On May 21, the NBC show The Voice crowned Asher HaVon—a 31-year-old soulful gospel and R&B artist from Selma, Alabama—as its champion.
HaVon is the first openly LGBTQ+ winner on the show, according to an NBCUniversal press release.
Other finalists this season included teammate Josh Sanders from Team Reba (Reba McEntire), Bryan Olesen and Nathan Chester from Team Legend (John Legend), and Karen Waldrup from Team Dan + Shay.
In his blind audition, HaVon showed off his gospel-choir roots with a rendition of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” which had Reba, Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay campaigning for him to join their respective teams. On his way to the finals, HaVon performed songs such as Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome),” Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You” and Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.”
Following her first win, McEntire will return for season 26 of the show alongside new coaches Snoop Dogg and Michael Buble as well as returning coach Gwen Stefani.