If you were watching NBC on that Tuesday night in mid-December, you probably felt that weird, familiar knot in your stomach. It’s the moment Carson Daly stands there with that envelope, dragging out the silence until it feels like your TV might actually explode. Aiden Ross and Ralph Edwards were standing center stage, shoulders tense, looking like two guys who hadn't slept in a month. Honestly, they probably hadn't.
By the time the confetti finally rained down on December 16, 2025, we had our answer. Aiden Ross took the trophy. But looking at the final contestants in The Voice Season 28, it wasn't just about the win. This finale felt different. It was a weirdly emotional, genre-bending mess in the best way possible. You had a Texas engineering student, a soul veteran from Fresno, and even a country trio that almost stole the whole thing from the wildcard spot.
Who Were the Final Contestants in The Voice Season 28?
The road to the Top 6 was a literal bloodbath. Unlike some previous seasons where one coach dominates the entire finale, Season 28 spread the love across the panel—mostly. Michael Bublé and Niall Horan both walked in with two artists each, while Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg were left protecting their lone soldiers.
Here is how the deck stacked up:
- Aiden Ross (Team Niall): The 20-year-old from College Station who basically became the face of the season after a four-chair turn for "Love in the Dark."
- Ralph Edwards (Team Snoop): A 30-year-old powerhouse from Fresno who brought a level of "grown man soul" the show hasn't seen in years.
- DEK of Hearts (Team Niall): The country trio from Nashville. They were the wildcards, and honestly, their three-part harmonies on "Let it Go" were probably the technical highlight of the night.
- Aubrey Nicole (Team Reba): A 20-year-old Belmont University student. She’s got that classic Reba-approved storytelling grit.
- Max Chambers (Team Bublé): The youngest of the bunch at just 14 years old. Seeing a kid that age tackle Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" was kinda terrifying and impressive all at once.
- Jazz McKenzie (Team Bublé): A 31-year-old from Birmingham. Bublé called her "the greatest voice" he's ever had on the show.
It was a crowded stage. The stakes felt massive because of the coaching records on the line. Niall was trying to stay undefeated—which he did, by the way. Three for three. Bublé was hunting for a "three-peat" after his back-to-back wins with Sofronio Vasquez and Adam David. The tension between the coaches was almost as loud as the singing.
The Performance That Sealed the Deal
Everyone talks about the finale songs, but the real shift happened on Monday night. Aiden Ross performed ABBA’s "The Winner Takes It All." Now, usually, singing ABBA on a talent show is a death wish. It’s too theatrical, or it’s too karaoke. But Aiden stripped it back.
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It was quiet.
Niall Horan mentioned later that Aiden always "finds the heartbeat" of a song. That’s a bit of coach-speak, sure, but he wasn't wrong. While Max Chambers was hitting these skyscraper notes and Ralph Edwards was making everyone feel like they were in a smoky jazz club with "I Want to Know What Love Is," Aiden was just... there. It felt intimate.
The Ralph Edwards Factor
Let’s talk about Ralph for a second. Most people thought he had this in the bag. He’s 30. He’s seasoned. He’s engaged to be married in October 2026. He has that "finished product" vibe that usually wins over the older voting demographic. Snoop Dogg was visibly vibrating with pride during Ralph's performance of "Locked Out of Heaven." It was the first time we saw Ralph really move on stage, showing he wasn't just a "stand and deliver" ballad singer.
But when the results started rolling in, the order caught a lot of people off guard.
The Final Rankings: How the Night Unfolded
Carson Daly doesn't get enough credit for how he handles the "countdown of doom." He started with sixth place and worked his way up, and the room got quieter with every name.
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- Jazz McKenzie (6th Place): A shocker for some, given Bublé's endorsement, but the competition was just too dense.
- Max Chambers (5th Place): The 14-year-old phenom. He took it like a pro, which is more than I can say for most adults.
- Aubrey Nicole (4th Place): Team Reba’s last hope. She did "Mary, Did You Know" with Reba during the duets, and it was arguably the best vocal blend of the night.
- DEK of Hearts (3rd Place): The trio. For a wildcard act to make it to the top three? That’s almost unheard of. It says a lot about the current hunger for "real" country music.
- Ralph Edwards (Runner-up): The soul of the season.
- Aiden Ross (Winner): The engineering student who probably needs to rethink his major.
Why This Season Matched the Hype
A lot of the buzz around the final contestants in The Voice this year was centered on the "Battle of Champions" narrative. The show is shifting. Season 29 is already being branded as a smaller, more elite version of the show with only three coaches—all previous winners.
Because of that, Season 28 felt like the end of an era. It was the last "traditional" huge cast.
Aiden Ross winning means Niall Horan has never lost a season he coached. That is a statistical anomaly. It’s also a testament to the type of artists Niall picks. He doesn't go for the "loudest" singers. He goes for the ones that sound like they're telling you a secret. In a world of TikTok belters, that still carries weight with the people at home holding the remote.
What’s Next for Aiden and Ralph?
Aiden is technically still a sophomore at Texas A&M. He told reporters after the show that he wants to finish his degree in industrial distribution engineering. Good luck with that. Once you win The Voice, the "normal life" door usually slams shut pretty fast. He's already teased new music, and with Niall in his corner, the transition to a real pop career looks more likely than it has for winners in the past.
Ralph Edwards is also moving fast. He’s got a wedding to plan, sure, but his performance of "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway during the playoffs has already racked up millions of views. He doesn't need the trophy to get a residency in Vegas or a soul revival tour.
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Real Talk: The Takeaway
If you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of these finalists, there are a few things to keep in mind. Success on The Voice isn't about having the widest range. It’s about identity.
- Pick the right "moment" song: Aiden won because of the ABBA cover. It was a risk that paid off because it showed a different side of him.
- Coach chemistry matters: The bond between Niall and Aiden felt genuine. If the audience smells a fake "showmance" between a coach and a student, they stop voting.
- The Wildcard is real: DEK of Hearts proved that even if the coaches don't pick you initially, the "Instant Save" and the wildcard votes can carry you to the finish line.
The finale of Season 28 wasn't perfect. There were some pitchy moments in the group numbers, and the holiday-themed duets felt a little forced at times. But in terms of raw talent, the final contestants in The Voice this year proved that the show still has a knack for finding people who actually belong on a stage.
If you want to keep up with what Aiden Ross is doing next, your best bet is following his socials or checking out the Season 28 winner's EP on streaming platforms. He's already hinted that a collaboration with Niall might be in the works. For those looking ahead to Season 29, keep an eye on the new "In-Season All-Star" format—it's going to be a completely different animal.
To dig deeper into the stats of past winners or see how Aiden's voting margins compared to someone like Adam David from Season 27, you can check out the official NBC "The Voice" charts or fan-run databases like The Voice Wikia, which tracks every chair turn and knockout since Day 1.
For now, the best thing you can do is go back and listen to Ralph Edwards’ cover of "Lights." It’ll remind you why we still watch this show after twenty-eight seasons.
Next Steps:
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming Season 29 "Battle of Champions," you should monitor the official NBC casting calls to see which alumni are being brought back for the "In-Season All-Star Competition." Additionally, reviewing the performance history of returning coaches like Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson will give you a better idea of the "lane" they'll be looking to fill when the blind auditions begin on February 23, 2026.