Carter Rubin has just become the youngest male singer to win “The Voice.”
On Tuesday night, the 15-year-old singer from Long Island, New York, won $100,000 and a record deal as the Season 19 winner. The victory also marks the first win for “Voice” coach Gwen Stefani, who will not be returning to the show next season.
“Not only are you a phenomenal coach; you’re a really phenomenal human,” Rubin told Stefani before the big reveal. “It’s a dream come true to just work with you, and I’m so grateful and honored to have gotten to this point.”
Stefani predicted Rubin would win during the first part of the season finale Monday night.
🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳 @carterjrubin #TheVoice #TeamGwen gx pic.twitter.com/xEqE0hgZJr
— Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) December 16, 2020
“It feels like you’re just meant to be doing this,” she told the young singer after he performed a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” “You are just so special and so gifted and so natural.”
When Rubin first auditioned for “The Voice,” he had his pick between Stefani and John Legend as his coach. Although Legend noted that Rubin, who was then 14, was the youngest singer he’s ever turned for, Rubin ended up going with Stefani and remained on her team for the entire season. To date, Rubin’s audition has 2.4 million views on YouTube.
The two shared a special connection throughout the season, and Stefani, a mother of three boys, often got emotional whenever Rubin performed. During the show’s top nine episode, Stefani could be seen sobbing after the teenager performed “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppets” franchise.
“That was flawless. That was God answering my prayers,” she told Rubin. “You’re so gifted, you’re so intuitive, your heart is full of music. I’m so honored that you picked me.”
And the WINNER of #TheVoice is… 🥁 pic.twitter.com/RCrN0d3z5z
— The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) December 16, 2020
Before “The Voice” revealed the results Tuesday night, Stefani said she hopes Rubin recognizes his run on the competition show is just one moment in what will undoubtedly be a long and successful career. She added that she hopes to see Rubin learn an instrument and delve into songwriting.
Throughout the season, Rubin continually impressed judges with his vocal maturity and musical intuition.
“Even though I’m supposed to be your competition over here, I’ve never felt that way because this has been a tough year for everybody in the world and to be able to end this year and sit in this chair and listen to somebody with your talent, with your heart … I’m a fan, man,” Blake Shelton told Rubin Monday night. “Unbelievable.”
Jim Ranger and Ian Flanigan — both members of Blake Shelton’s team — rounded out the top three of “The Voice” Season 19. Team Kelly Clarkson member Desz and John Legend member John Holiday finished in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Holiday previously told the Deseret News that competing on “The Voice” this year was about a lot more than winning.
“When I sing, my prayer is that it will help to elevate someone out of a position where they feel like there is no more hope,” Holiday said. “It doesn’t go unnoticed in my mind that there are people out there who are struggling, who are grieving loss of loved ones, loss of work, don’t know where their next check is coming from, where their next meal is coming from.
“Maybe it’s selfish of me, but I hope that in the 10 minutes that people get to see me on TV that I can remind them that it will get better,” he continued. “Even though it’s chaotic right now, it’s gonna get better. I don’t have to win the show if I’ve done that for somebody else. If I can do that, I’ve already won.”
Watch all of Rubin’s performances on “The Voice” below. The show will return for a 20th season in the spring of 2021.