‘The Voice’s Oldest Contestant Wins Over Kelly Clarkson With Phil Collins Cover in Intense Battle Round’

Kyle Davis, 61, is showing that a passion for music has no age limit. The oldest contestant on The Voice delivered a memorable performance during the show’s latest Battle Round, earning high praise from the coaches before Kelly Clarkson ultimately chose him over fellow Team Kelly singer Matthew Chiu.

The two contestants went head-to-head with Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home,” a pop classic Clarkson believed would suit both singers. What followed was a closely contested performance that left the coach with a difficult decision.

Kelly Clarkson Faces a Tough Choice Between Two Talented Singers

Before the Battle, Clarkson highlighted the contrasting strengths of her contestants. She admired Davis’ distinctive retro style, while praising Chiu’s incredible vocal range.

Team advisor Ariana DeBose was equally impressed with Chiu’s preparation, noting how fully he had risen to the challenge against a competitor who had earned a four-chair turn during the Blind Auditions.

For Davis, the performance carried a meaning beyond winning the competition. As the oldest singer in the current season, he hoped his journey would encourage others to follow their ambitions, regardless of their age.

“I just want to show people out there that your musicality doesn’t expire,” he said.

The 61-year-old had expressed a similar sentiment during his Blind Audition, describing his appearance on the show as an exciting opportunity at a later stage in his musical career.

“It’s never really too late. You always have to chase a dream,” Davis said at the time.

Clarkson knew the decision would come down to which singer appeared most comfortable and ready to perform onstage in that moment.

Kyle Davis Earns Praise From the Coaches

Both Davis and Chiu delivered strong performances, giving the coaches plenty to consider.

Adam Levine was particularly pleased with Chiu’s improvement since the Blind Auditions. However, Davis remained one of his favorites, with Levine explaining how naturally the older contestant connected with him emotionally.

“I can feel it and I can instantly be moved by it,” Levine said of Davis’ talent.

Queen Latifah also recognized the strength of Davis’ performance, describing it as “strong, bold, powerful.” Despite that praise, she leaned toward Chiu as the winner, believing he had made the most of his time onstage.

Clarkson, meanwhile, found herself struggling to choose between the two singers.

“I knew y’all were going to make this really hard,” she admitted.

The coach had plenty of admiration for Davis, particularly his timeless musical style. She even compared his voice to the kind of sound she enjoys listening to on vinyl records.

“Your voice is what I listen to when I want to listen to vinyl,” Clarkson told him.

Chiu also managed to surprise his coach with his performance, prompting an amused reaction from Clarkson, who exclaimed, “Why’d you got to do that?”

Kelly Clarkson Picks the Winner

Despite Chiu’s impressive showing and the support he received from the coaches, Clarkson ultimately selected Davis as the winner of the Battle.

The decision was far from easy. Clarkson described it as her “hardest battle yet for me,” underscoring just how closely matched the two Team Kelly singers had been.

For Davis, the result marked another significant moment in a journey built around proving that age does not have to stand in the way of pursuing a musical dream.

The Voice airs Mondays on NBC.