Huntley, a soulful rock singer from Fredericksburg, Virginia, was crowned the winner of Season 24 of NBC’s hit singing competition The Voice on Tuesday night. The finale came down to Huntley and runner-up Ruby Leigh, a country-pop singer from Missouri.
Background on Huntley and His Voice Journey
Huntley grew up in Fredericksburg and started playing guitar and writing songs when he was 13 years old. However, he put his musical dreams on hold for many years while working as an arborist to support his family.
Earlier this year, Huntley’s 6-year-old daughter Stella convinced him to audition for The Voice, wanting her dad to share his “beautiful voice” with the world. Huntley wowed the judges with his raspy, bluesy vocals in the Blind Auditions, choosing pop star Niall Horan as his coach.
The Final Five Vie For The Title
Heading into Tuesday’s star-studded finale, Huntley was one of the Final Five performers still in contention:
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntley | 28 | Fredericksburg, VA | Niall Horan |
| Ruby Leigh | 17 | Purdy, MO | Blake Shelton |
| bodie | 29 | Los Angeles, CA | Blake Shelton |
| Morgan Myles | 35 | Nashville, TN | Camila Cabello |
| Omar Jose Cardona | 33 | Orlando, FL | John Legend |
The two-hour finale featured duets between the contestants and music superstars, including Dan + Shay, Teddy Swims, andkeith Urban. Each finalist also got to debut an original single.
Huntley’s Daughter Helps Secure His Win
A major twist unfolded during the Final Five performances on Monday night’s show. At one point, all of the contestants’ family members joined them on stage, including Huntley’s scene-stealing daughter Stella.
When host Carson Daly asked Stella who she was picking to win The Voice, the 6-year-old confidently yelled “Huntley!” into the mic. Stella’s vote of support for her dad clearly resonated with viewers and foreshadowed Huntley’s victory.
Her endorsement was especially impactful considering that all of Season 24’s contestants were incredibly talented, making it a very close race. Huntley later gave Stella credit, saying “That was the moment I was like, ‘I think I’ve got a shot at winning this now.’”
Huntley Sings With Creed, Wows With Original Song
For his finale duet, Huntley sang Creed’s hit “Higher” alongside contestant bodie and Creed lead singer Scott Stapp. Their powerful performance earned a standing ovation from the coaches. Huntley also sang his moody original track “Where We Come From” during the show.
Horan praised Huntley’s artistry, saying “Everything from the way you move onstage to the way you sing — it’s just so current…You look and sound like a huge rock star.”
An Emotional Moment As The Winner Is Crowned
After all of the incredible performances, it was finally time for host Carson Daly to announce the Season 24 champion of The Voice. In a tense moment, Daly declared Huntley the winner, leading to raucous applause and cheers from the studio audience.
A visibly emotional Huntley hugged runner-up Ruby Leigh before embracing his proud coach, Niall Horan. Through tears, Huntley thanked fans for supporting his The Voice journey. Horan also got choked up, overjoyed that his second straight victory with Huntley.
The win was particularly poignant given everything Huntley has overcome, from putting his dreams aside to be there for his family to getting the courage to audition thanks to his daughter’s encouragement. He said the show “gave me the opportunity to get my voice back.”
Huntley Receives Wave of Support From Voice Family
Following his triumphant win, Huntley was inundated with congratulatory messages from The Voice coaches, contestants, and celebrity fans:
- Departed contestant Tom Nitti wrote on Instagram: “YOU did it my friend!!! Congrats on the huge win & making history on @nbcthevoice stage! It has been amazing to take this ride with you & witness your growth…”
- Coach John Legend tweeted: “Much love to @huntleymusic!!! Congratulations on winning @NBCTheVoice!!”
- Pop star Charlie Puth also tweeted his praise: “YES Huntley!!!”
- Model Hailey Bieber posted an Instagram story gushing: “Yay Huntley!!! Congrats @huntleymusic.”
The outpouring of support shows just how many lives Huntley touched with his extraordinary talent and perseverance.
What’s Next For The Voice Champion?
As The Voice winner, Huntley receives a recording contract and $100,000 from the show. He now embarks on an exciting new chapter as a rising artist, starting work on his first album.
Huntley also has some very high-profile gigs on the horizon. He is set to sing the national anthem at the Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots football game on January 8th, which will air on CBS. And on February 12th, Huntley will perform at the Super Bowl LVII pre-game festivities in Glendale, Arizona.
With his soulful voice and personal story of overcoming adversity, Huntley has clearly resonated with The Voice viewers. Now America will get to see this inspiring small-town musician share his gifts with the entire world. Season 24 winner Huntley has a bright future ahead as his career sets sail.
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