After 25 seasons, ’The Voice’ finally has an out queer winner

For the first time in The Voice’s 13-year run, America’s favorite voice belongs to an out and proud queer singer.

On Tuesday, the competition crowned Asher HaVon, a 31-year-old singer from Selma, Alabama, the winner of its 25th season. At the finale, HaVon paid tribute to two iconic divas with renditions of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” and Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” before taking home the title — all while rocking fabulously sparkly suits and a perfectly beat face.

Entertainment with an edge

Whether you’re into indie comics, groundbreaking music, or queer cinema, we’re here to keep you in the loop twice a week.

After his victory, HaVon told Entertainment Tonight what representing for queer folks means to him.

“I am so proud to be a part of that community, and I just pray that everything that I’ve done on this show have inspired them all, that they can do the same thing,” HaVon said.

Related:

A lesbian version of this popular dating show is almost here

“I Kissed A Girl,” the sapphic version of “I Kissed A Boy,” finally has a release date — and an iconic new narrator.

‘P-Valley’ welcomes 7 new faces to the Pynk for season 3

Before the doors to the Pynk open up for season three of “P-Valley,” here are the newcomers to Chucalissa, Mississippi’s premiere strip club.

HaVon’s win also marked the first victory for his coach Reba McEntire, who invited HaVon to join her team after his audition performance of “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele.

“My heart was filled with so much gratitude and to look at Reba and to see her excitement, it was everything,” Havon added.

On Instagram, HaVon celebrated his win with a post thanking his fans and his coach.

“I am truly humbled and grateful for this moment,” HaVon wrote. “Thank you to Mama Reba. You have changed my life and created a milestone in my life that I will have forever. I am your son for life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Asher HaVon (@asherohavon)

HaVon is the first Voice winner to be out during the competition, but he’s not the show’s first queer winner. That title goes to Season 8 winner Sawyer Fredericks, who won in 2015 but came out as bisexual in 2022.

“Since I have not publicly said this in a post, I wanted [to] say that I am Bisexual,” Fredericks wrote on Instagram at the time. “When I was younger I thought I was straight, because I was more attracted to women, and I didn’t know there were more options besides Gay and Straight. So I just assumed I was Straight.”

“I am privileged and have never been discriminated against for my sexuality or ashamed of it. I’m truly sorry for any of you who have been, and I hope it gets better,” he continued. “I’ll probably lose some fans over this post, but that’s fine with me.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sawyer Fredericks (@sawyerfrdrx)

Don't forget to share: