Alexia Jayy Makes History as First Black Woman to Win ‘The Voice’ in 15 Years—See Her Journey
The Alabama singer's powerful voice and emotional performances captivated coaches and fans alike
Key Takeaways
- Alexia Jayy became the first Black woman to win 'The Voice' in the shows 15-year history.
- Jayy's Adele cover of "One and Only" in the finale moved judge John Legend to tears.
- Jayy takes home a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract with Universal Music Group.
Voice fans listen up! There’s a brand new winner in town, and she’s got something that both viewers and the coaches are loving. That’s right, we’re talking about Alexia Jayy, who won The Voice: Battle of Champions last night. But, before you start celebrating, you might want to learn a little bit more about Jayy, including which of her cover songs made the judges weep. Read on for more.
Get to know Alexia Jayy
Jayy is an R&B singer and songwriter from Irvington, Alabama. She was born on October 20, 1993 and has been a frontrunner on The Voice since her blind audition secured her the first “Triple Chair Turn” of the season. She then continued to climb, and was even praised by her coach Adam Levine during the show’s knockround for her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “You Give Good Love.”
“Normally it’s a bold move to do Whitney, but there is no singer that Whitney is in better hands with — Alexia is special,” Levine said during rehearsal.
Judge Kelly Clarkson agreed with that, saying, “Alexia, you are literally so good. It’s like if Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill’s voices had a baby.”
Both of those remarks meant a lot to Jayy, who revealed to Levine that Houston is one of the many artists she looks up to.
“Her songs were some of the songs that my mom made me sing as a kid. It’s like a full-circle moment,” the singer reflected. “I believe my mom did see potential in me very early. When I was little, she used to put me in different talent shows.”
A recap of Alexia Jayy’s ‘Voice’ win
Eventually, after many weeks of competition, Jayy made it to the finale and decided to perform “One and Only” by Adele, which judge John Legend said had everyone “weeping.”
“We’re just proud of you, honestly,” Legend continued. “You’ve just been remarkable every single time and you’ve just been a blessing to all of us.”
After singing “One and Only,” Jayy was eventually named The Voice: Battle of Champions winner. She is the first Black woman to win the competition in its 15-year history.
“You make people reflect on their own life. When you tap into that, you make the world feel a little bit more together and communal,” Levine told her. “That’s really, really, really special. I’ve never experienced the feeling we all just had together. Thank you for being the messenger, you’re unbelievable.”
Clarkson was also super excited for Jayy:
“You’re like a vessel. Girl, that was so good, and you felt it … That was like a therapeutic release my heart needed, thank you. And, look, I love Adele, she’s one of my favorite singers, but damn. Just promise me this—never cover my songs.”
What does ‘The Voice’ winner get?
Now that Jayy has won The Voice: Battle of Champions, she will get a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract with Universal Music Group.
“I feel great. I’m excited,” Jayy told USA Today. “I’m still processing it all right now, so get back to me in 20 minutes.”
Jayy, along with her coach Levine, will also get a trophy and, of course, bragging rights.
“It’s been a while, so I almost forgot what it felt like to win The Voice. This is a beautiful reminder, and what better person to win it with than Alexia. She’s ridiculous, so insanely talented,” Levine told USA Today, “I’ve been around a long time, and as talented as you are, just the person that you are, that’s the best part.”
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