The Voice Premiere Introduced Carson Daly’s Big Season 28 Twist, But Now I’ve Got More Questions

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Just a heads-up: this story contains details about the first episode of *The Voice* Season 28, which premiered on September 22nd. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it on Peacock with a subscription.

The popular singing competition *The Voice* has returned! Niall Horan and Michael Bublé are competing as coaches, hoping to outperform Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire. Before the season began, host Carson Daly hinted he’d have a new role to play, and that turned out to be true with the introduction of the “Carson Callback” in the first episode. Now that we know how this new twist works, it actually raises even more questions about the season!

How Does The Carson Callback Card Work?

Carson Daly had a noticeable reaction during the premiere when Ryan Mitchell, a 25-year-old singer, performed “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant. The host seemed upset that none of the judges turned their chairs, and even asked Michael Bublé why he hadn’t, with Bublé explaining that Mitchell’s distinctive voice had given him pause.

While Niall Horan was giving feedback and asked to hear more vocal range from Ryan Mitchell, Carson Daly quietly remarked, “That’s just how he sings the song.” Later, when Ryan met with his family and Carson Daly behind the scenes, Daly explained to him:

I’m feeling pretty frustrated right now. I feel like the coaches are missing something, and I have an idea that could help. Would you be open to going for a walk with me so I can explain?

Carson Daly recently shared that after 28 seasons of *The Voice*, he was frustrated by talented singers being overlooked, and the show rarely featured artists from genres like alternative rock – a type of performer like Ryan Mitchell. To address this, Daly created the “Carson Callback,” giving artists a second chance. He allowed Mitchell 24 hours to prepare a new song and audition again the following day. As Daly explained it:

This is your only chance, and based on what I just heard, I’m giving you the Callback card. I need you to choose a new song immediately. Ryan, you have 24 hours to get ready – this is your last opportunity, and I truly believe you can get one of the judges to turn their chair.

We can expect to see Ryan Mitchell return in Episode 2, which will air on September 23rd. I have a few questions about how that came about.

Why Didn’t The Voice Explain The Carson Callback Before The Host Used It?

The previews for Season 28 hinted at the ‘Carson Callback,’ but viewers didn’t know what it actually did. Many wondered if Carson Daly would be able to choose an artist for each team, or even save a singer later in the competition. It would have been better if *The Voice* had explained the rules beforehand, because Daly explained what the card did – and that he could only use it once this season – *after* he had already used it.

It’s good that Ryan Mitchell is coming back next week, but I wish *The Voice* had created more suspense. It would have been more exciting if they’d left us guessing whether this eliminated contestant would be saved by the host. Now that we know how the save card works, it feels like we won’t see it used again until the show’s next big changes in Season 29, which isn’t until February 2026.

I found Carson Daly’s phrasing about this being the artist’s “second and last chance” a little strange. Does that mean if he doesn’t make it through in the next episode, he’d be completely barred from auditioning in future seasons? That seems unlikely, so Daly probably just meant it’s his last chance to move forward *this season*. It’s simply how the competition is structured. I realize I’m focusing on a small detail, but the specific words used are important.

Watch NBC this Tuesday, September 23rd, at 8 p.m. Eastern to see if Ryan Mitchell impresses during the first-ever Carson Callback. We’ll also find out more about why *The Voice*’s major Season 28 surprise ended so quickly after it began.

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2025-09-23 10:08