The Voice coaches Dan + Shay perform their hit 'Speechless' with contestant

The series' first-ever coaching duo make an impression in the season 25 premiere.

The big news headed into season 25 of The Voice is that this season features the show’s first coaching duo. And who better to have the honor of sitting in the double red chairs first than Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay? While they may be the new kids on the coaching block, alongside returning coaches John Legend, Reba McEntire, and Chance the Rapper, the guys certainly got a warm welcome during the first night of Blind Auditions when one contestant performed the Dan + Shay hit “Speechless.” 

Ryan Argast, 30, knew it would be “a massive risk” to sing an iconic Dan + Shay song to Dan + Shay, but the rocker frontman from Plainfield, Ill., looked at it as a “go big or go home” moment. He wanted to show off his storytelling ability, the way he can make any song his own, and evoke some real emotion on stage — he felt he could do all of that with “Speechless.” 

THE VOICE -- "Coach Performance" -- Pictured: (l-r) Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay.

Tyler Golden/NBC

When he first starts to sing, you can see both Dan and Shay are pretty flattered to have a contestant choose one of their songs. They go back and forth throughout the first chorus, but eventually Dan says “I think we should go for it” and Shay slams the button. Unsurprisingly, they’re the only coaches to turn — who wants to go up against the coaches Ryan is clearly a fan of? You’d be setting yourself up for the L.

After the performance, Dan + Shay applaud Ryan’s song choice and note that his big risk paid off. They loved that Ryan made the song his own in certain sections, and pointed out how strong Ryan is in his upper register, where the song really soared. It’s a big love fest between the three guys, so much so that John suggests the pair get up on stage and sing a little of their song with Ryan — which they do! They honestly sound great as a trio. Shay does a little adlibbing by singing, “I’m speechless that we got you and nobody else did.” It’s a great moment for Ryan and the perfect way to welcome the newest Voice coaches to the show. 

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

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