The Voice winner Asher HaVon has revealed the heartbreaking moment during the grueling reality show experience that made him cry, while opening up about what it really felt like to be crowned the season 25 victor.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Asher, 31, of Selma, Alabama, opened up about her win and gushed about the many lessons she learned from her star country singer coach, Reba McEntire, throughout the process.
But while the gospel singer praised the music legend, he confessed that there was one part of his experience on the show that he really struggled with: the elimination rounds.
When asked if there was any aspect of the show he wouldn’t miss, Asher was quick to draw attention to the elimination process and the “pain” he felt watching his fellow contestants get sent home.
‘Having to watch the people you’ve become so close with go home…’ shared Asher, who ended her run on The Voice with a performance of Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s On My Own.
The Voice winner Asher HaVon has revealed the heartbreaking moment during the grueling reality show experience that left him in tears.
Asher, 31, from Selma, Alabama, was victorious in the season 25 finale alongside his coach, country legend Reba McEntire.
‘They have the same dream. You had the same ambition, the same drive. They got up early like you. They practiced hard like you. You’ve seen them put the work in and then it’s over.
‘That hurts. I cried. I cried a lot. Literally every round. They really were, are truly my friends.
Speaking about his win, which took him to victory over fellow Reba trainer Josh Sanders, who finished in second place, Asher said he believes it was his unwavering “belief” in himself that helped him reach the top spot. .
“I would just say what’s for you is for you, really,” he said. “I truly believe that what is for you is for you and will come come hell or high water.” And I know there are long odds all the time, but if you really believe in who you are and what you are, I think you’ll understand. I really do. I mean, I did. I believed it.’
But while many of his fellow contestants celebrated the end of the show with a raucous after-party, Asher chose a much quieter way to celebrate his victory… a good night’s sleep.
“I went back to the hotel and went to bed,” he confessed. ‘I was so excited to just lie down on my pillow, turn off the lights and just sleep, not having time to call the next morning. I slept very well. That was my celebration.’
Now, days after his win, Asher is already looking to the future and what his music career holds, revealing that he plans to tackle all genres instead of being tied to gospel music forever.
“I have so many voices in my throat, all of which can change from baritone to tenor to alto to soprano (and from) pop to rock to ballads,” he said.
‘I can sing it all and I can still be myself and give you all the Tina Turner you want. I can be myself and give you all the Whitney Houston you want. So I think this throat is going to work. I really believe it.’
He added that he has already considered paying tribute to Whitney in a very modern way: by creating an AI collaboration with the late singer.
Speaking from the experience, Asher (seen with runner-up Josh Sanders) admitted that the elimination rounds during the process regularly made him cry.
The gospel singer praised his coach Reba and said he will “always” consider himself a “student in her class.”
“Well, since I love artificial intelligence, I love everything futuristic, maybe I would like to go back a little bit and the person I would like to bring back just to listen to her would be Whitney Houston,” he said.
But while he may be confident about his future, the singer insists that he is aware that a career in music may not be an easy path, no matter how talented he is, and notes that he is aware that he may face harsh criticism in the path.
‘Things will happen. “I think I’m prepared for anything,” he stated. “But I think facing it, figuring it out, getting over it, or just moving on, is what it is.”
‘I don’t have to change. I’m really nice in real life and I really like being nice and I really like nice people, and I can be in this industry and be so nice and follow my heart and I don’t have to change.
“And that’s why I’m excited to come back in 10 years and talk to you as the same Asher you’re talking to today.”
As for his relationship with Coach Reba, Asher says he hopes to continue learning from the music icon for many years to come, saying he will “always” consider himself her “student.”
‘Did you know? I’m not done learning yet. “I will always be a student in that woman’s classroom as long as she lives, and even when she feels like I have graduated, I will still need adjustments,” she said.
‘So how do I tune and even when I do, so how do I do that?’ What is the longevity? How can I be at this for 30 and 40 years? As long as there is a Reba, I can get information.’
The close bond between Reba and Asher was clear for all to see during the finale, when the country singer gushed about her talented protégé shortly before her win.
“I’ve seen you grow,” he told her. ‘I have seen you change not in your personality or your talent, but in your happiness. I know you’ve had a great time here on The Voice and everyone has had a wonderful time with you, especially me. Whatever happens in the next few minutes, I love you with all my heart.