Niall Horan is enjoying a strong start on The Voice season 28.
On Monday, September 22, the former One Direction star returned as a coach for the latest season of the singing competition, joining fellow coaches Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé.
The 32-year-old was able to secure some strong voices on the first day of auditions. Among them was singer-songwriter and actor Jack Austin, who made the bold decision to perform Horan’s song This Town from his 2016 debut solo single from his debut solo album Flicker.
And the decision paid off, with Horan even admitting he liked some aspects of Austin’s rendition better than the original.
“Always nerve-racking as a coach when someone auditions with your song but @jack.austin absolutely nailed it! Loved singing with him and am so happy to have him #TeamNiall,” Horan wrote on Instagram.
After welcoming Austin on his team, the Irish singer joined him on stage to perform the song together.
Horan was the first coach to secure their first team member. Aiden Ross, who was the very first audition of the new season, secured four chair turns, but ended up picking Horan.
Horan has been a coach on the show multiple times and has won twice.