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All five of The Voice’s finalists took a turn around the stage Tuesday night, but only one of them was doing a victory lap. Which? C’mon. You know the drill. Before we’d find out who won, we’d get a star-studded evening of entertainment, this one extra special owing to a celebration of the show’s 25th season featuring flashbacks galore. (Baby Adam Levine! Young Blake Shelton!)
Among the highlights of the guest performances were Thomas Rhett teaching a master class in how to nail fast singing on his new single “Beautiful as You,” Muni Long bringing the sultry on her viral hit “Made for Me” while surrounded by chandeliers I kept expecting to go all Phantom of the Opera, and The Black Keys adding the alt to pop-rock with “Beautiful People (Stay High).”
In hour No. 2, Yellowstone’s wild-eyed Lainey Wilson — remember Ryan’s country-singer girlfriend Abby? — really got the party started with her rollicking “Hang Tight, Honey” (after which Reba issued her official invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry). Kate Hudson proved that she’s as solid a singer as she is an actress on her ballad, “Glorious.” (On an unrelated note, her mod wedding dress was gorgeous, no?)
By and by, Season 23 winner Gina Miles gave what was touted as the first performance of her new single, a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”… even though she’d sung that same ballad in her season’s Playoffs. (Huh?) Carson Daly gave a shout-out to the late Debra Byrd and Ernie Fields Jr., who’d played integral roles in the music on The Voice over the years. And Jelly Roll performed “I’m Not OK” to let me know that his name is not just something that they’d make on the Great British Baking Show.
As for the coach/contestant duets, Dan + Shay’s team-up with Karen Waldrup on Lady A’s “You Look Good” sounded (damn) good, though I wouldn’t have minded if the contestant’s mic volume had been turned up a smidgen. On Joe Bonamassa’s version of “Feelin’ Good,” John Legend brought out the best in Bryan Olesen. (But why was the EGOT winner dressed like Fonzie?)
Later, Reba McEntire and Josh Sanders took us to church with a spirited rendition of Randy Houser’s “Back to God.” (I’m sure I’m going to hell for thinking it wasn’t nearly as much fun as his cover of Houser’s “Boots On.”) Next, she and Asher HaVon were kinda mismatched on Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s ’80s hit, “On My Own.” Aaand John and Nathan Chester blew the other duets clear off the stage with their version of “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Finally, in the moment of truth, Carson Daly announced that the audience had voted into…
Fifth Place
Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay)
Fourth Place
Nathan Chester (Team John Legend) — Nooo! Gutted!
Third Place
Bryan Olesen (Team John Legend)
Runner-Up
Josh Sanders (Team Reba McEntire)
Winner
Asher HaVon (Team Reba McEntire)
So, your thoughts about the results? And the season as a whole? Vote in the polls below, then read Asher’s take on the competition here.
Can someone explain to me how Nathan came in 4th??????
Mystified by this outcome but Asher was a deserving winner. I though Nathan had the win for sure.
My theory is he and Asher had all the same fans ( am one) and it came down to more choosing Asher to win and then he ended up in fourth because it.
It’s insane though. He should have been second.
I think he was always over hyped on here, sounding more like the next Broadway star than radio one. As much as John and some others might love the throwbacks, more wanted something a bit more modern. He also came off cheesy and too polished; not as sincere.
Personally I am surprised Karen didn’t rank higher.
Agreed
Agreed. Spot on.
Country vote was split, and Josh is clearly the more appealing artist.
Agreed. I thought Nathan and Karen were the two best.
No. There is no explanation
Agree that Nathan was a much better performer and so much more fun to watch.
Than Chester should have won!!!
First time a coach has placed 1st and 2nd?
Blake did it in season 3
The show was entirely too long. Would have enjoyed it more with just coaches and their singers singing on the stage. Too many other entertainers made it way too long. Took away from the 5 finalists……
Yes too many professional singers I didn’t care to see and lots of stuff about the coaches. Twenty Five years of the coaches where was anything showing the different winners of the Voice. The Voice always focuses on the coaches and not the contestants. In a two hour show how much time did the actual finalists have? The American Idol Finale is so much better.
The show, “The Voice” has always been about which coach can win with the best voice. That is why it is focused on how many seasons a coach has won. American Idol is all about the artist and developing the next “American Idol”. I watch both of them because I love music and love the variety of music on both shows. This year both shows were awesome!
Sorry to say, Bryan coming in ahead of Nathan is a total travesty. Top two should have been Nathan and Asher. I loved both of them so I’m happy that one of the truly deserving singers actually won.
IMO, the correct person won, but the finalist order was completely wrong.
It should’ve been:
1. Asher*
2. Nathan*
3. K Dub
4. Josh
…then Bryan (who should have been sent home weeks ago, tbh)
*Asher & Nathan were the MOST talented, and it could’ve gone either way between them.
That’s what I predicted it to be. Boy was wrong.
I agree.
Nathan came in 4th??!!! Who was voting?! Really happy for Asher but the rest of the results make no sense.
Bryan is an extremely likable guy who absolutely has talent. But to come in ahead of Karen and Nathan? Nope, I was surprised when Karen was announced as 5th. My jaw dropped when Nathan was announced as 4th. I hope I get to see him live in his post-Voice career. So happy for Asher! What a voice!
Nathan was robbed and should have placed higher. Bryan, ahead of Nathan and Karen, really wrong. I am ok with Asher winning; he needs some polish and hopefully will get to work with some quality people. Felt bad for Chance. I think all the pleasant girls cancelled each other out last week.
Thought it was a great season!! Reba and John rocked as coaches. Could not get past season 24, where there was amazing talent, especially Huntley. I am a 65+ senior rocker, who loves music. A whole evening of ballads that were not familiar with… well, just remember we vote too. Bryan was my guy, season25
Thrilled and happy for Asher.
Do not understand Nathan coming fourth AT ALL.
Loved seeing Gina Miles again and singing Wicked Game, love that she’s put out as a single.
Dang. How did Nathan come in 4th??? He should have been either 1st or 2nd. I’m happy for Asher though.
As soon as Nathan was revealed as being in 4th place, I got nervous about who was going to win. I was so sure he and Asher were going to be Top Two, and when he was in 4th, I was a bit concerned that neither of the two that I felt deserved Top Two were going to place that high.
Both Nathan and Asher cancelled each other out in the votes, were in similar lanes. And I believe same happened with the country duo. Leaving Bryan to soar in a lane all to himself.
Enjoyed the show tonight. Always tape it and start watching an hour in so I can fast forward through the ads and the “poor” performances.
Looking forward to Snoop Dog and Michael Buble next season
Both Nathan & Asher were good enough to deserve this win. They were the best by far.
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There’s an unwritten rule, which the coaches likely know well after 25 seasons: a black coach cannot win with a black singer.
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That explains why John was pushing the fab Asher, knowing the equally fab Nathan could not win with him. That explains why Chance chimed in to favor Asher, rather than Nathan. And why Chance gave up Noivas, 2 years ago, to Blake, just before Playoffs, expecting him to have a good chance to win with Shelton.
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In 25 turns, the only black coach to win with a black singer was Alicia Keys with the fab Chris Blue. Perhaps the fact that Alicia is such a class act made it work. Of course John is also classy, as was Usher & Pharrell; and while they have won, it was never with a black talent.
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Given that Josh came in second, I suspect most of Reba’s vote went to him. Thus it was John & Chance’s voters who gave Asher the edge. Which explains too, how Brian ended up with more than Nathan.
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As for Karen being last, no idea. I had her Top 3. I guess the country vote favored the guy.
Do you really think that many people vote by race? I don’t.
Just saying it’s enough of a factor that black coaches seem to realize a deserving black talent will need a white coach to win.
A black guy won and you are complaining because his coach wasn’t black. Some people are never satisfied. Asher had the best Voice, and he had the best coach, because she saw it from the start and held on tight. Brilliant!
I’m a White Southerner who likes all kinds of music. I am not complaining about Asher & Reba winning. I’m quite glad Asher won, I just slightly preferred Nathan. I did not care much for the other three; my other faves, Madison & Maddi Jane, were not in the Finale.
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What I was trying to do was figure out why John was pushing Asher instead of Nathan; and why Chance joined in. When I reviewed 25 seasons to check my hypothesis, it checked out. I feel it worth stating.
This explains alot. Thanks. I have always been frustrated with the fact that great, talented black contestants do not win or even place high in the Voice finale. I am happy with the Asher win but the only time I voted this season was for Nathan, but figured I was biased because he specialized in songs from my era!!
A lot of very talented white singers don’t win either.
Of course. While I do think it harder for black vocalists to get the win, I am usually happy with the show so long as most of the talented singers get to the few rounds.
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This time was unique bc, talent-wise, the top two were both black & male, imo. That probably meant neither would win, due people who liked their music & performances being a split vote.
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Given that, probably John & Chance decided best option for one of the deserving two to win was favoring just one. Their assessment may’ve been based on just this season. But I imagine it was informed by the longer history I surmised.
I appreciate your response. Likewise, only times I voted this season were for Nathan. I clicked with his vocals & his vitality. And yes, his songs were from my era too.
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The way John pushed Asher over his own super-talent was so out of character, that I believed there had to be a meaningful reason. My check of winning singers & coaches led to my inference. It helps explain Chance’s decision over Noivas 2 years ago & Nathan now.
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Sad to say, though. I wish it wasn’t so.
Interesting insight, glad you pointed out that “The Voice” is about which coach wins with who we think has the best voice.
Congratulations to Asher. I am happy for him.
I’m just very disappointed for everyone else.
I wish the rest of the artist the very best. Thank you for putting on a great show. :)
Karen and Nathan should have one and two.
Agreed! He should have been 1st or 2nd along with Karen!
First, Asher deserved the win hands down. Nathan is a great performer, vocal impressionist and singer in his own right but his cheesiness and inauthenticity was summed up in his faux exuberance for being named fourth runner up. “Let’s Go!!!!!”
I know he had what it yes 😏 😌 😉 ☺ 😊.
So glad Asher won!! His tone and range are amazing. Nathan should have been second, I enjoyed Bryan’s performances a lot but he didn’t have the voice Asher or Nathan have.
Person preference, IMHO Tae is a better country singer than Josh or Karen. But a lot of people seem to like the low gravely country style Josh has.
I thought the coaches were great this season. Chance had great insights and suggestions plus being a nice human being. I’m not a rap fan but really appreciated his approach.
Very disappointed that Nathan came in 4th, but if Nathan couldn’t win, then I’m happy Asher did.
I am happy that finally the Voice winner is a person of color! Year after year the best performer has been black or brown but never has won. Asher was a brilliant vocalist and cool performer!! (Btw I am a straight, white senior)
I didn’t realize it was about race. I thought it was talent and appeal.
The very first season there was a black winner.
There have been at least 5 POC winners of the Voice. (maybe one or 2 more depending on how people identify). The Voice does not treat all POC badly… just Black Women over the age of 30. There have been 4 men and Tessanne Chin as winners.
Yes, the show does do a good job of presenting diversity & advancing it into later rounds, so long as the singers are uber-talented. POC often seem among best & in strong running.
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The point I made is that, while POCs can win, it does not happen with black coaches. It seems to need a white coach to get them across to a win. Not to say a black coach cannot win; just not with a black singer. [Lone exception: Alicia w/Chris Blue]
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This year, the widely-perceived 2 best vocalists were both black & male. That meant, despite differing styles & emphases, these 2 likely had much overlap as to their music-appreciation voters. Neither would get close to winning. So, realizing John was unlikely to be able to win with Nathan, it was better to favor Asher, who already had a strong coach in Reba, & maybe get him to a win. It worked.
I’m same demographic. A white guy who likes all kinds of music. Each season, there are several people of color competing who bring variety to the show & sometimes, like this season, excellence. Ideally, The Voice is about vocal talent, not race or ethnicity. But at Playoffs, diversity always takes a hit. This season, 5 of the 8 cut, from 20 to 12, were non-white–2 black, 1 Hawaiian, 1 Asian duo, Still, that left 5 of the Top 12. So the show does a good job of presenting a variety of music genres, backgrounds, & styles. We can be glad that 2 made fhe Finals, especially bc they were the best 2, not just of the diverse 5 (of 12), but of Final 5.
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The problem for finale was, even if Nathan & Asher were best two vocalists, that 2 black male talents who performed from generally diff parts of pop music & even black music spectrum, would still generally overlap substantially in terms of audience appreciation–meaning voters. That is, they would undoubtedly split their vote.Head-to-head, they might only be 3rd & 4th at best. Which is why, I believe, there was the push to favor one, so that one of the two had a chance to actually win. Both John & Chance are probably aware a black singer has a much better chance of winning with a white coach. Which presumably explains why they both advocated for Asher.
Glad to see Reba get a win!
YAY!! So glad Asher won! He clearly deserved the win, & I send him good karma & prayers on his upcoming journey! Still scratching my head at how the others were placed, though, but good show! :)
Tired Jelly Roll joke is tired.
How long have you been sitting on that one?
Shocked that Nathan did not win, absolutely shocked and how Bryan finished about him is nuts!
Happy Asher won, but was rooting for Nathan, ever since he started singing back in the blinds!