Huntley on winning Season 24 of ‘The Voice’ with coach Niall Horan: ‘I did not once think that I was going to win’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Season 24 of “The Voice” ended Tuesday, December 20 with host Carson Daly announcing Huntley as the winner. The 33-year old gave coach Niall Horan his second victory, keeping him undefeated and making the “Slow Hands” singer just the third coach to win two seasons back-to-back (Blake Shelton won Seasons 2-5 and Kelly Clarkson‘s team took the top spot in Seasons 14 and 15). Watch our exclusive video interview with Huntley above.
“I know I’m 33 and Ruby is 16, but that girl can sing and she’s a super mega-talent,” Huntley says. “I did not once think that I was going to win this thing. As soon as my name got called I was definitely surprised. The father in me remembered Ruby was up there with me. I know what it’s like being that 16-year old kid with all that talent and it not going the way I want it to. I didn’t want her to feel alone up there because she really deserved to be a winner too.”
The Virginia native says there was never any question who his daughter Stella would choose as his coach following his Blind Audition. “She definitely was going Niall no matter what I said,” he admits. “I told her, ‘I want you to remember all the nice things they said about dad,’ and she was like, ‘Nial!’ But let me tell you, dude is the real deal. I’m super grateful. If it wasn’t for his song choices at the end I don’t know if I would have pulled it through.”
Huntley’s next stop will be at this weekend’s Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers football game, where he’ll perform the National Anthem and give a halftime performance. “That’s insane!” he exclaims. Although he’s performed the anthem at a local barbecue place, he admits he’s never sang for an audience quite this large. “It’s one of my favorite songs to sing, though, so it’s gonna be cool.”
Finishing in second place was coach Reba McEntire‘s country singer Ruby Leigh, followed by Mara Justine from Team Niall in third, Jacquie Roar from Team Reba in fourth and Lila Forde from Team John Legend in fifth.
Below is Huntley’s song list for Season 24 performances:
Blind Audition Song: “She Talks to Angels”
Battle Song: “Hold My Hand”
Knockout Song: “Wanted Dead or Alive”
Playoff Song: “Daylight”
Quarter-Finals: “With a Little Help From My Friends”
Semi-Finals Song: “Way Down We Go”
Finals Song (Up-Tempo): “Higher”
Finals Song (Ballad): “Another Love”