The Battles round of The Voice Season 28 is already giving fans a taste of the high-energy duels to come.

On Reba McEntire’s team, two powerhouse country singers, Aubrey Nicole and Cori Kennedy, delivered a sizzling duet of Somethin’ Bad, a song originally made famous by Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert.

The performance, part of an early-release preview, shows why both singers have emerged as some of the season’s top contenders.

For the first time in Battles history, artists were allowed to choose their duet partners while coaches selected the song — a twist that added a strategic layer and showcased the chemistry between Aubrey and Cori. From the first note, the pair commanded the stage, delivering a high-energy performance that balanced rapid-fire lyrics with harmonies that highlighted their individual strengths.

The technical difficulty of Somethin’ Bad cannot be understated. The song features near-rap verses, quick phrasing, and high-energy vocal runs, requiring both stamina and precision. Fans quickly took to social media to praise the duo, noting how they “nailed it” despite the song’s demanding pace.

Many highlighted Cori Kennedy’s strong, slightly raspy tone reminiscent of Miranda Lambert and her ability to connect emotionally with the song, while Aubrey Nicole was praised for her controlled vocal runs and stage charisma. Comments ranged from “Battle of the Superstars!!!” to “perfect 10,” emphasizing the intensity and excitement of the performance.

The coaches were equally impressed. John Legend lauded the pair for their commanding presence and visual energy, praising Aubrey’s vocal control and Cori’s smooth, emotionally resonant delivery. Reba McEntire called the performance “fantastic,” noting Cori’s vocal versatility and Aubrey’s confidence and mastery over the stage.

Chance the Rapper described the duet as “explosive,” highlighting Aubrey’s transformation since the Blind Auditions and Cori’s powerhouse R&B-infused delivery. Niall Horan described it as “very special,” emphasizing Cori’s high notes and Aubrey’s individuality and flair.

Fans online couldn’t contain their excitement. Social media was flooded with reactions such as “off the charts amazing,” “all I can say is WOW,” and “these two should just become a duo.”

Many viewers expressed admiration for how the singers made the song their own, transforming a fast-paced, high-energy hit into a showcase of vocal prowess and stage charisma. Some speculated on who would advance, with early commenters noting that Cori seemed to have the edge, but Aubrey’s performance would make her a candidate for a future “Steal” when the episodes air.

What Coaches said

Snoop praised McEntire for finding diamonds in the rough. “You always find people that you see something in them and once we get a chance to hear them after they sat with you, we see and hear the excellence,” he pointed out. “Y’all made something bad something good.” He did add, though, that he would’ve picked Cori as the winner.

Horan said he loved how he could still hear the ladies’ individual voices, even when they were singing together. “Someone I don’t think we have a lot of is Cori,” he admitted. “That’s not to say Aubrey isn’t 11/10, it’s just where I would lean.”

McEntire picked Cori as the winner. “I had to choose Cori because she’s real country, she’s got that grit, she’s feisty, she’s powerful,” she revealed. However, she also pushed her button to Save Aubrey, and then Snoop hit his Steal button.

“Aubrey just performed her ass off,” he said. “I actually said Cori [as the winner] so [McEntire] would pick Cori and I could take [Aubrey]. So half the plan worked.” McEntire told Aubrey to stay on her team “because we’re having fun and I know your potential.”

Aubrey did just that, opting to stick it out with McEntire instead of switching teams.