Huntley from Team Niall Horan wins The Voice season 24
Huntley, a 33-year-old soulful rock singer from Fredericksburg, Virginia, was crowned the winner of The Voice Season 24 on Tuesday night, December 19. The victory awards him a cash prize and a recording contract with Republic Records. Known for his raspy, emotive voice and commanding stage presence, Huntley emerged as the season’s champion after a run that resonated with both viewers and the show’s coaching panel.
Immediately following his win, Huntley was slated to appear at the weekend’s NFL matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers. Streaming exclusively on Peacock, the game’s coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET; Huntley is scheduled to open the broadcast with the National Anthem and deliver a special halftime performance, marking an early high-profile engagement as he begins life after the competition.
This season’s finale featured a competitive field of finalists. Huntley’s Team Niall stable included Mara Justine, who finished in third place. Other finalists were Lila Forde from Team John Legend, who placed fifth, and Reba McEntire’s duo of Ruby Leigh and Jacquie Roar, who finished second and fourth, respectively. Notably, all five finalists earned four-chair turns during their blind auditions, underscoring the depth of talent in Season 24.
“Ruby [Leigh] is so talented and I think that she is a force to reckon with”
After the announcement, Huntley spoke with ET’s Deidre Behar, expressing surprise and gratitude at the outcome. He praised runner-up Ruby Leigh, calling her “so talented” and “a force to reckon with,” and said that standing alongside her in the final felt right. When his name was declared, Huntley admitted he was genuinely stunned by the win.
Ruby Leigh finished the season as the runner-up, earning widespread praise for her performances throughout the competition.
Huntley repeatedly credited his coach, Niall Horan, for steady support throughout the competition. He highlighted Horan’s commitment — balancing a global career while staying engaged with Huntley’s progress — and said he deeply respects the guidance he received. Horan’s coaching streak now includes consecutive wins on the show, following last season’s victory with teen singer Gina Miles.
Following the win, Huntley said he plans to pause briefly to absorb the moment before returning to work. He reflected on the personal costs and rewards of the experience, noting that the process spanned roughly six months and kept him away from his children during crucial stages of their development. Still, he emphasized that the sacrifice has been worthwhile and that he is hungry to build a sustained music career. He recalled John Legend telling him he could see Huntley performing in arenas worldwide — a vision Huntley says he is determined to realize.
A look back at Huntley’s impressive run on The Voice
Huntley’s journey on The Voice began with a powerful blind audition: his rendition of the Black Crowes’ “She Talks to Angels” turned every coach’s chair. He chose Team Niall and continued to stand out in subsequent rounds. In the battle rounds he teamed with Brailey Lenderman for a duet of Hootie & the Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand.” In a tightly contested three-way knockout, he delivered a standout take on Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
During the playoffs, Huntley offered an emotional performance of David Kushner’s “Daylight,” dedicating it to his daughter and securing his place in the Top 12. His first live show featured The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” which advanced him to the semifinals. Subsequent performances included a trio rendition of Taylor Swift’s “exile” with Lila Forde and Mac Royals, and a rousing version of KALEO’s “Way Down We Go.”
On the final week of live shows, Huntley demonstrated versatility with an up-tempo take on Creed’s “Higher” and a more intimate performance of Tom Odell’s “Another Love.” In the moments before the crowning, he and Niall Horan shared a heartfelt duet of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” a poignant lead-in to his eventual victory.
Huntley’s performances accumulated 46.6 million views across The Voice pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube
Huntley’s performances resonated widely on social media this season. Across The Voice’s official platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube — his clips amassed a combined 46.6 million views, reflecting strong public interest and engagement with his journey.
Huntley’s musical roots trace back to childhood: he was singing and impersonating Elvis by age four and decided at 14 that he wanted to pursue music. He moved to Nashville after two years of college but eventually returned to Virginia after the rigors of trying to break in professionally took their toll. He became a father in 2016 and again in 2021, and his experience growing up without a relationship with his own father has driven him to be present in his children’s lives. Since 2022, Huntley has worked as a booking agent for musicians while also performing locally; now, with momentum from The Voice win, he’s returned to full-time touring and gigging across Virginia.