Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His audition: Rob Cole, 34, Pembroke, N.C., performed “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapleton: Rob, who failed to turn a chair in a previous audition in front of the coaches, is back for a second try at The Voice, saying he’s been performing relentlessly since then. He delivered a solid vocal from the first note. He got quick chair turns from Reba McEntire and Michael Buble. And then came the surprise: Michael blocked Reba, knowing his odds of landing a country artist like Rob would drop dramatically if he had to battle her. Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg complimented Rob’s audition as well.

Here’s more about Rob:

* He’s from Pembroke, N.C., and auditioned for Season 25, which aired in the spring of 2024, but failed to turn a chair. He was 32 at the time of his audition.

* Rob performed Billy Currington’s “Must Be Doin’ Something Right.” And though they failed to turn, the coaches agreed that he did do something right. John Legend praised his rich tone and “welcoming vibe.” Reba McEntire indicated that she probably would have turned if she didn’t already have three male country singers on her team.

* In an Instagram post after the audition aired, Rob thanked the show for the opportunity and the coaches for their kind words. “I truly hope to be back,” he wrote. Sounds like he made it.

* And the fact that he failed to turn a chair certainly didn’t deter Rob from pursuing his passion. According to his Spotify bio, Rob played more than 140 shows in 2024, mostly in North Myrtle Beach and across North Carolina.

* He also earned awards for vocalist of the year and song of the year at the 2024 Josie Music Awards in Nashville, which celebrate the best in independent music.

* Rob describes himself as a singer-songwriter who mixes country storytelling with grit and soul.

* He’s released four songs since The Voice. The latest, “58 Hours,” came out in June. Rob describes it as “a weekend anthem for the ones who earn their good times the hard way.” Check out the lyric video below.

* Pre-Voice, he’s released lots of music, including an album called “Something Real” in 2017 and a live album in 2020.

* During his Voice bio segment, Rob said he grew up around music. In fact, his parents ran a music store.

* But he added that no one knew he could sing until he posted a YouTube cover near the end of his senior year in high school. He started pursuing a country music career in 2022.

* Rob is married with three children.

Editor’s Note: Monday was reveal day for contestants on The Voice Season 28. Keep checking back daily for more profiles of contestants from the upcoming season.

Rob on social media:
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