As The Voice Season 28 continues, fans are coming to terms with the news that Niall Horan won’t be returning as a coach for the next season.

The former One Direction star, who returned this season after a three-year hiatus, had previously promised that he would stay on the show “as long as he wasn’t fired,” making this announcement especially bittersweet for viewers.

Horan first joined the coaching panel in Season 23, quickly becoming a fan favorite and pulling off back-to-back wins before stepping back to focus on touring.

His return for Season 28 brought the same energy, though he admitted feeling nervous about coming back. In a recent social media video with co-star Michael Bublé, Horan said, “It’s a nerve-wracking experience… Are my pitching skills going to be up to standard?” Bublé, standing behind him with a poker face, gave a humorous but supportive pep talk, emphasizing to fans, “You better be nice.”

During his earlier tenure, Horan shared a close mentor-mentee relationship with country legend Blake Shelton, who has now retired from the show. Shelton frequently called Horan his “son” and hinted that the Irish singer was a worthy successor in the red chair. “I feel like Niall is going to take my seat on this show,” Shelton said in a compilation video by NBC. Horan, in turn, called Shelton “a beauty” and praised why the American public fell in love with him.

Despite the end of Horan’s coaching run, fans have shown overwhelming support on social media. “We love you Niall,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Michael is all of us Lovers! ❤️ You better be nice to him or else!”

Season 28 still promises excitement with the returning lineup of Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, and Reba McEntire. The season airs Mondays at 9/8c on NBC and next day on Peacock, as fans enjoy Horan’s final season in the coach’s chair.

The Voice Season 29 features some exciting format changes

Season 29, officially titled The Voice: Battle of Champions, is serving up a fresh format, game-changing new advantages, and the triumphant return of many Voice alums. For the first time ever, the show will feature a three-Coach showdown as the competition gets a major revamp to raise the stakes. From changes to the Coaches panel to the return of some iconic Artists from seasons past, Season 29 of The Voice promises to bring the heat in a hyper-charged competition.

The red chair shake-up isn’t the only change coming to The Voice for its highly-anticipated Season 29. Some of the other exciting format changes coming to The Voice: Battle of Champions include:

Triple Turn Competition: During the high-stakes Blind Auditions, the Coaches will attempt to score the most 3-Chair Turns. The Coach who wins will earn a special advantage in the Battles.
Super Steal: The Coach with the most 3-Chair Turns after the Blinds automatically earns a Super Steal for the Battles. This lets the Coach trump another Coach’s attempt to steal an Artist, securing their win.
In-Season All-Star Competition: During Knockouts, each Coach will bring back two Artists from their former teams to compete in the In-Season All-Star Competition. The selected veteran Artists will compete in head-to-head sing-offs. The Coach with the most sing-off wins is guaranteed a second Season 29 Artist in the Finale.
New voting for Semi-Finals and Finale: The Season 29 Semi-Finals and Finale will feature a new voting block comprised of super fans and past Voice Artists. This group will be in the in-studio audience during these rounds, voting for their favorites in real time.