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Who Will Win on ‘The Voice’ Season 24?

It’s down to the final five singers on the hit competition reality show

Edna Gundersen,

AARP

Published December 15, 2023

The top 5 finalists on "The Voice" Season 24

(Left to right) Jacquie Roar, Lila Forde, Ruby Leigh, Mara Justine and Huntley

Trae Patton/NBC

After months of blind auditions, knockouts, playoffs, blocks, steals and saves on NBC’s The Voice, only five remain standing at the microphone. On Dec. 19, one will be anointed its newest champion, as Season 24 ends what is perhaps the most competitive run in the quadruple Emmy-winning series’ 12-year history.

On Dec. 11, nine semifinalists sang solo and formed trios to cover Taylor Swift hits. The next night, the four with the most fan votes were unveiled and automatically advanced to the finals: Lila Forde, Huntley, Ruby Leigh and Mara Justine. The remaining five competed for the fifth spot, won by Jacquie Roar after singing Heart’s “Alone.”

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The season finale will unfold on NBC over two nights, kicking off Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with the top five singing for votes one last time. On Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the results will be announced, and viewers will be treated to a star-studded musical revue with performances by Earth, Wind & Fire (who are reviving their “Heart & Soul 2024” tour with Chicago in July), Keith Urban (56), AJR, 2024 Grammy nominees Jelly Roll and Tyla, and Dan + Shay — who will be the reality show’s first coaching duo when Season 25 debuts on Feb. 26.

Expect duets by the finalists with current coaches John Legend, Gwen Stefani (54), Niall Horan and first-timer Reba McEntire (68). The coaches also plan a rendition of “Let It Show.” And the top 12 singers will gather for a group performance.

"The Voice" Season 24 judges John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan

(Left to right) John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan

Trae Patton/NBC

The winner gets $100,000 and a record contract with Universal Music Group, but no guarantee of a ride up the charts. That’s up to fate and fickle fans.

The Voice has yet to deliver a title holder with the sales clout and staying power of such American Idol alumni as Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood or Adam Lambert.

Could that change this year? While the show’s coaches typically overpraise contestants, this season they seem genuinely impressed by uniform excellence across the field.

“The depth of the talent this season is better than I’ve ever seen it on this show since I’ve been here,” Legend, judging his eighth season, told Entertainment Tonight after the semifinals.

Huntley, the only male hopeful, is the one I’d most like to see win, and also my wild guess as the likeliest winner. And I’m not the only one. The Voice viewers who voted on the popular entertainment awards prediction site Gold Derby rated Huntley as the probable winner, followed by Ruby Leigh, with Mara Justine a distant third and the rest way behind. So perhaps Horan, coach for Huntley and Mara, has better odds for bragging rights than Ruby’s coach McEntire.

Here are quick snapshots of the finalists, so you can get ready for the final episode of the season:

Lila Forde (Coach: Legend)

"The Voice" Season 24 finalist Lila Forde smiles while onstage

Trae Patton/NBC

She studied jazz voice, performs at farmers markets, malls and hotels, and raised $16,000 in a Kickstarter campaign to finance a planned debut album. The 25-year-old Seattle singer — who turned down an offer to be on American Idol — wowed Voice fans with her takes on Joni Mitchell’s “River” and John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.”

Huntley (Coach: Horan)

Trae Patton/NBC

The Virginia rocker and father of two is a booking agent who formerly performed with a band called Lucys Letdown. He released a debut single, “Holdin’ On,” in 2022 and performs widely in Virginia. All four coaches turned their chairs when Huntley, 33, sang the Black Crowes’ “She Talks to Angels.”

Ruby Leigh (Coach: McEntire)

"The Voice" Season 24 finalist Ruby Leigh

Trae Patton/NBC

At 16, Leigh is this season’s youngest competitor, and already a seasoned country singer. The Foley, Missouri resident has performed with Vince Gill, the Time Jumpers, Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee. She won over the coaches by singing and yodeling Linda Ronstadt’s “Long, Long Time.”

Mara Justine (Coach: Horan)

Trae Patton/NBC

The New Jersey singer, 21, won her first singing contest at age 9 with a take on Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All.” At age 12, she reached the top 12 on America’s Got Talent. And at 16, she made it to the top 14 on American Idol. “You’re an amazing star already,” Stefani gushed after Justine sang “You’ve Got the Love” by Florence and the Machine. “I think you have what it takes to be a live performer.”

Jacquie Roar (Coach: McEntire)

"The Voice" Season 24 finalist Jacquie Roar

Casey Durkin/NBC

The Oregon-based belter owns a wedding DJ company and is in a band that plays bars, weddings, casinos and festivals. Roar, 37, released her solo single, “Fire on the Mountain,” in June and was in a band, Lace + Thorn, that released six singles between 2019 and 2022. McEntire dubbed Roar “the complete package.”

Edna Gundersen, a regular AARP music critic, was the longtime pop critic for USA Today.

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