friends with Michael Bublé, even if their "bromance" is the talk of the internet.
The Standout Performances You Need to Re-watch
There was this one audition—a young woman from a small town with a voice that sounded like it had been filtered through a 1940s radio. It was haunting. Gwen Stefani was the first to turn, and you could see the look on her face. It was pure "I need this for my team." She’s always been the coach who values "uniqueness" over raw power. In The Voice season 26 episode 4, that’s exactly what she got.
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Then came the rockers. It feels like rock is making a mini-comeback this season. We had a guy with a raspy, gravel-filled tone that sounded like he’d been singing in dive bars for twenty years. He probably had. Reba was all over it. She knows how to market that kind of grit. The banter between her and Bublé over this specific contestant was top-tier TV. Bublé tried to argue that the singer needed "refinement," while Reba basically told him to be quiet because the "soul" was already there.
- The indie-pop singer who flipped a Billie Eilish track.
- The powerhouse gospel singer who made Snoop Dogg stand on his chair.
- A country duo that actually had harmony issues but still managed to snag a two-chair turn because of their "marketability."
It’s these kinds of nuances that make the fourth episode of any season a turning point. The coaches are tired, the stakes are higher, and the artists are realizing that the spots are disappearing fast.
Why the "Block" Changed Everything Tonight
The Block is a cruel tool. In The Voice season 26 episode 4, it was used with surgical precision. Imagine being an artist, seeing Michael Bublé turn around, and then realizing he can't even pitch for you because Gwen hit a button. It sucks. But for the viewer? It's great drama.
Gwen used her block against Reba, which felt like a strategic play to keep the "vocal divas" on her own team. It worked. The artist ended up picking Gwen, but you could tell Reba was genuinely annoyed. That’s the thing about this season—the coaches actually seem to care about winning. It doesn't feel like they're just there for the paycheck. They want the trophy.
Technical Mastery vs. Raw Emotion
One of the recurring themes in this episode was the debate between "perfect" singing and "emotional" singing. Michael Bublé is the king of perfection. He hears a flat note from a mile away. But Snoop and Reba? They’re looking for a feeling. There was a specific contestant who was technically all over the place—pitchy, rushed, a bit breathless—but they had this raw, vulnerable energy that forced a turn.
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This is the central conflict of The Voice season 26 episode 4. Do you pick the person you have to "fix," or the person who is already a pro? Bublé tends to go for the pros. Gwen goes for the weirdos (in a good way). Snoop goes for the heart. Reba goes for the story.
Watching how these philosophies collided during the deliberations was fascinating. When a four-chair turn happens, the coaches basically have to audition for the singer. It’s a total power flip. In episode 4, we saw a singer reject a "legend" like Reba in favor of Snoop, simply because Snoop spoke to their "vibe" more than Reba’s "pedigree."
What This Means for the Battle Rounds
We’re getting close. You can feel it. The teams are nearly full, and the coaches are starting to think about pairings. When you’re watching The Voice season 26 episode 4, you should be looking at the contestants not just as individuals, but as potential "Battle" opponents.
Who is Gwen going to pair that indie-girl with? If Snoop has two soul singers, is he going to make them fight it out early? These are the questions that keep the show interesting. The "Steals" are coming up soon, too. A singer who didn’t quite fit Michael Bublé’s team might be the perfect "steal" for Reba later on.
How to Evaluate the Contestants Moving Forward
If you’re a superfan trying to predict the winner, pay attention to the "edit." The singers who got a lot of backstory time in episode 4 are the ones the producers want you to care about. It’s not a conspiracy; it’s just how TV works. If we know about their grandmother’s struggle or their day job as a mechanic, we’re more likely to vote for them in the Lives.
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There were a few "montaged" singers in this episode—the ones where you only see thirty seconds of their performance. Usually, those folks don't make it very far. The real contenders are the ones who get the full intro package and the long, drawn-out coach pitches.
Final Thoughts on the Night
Episode 4 was a rollercoaster. It lacked the "shock" of the premiere but replaced it with a deeper sense of competition. The "newness" of Snoop and Bublé has worn off, and now they’re just coaches trying to win a game. It makes for better television because the niceties are starting to fade. They’re interrupting each other. They’re making snide comments about each other’s careers. It’s awesome.
If you missed it, go back and watch the soul singer from the middle of the pack. That’s my dark horse for the season. There’s something in that tone that feels like it could go all the way to the finale.
Next Steps for Fans
To get the most out of this season, start tracking the team rosters now. The dynamics shift quickly once the Battle Rounds begin, and knowing who is on whose team will help you spot the inevitable "steals." Watch the official social media clips for the "uncut" coach banter, as some of the best lines from Snoop and Bublé usually end up on the cutting room floor for the broadcast. Finally, pay attention to the song choices in the next few episodes; they often tip the coaches' hands regarding how they plan to market their artists in the later stages of the competition.