A new champion was crowned during Tuesday night’s The Voice Season 28 finale on December 16, but the journey to that announcement was filled with two hours of music, celebration, and reflection. Finalists shared the stage with their coaches, while special guest performances helped bring the season to a festive close.
Riley Green, Neal Schon, Zac Brown with Noah Cyrus, Khalid, and more appeared throughout the night, turning the finale into a full-scale celebration. The episode was fittingly titled The Voice Finale Holiday Spectacular, with Christmas music woven throughout the evening.
Three of the four coaches joined finalists onstage for holiday performances. Niall Horan was the lone exception, though his team was still represented. Reba McEntire stepped in to sing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” with Team Niall’s finalist trio, DEK of Hearts. Gina Miles, winner of Season 23, also returned to perform “Last Christmas” with Niall’s finalist Aiden Ross.
A Moment That Stilled the Room
Among the many performances, one stood out for its quiet power: Reba McEntire’s duet with her sole remaining finalist, Aubrey Nicole.
Together, they delivered a moving rendition of the Christmas hymn “Mary, Did You Know?” The song has a meaningful history on The Voice — memorably performed by Jordan Smith during the Season 9 finale before his victory — and Reba herself has returned to it over the years, including a 2017 performance with Little Big Town and on her 1999 holiday album Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection.
This version, however, felt deeply personal.
Aubrey Nicole matched her coach note for note, pouring emotion into every line. The performance stripped away spectacle and reminded viewers of the heart of the season — faith, reflection, and meaning. As the final notes faded, the moment lingered in silence, the kind that speaks louder than applause.
Reba’s “Heart of Gold”
Aubrey Nicole first earned Reba’s attention during the Blind Auditions with a heartfelt cover of Cam’s “Burning House.” Reba was the only coach to turn her chair, and from that moment on, Aubrey became one of her most steadfast believers.
By the Playoffs, four singers remained on Team Reba. Choosing just one finalist wasn’t easy, but Reba ultimately selected Aubrey, calling her a “heart of gold” and praising her emotional connection to music.
“I chose Aubrey because she has a way of portraying a lot of emotion,” Reba said. “That’s what music is supposed to be about.”
Their finale duet felt like the culmination of that belief — a coach and artist sharing a song not to compete, but to connect.
As the season came to a close and the winner was finally revealed, Reba and Aubrey’s performance stood as one of the night’s most quietly unforgettable moments — proof that sometimes the strongest performances don’t need fireworks to leave a lasting impact.
Watch Reba McEntire and Aubrey Nicole sing “Mary, Did You Know?” in the video below.