Reba McEntire held back tears as she used her save on The Voice, giving an emotional contestant another chance — and he promised to make her proud in return.
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During the Battle Rounds, Austin Gilbert and Rob Cole went head-to-head with a duet performance of Blake Shelton’s “Honeybee.”
Austin Gilbert is getting another shot at The Voice — and it’s all thanks to Reba McEntire.
On the Monday, Oct. 13 episode, Gilbert faced off against Rob Cole, his fellow member of Team Bublé, during the Battle Rounds. The pair delivered a heartfelt duet of Blake Shelton’s “Honeybee”, each hoping to secure a spot in the next stage of the competition.
Coach Michael Bublé ultimately chose Cole as the winner, sending Gilbert home — or so it seemed. Holding back tears, Gilbert expressed his gratitude, saying, “I never thought I’d be here. Thank you guys so much.”
But as he turned to say goodbye, Reba McEntire hit her one and only “save,” stunning everyone — including Gilbert, who immediately dropped to his knees in disbelief.
“Austin, your enthusiasm, your big heart, and that beautiful voice,” said the country icon, 70, visibly emotional. “You’re a cowboy — and I’m so thrilled that you’re now part of Team Reba.”
After using her save, Reba McEntire rose from her chair to embrace Austin Gilbert in an emotional hug. Through tears, Gilbert thanked the country legend for “making my dreams come true.”
“I loved everything about Austin,” McEntire later said. “He has this childlike spirit about him. I just loved his voice — that’s why I wanted to steal him. I think he’s going to do really well on my team.”
Backstage, the heartwarming moment continued. As the country star joined Gilbert for a brief exchange, he told her, “I’m going to make you proud, ma’am,” to which McEntire replied with a smile, “I don’t have one doubt in my mind.”
Earlier in the night, Michael Bublé, 50, had praised both of his contestants before making his difficult choice. “They’re both amazing country singers,” he said, explaining that he ultimately chose Rob Cole, whom he described as “a versatile, charismatic artist” and “my country superstar.”
Following the show, a touching clip posted to Instagram captured Cole waiting backstage to congratulate Gilbert. The two shared a heartfelt hug as Gilbert exclaimed, “She saved me, dude!”
Cole captioned the post: “Nothing fake about this friendship, or this dude’s heart. Couldn’t have asked for a better Battle matchup! #TeamReba got a good one! Super proud to have shared the stage with @austingilbertmusic, and super grateful to keep representing #TeamBuble!”