Team Niall Horan: ‘The Voice’ Season 24 photos, bios, artist rankings

Marcus James Dixon
·13 min read
1
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Singer-songwriter Niall Horan knows a thing or two about singing shows, as he got his big break with the boyband One Direction, which was formed by Simon Cowell on the British series “The X Factor” in 2010. Throughout his career, Niall has sold over 80 million records and toured the globe with One Direction and more recently with his solo albums “Flicker,” “Heartbreak Weather” and “The Show.” When he was 29 years old, he became a coach on “The Voice” in Spring 2023 and won on his first try with pop singer Gina Miles. Now that the Season 24 blind auditions, battles and knockouts have concluded, can Niall prevail yet again on NBC’s reality TV show?

Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) for a closer look at Team Niall Horan on “The Voice” Season 24, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team John Legend, Team Reba McEntire and Team Gwen Stefani.

More from GoldDerby

SEE‘The Voice’ coaches ranked worst to best

1. Huntley (4-chair turn) — TOP 12

Hometown: Spring Hill, FL

Huntley was singing and impersonating Elvis by the time he was 4 but never took himself seriously. When Huntley was 14, while walking home from school, a friend overheard him sing and assured him he was great. From that day forward, Huntley wanted to pursue music. After two years of college, he moved to Nashville but didn’t find the success he had hoped for. After falling out of love with the music grind, he moved back home to Virginia. In 2016, Huntley welcomed his daughter and in 2021 welcomed his son. He never had a relationship with his own father, which motivated him to be very involved in his kids’ lives. Since 2022, Huntley has found success as a booking agent for musicians. Now that music is coming back into his life, he’s been a full-time musician gigging five times a week all over Virginia. Huntley is ready to make music a priority in his life after being a dad first.

2. Nini Iris (4-chair turn) — TOP 12

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia

Nini loves and misses her home country of Georgia, but always dreamed of moving to the U.S. In 2012, she auditioned for the Georgian format of “The Voice” and made it all the way to live shows. In 2016, she decided to move to New York alone, but once she arrived Nini barely had enough money to survive, so she contacted the former social media manager for the show, Saba, who was an acquaintance, at the time. He was also just getting by in New York, so they moved into a hostel together and became best friends. Eventually, Nini started singing at a cabaret show, which opened the door for her to meet people in the wedding industry. She transitioned to be a wedding singer while taking on various odd jobs until she was finally able to become a full-time wedding and events singer.

3. Mara Justine (4-chair turn) — TOP 12

Hometown: Galloway, NJ

Mara grew up in a close-knit Italian family and was 9 when she performed for the first time, singing “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston at a local competition. When she won, everything clicked and she started performing at charity benefits and sports events. Now, Mara gigs at local bars and restaurants at the Jersey Shore and her entire family comes to watch. Mara’s mom, Linda, was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer and is the one who holds the family together, doing everything she can to be present while facing surgery, radiation and/or chemo. Linda wants to get through her breast cancer journey quickly and not miss any of Mara’s journey.

Olivia Eden (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Long Valley, NJ

Olivia was an avid learner from the start. When she was 3, she learned to make pancakes for the first time and by 9 was cast in “Chopped Jr.” Then, at 11, Olivia made it into the top seven on “Top Chef Jr.” Now in high school, Olivia is a highly academic honors student who still cooks for her family, but music has always been Olivia’s true passion. At 6, she auditioned for the local high school talent show and sang “Part of Your World” while her father accompanied her on guitar. At 14, she submitted a video for the school talent show and was encouraged by her art teacher to start playing open mics. Olivia taught herself guitar and now plays at local restaurants and breweries. She also performs the national anthem at her high school’s athletic events.

Sophia Hoffman (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Chula Vista, CA

After getting no chairs to turn in Season 23, Sophia is ready for her comeback. She gets her determined spirit from her mom, Hilda, who emerged from an impoverished upbringing in Mexico City, moving to the United States at 6. Hilda found her inspiration from her own mother’s resilience to adapt to a new country, and then to raise a child at such a young age gave her the insight and strength to push Sophia to take advantage of all the opportunities thrown her way. Sophia reflects on her mother’s journey with gratitude, recognizing that she can pursue her American dream due to her mother’s bravery, sacrifices and unwavering support. Now, despite her challenges with learning disabilities, Sophia is embarking on her second year at Chico State University, pursuing communication public affairs. She has garnered a substantial fan base from her experience on Season 23 and is often recognized as “The Voice girl.”

Reid Zingale (3-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Reid works full-time as a data analyst crunching numbers for Dollar General corporate. He and his wife, Rachel, have been married five years and met in his senior year of high school. They married young and Reid had to work three jobs while in college to support them. He felt he had to grow up quickly, and songwriting helped him work through what he was feeling. A couple years ago, they moved to Birmingham from Nashville so she could attend physical therapy school. Reid is from a tight-knit Italian family in Nashville, and the move was hard, but he still seeks solace in songwriting. He wrote his song “Dark Blue” about his struggles with mental health and the video gained more than 100,000 views in its first week. He and Rachel plan to move back to Nashville with their hope that Rachel will get a PT job in the city, Reid will become a touring artist and they can buy a home.

Lvndr (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Memphis, TN

The stage name LVNDR comes from her affinity for the color and scent of lavender. As LVNDR, she feels she can really connect with the audience and be vulnerable. As a kid, she didn’t like being the center of attention and didn’t sing publicly until she was 16. After her 16th birthday, she realized she’d have to get over her fears if she wanted to be a singer. She forced herself to sign up to perform at the local fair and shocked her family when she took the stage. After high school, she started gigging a bit in her hometown. A couple of years ago, she was asked to perform at a local barber shop owned by her now boyfriend, Seth. He encouraged her to share her voice and, being a regular at the shop, helped gain her confidence. Now, she and Seth have started building their own home above the barbershop.

Laura Williams (4-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Quakertown, PA

Laura didn’t have the easiest childhood, but music helped her navigate the most difficult times. In second grade, Laura began to experience bullying. After years of this, Laura’s parents were so concerned they pulled her from school and opted for homeschooling. After a year of homeschool and a fresh perspective, Laura was ready to enter public middle school. During that time, she thrived and began singing in theater. Unfortunately, high school presented new challenges as she moved to a new area. Laura struggled with self-image issues, which led to the development of an eating disorder. After several years and with the support of her family, Laura leaned into her faith for healing and later on sought out therapy. Thankfully, she’s healthy and happy now, and those experiences have fueled her songwriting. She began to compose songs as early as 14 and now shares her music as well as Christian-based content on social media.

Brailey Lenderman (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN BATTLES

Hometown: Roswell, GA

Brailey was destined to be a musician. When she was in fourth grade, she took a career aptitude test that determined her #1 recommended career was songwriting. Right out of college, Brailey moved to Music City. When she arrived in Nashville, Brailey hired a management team but soon realized her views didn’t align with theirs. She cut ties and was able to self-reflect and reevaluate her wants and goals. Since then, Brailey has purchased her own equipment, learned how to use Logic Pro, started writing with new people and has released more music in the last two years than she did with a team for three years. She writes every day, gigs around Nashville and is in writer’s rounds doing her own songs. Her songs are typically about overcoming mental health challenges, not living to make other people happy and encouraging other people to live authentically.

Azan (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUTS

Hometown: Austin, TX

Azán recently married her high school sweetheart and biggest cheerleader, Isaiah, and growing up with a single mom has shaped Azán into becoming a strong independent woman. All through high school Azán performed as a high-stepper dancer, competing in dance and singing competitions. After graduating from the University of North Texas, she opened up with a dance group for the boy band B2K on their Millennium Tour when they came to Dallas. Now, Azán is in two cover bands that perform at weddings, galas, and corporate events. When she’s not performing, Azán records vocals for high-level competition cheer music for colleges while doing whatever she can to support her music career.

Olivia Minogue (3-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUTS

Hometown: Lockport, IL

Olivia works as a receptionist at a dental practice and her colleagues wholeheartedly support her singing journey. Growing up, Olivia was a musical theater enthusiast thanks to her mother, who owned a local musical theater company. Starting at 3, she graced her mother’s productions, although always being cast in small roles to avoid any semblance of favoritism. Now, she assists by teaching classes, setting up stages and even lends a hand with costumes and makeup. Olivia is a lifelong self-proclaimed One Direction fangirl, and she’s so excited to get the opportunity to work with Niall.

Lennon VanderDoes (3-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN KNOCKOUTS

Hometown: Wilmington, DE

Named after John Lennon, it’s no surprise that Lennon developed a love for music at an early age. Growing up in a large, musical family, Lennon wasn’t always confident in his singing abilities. His high-pitched voice was different, so he didn’t take singing seriously until a college friend helped him find his confidence. While living in Idaho after dropping out of college, Lennon reconnected with a childhood friend, Morgan. They got married and started a new chapter of their lives together in Phoenix. After moving, Lennon worked countless odd jobs to pay the bills before landing a job at a memory care facility with dementia patients. Today, Lennon is proud to be a full-time gigging musician. He is booked through multiple companies and performs four to five times a week while also regularly singing at retirement homes.

Julia Roome (2-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN PLAYOFFS

Hometown: Warwick, NY

Julia may be the youngest in the competition, but she has already accomplished so much in her life. She’s gigging several times a month, singing the national anthem and has performed in an off-Broadway play and many regional ones. Julia lives only 90 minutes from New York, so she’s had an opportunity to sing at the Friars Club as well as amateur night at the Apollo where she’s won twice. Keegan Ferrell, a Season 20 contestant, noticed her on social media when her original EP reached No. 9 on the the iTunes charts, prompting him to work with Julia to continue building a portfolio of original music. Their first song together, “Childhood,” garnered a massive amount of attention and has the most streams to date. When Julia isn’t gigging or recording, she’s playing softball for her travel softball team. Julia is extremely competitive and used to ski race before deciding to focus more on music.

Alexa Wildish (4-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN PLAYOFFS

Hometown: Orange County, CA

Alexa grew up in a musical family, and her dad’s passion for collecting vintage guitars inspired Alexa’s love for acoustic stringed instruments, which led to her playing guitar and octave mandolin. Alexa’s deep love for the Americana music scene came when she saw the Wailin’ Jennys perform at a festival when she was 17. Life came full circle when a member of that band sang harmonies on Alexa’s debut EP in 2018. A few years later, Alexa began couch surfing and really wanted to experience life in a mobile home/touring vehicle. A friend offered her his loaded-out van, and Alexa spent the following months living out of it and traveling wherever her next gig would take her. She now lives in Colorado after the cold winter months had her saying goodbye to van life. She writes, gigs and teaches voice lessons.

Claudia B. (3-chair turn) — ELIMINATED IN PLAYOFFS

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

With many musicians in her family, Claudia B. grew up immersed in music, studying piano, singing in church choir and, in her early teens, fronting two rock bands. Hungry for more, Claudia skipped her senior year in high school by attaining her GED in order to attend Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, she studied songwriting, vocal performance and music business. Immediately after graduating, Claudia moved to Nashville, where she now works full-time as a professional musician, writing and performing as a keyboardist and singer at several weekly gigs. Claudia is known for her creative arrangements of pop, soul, country and jazz covers that listeners often say they prefer to the originals. This past March, she got engaged to fellow singer-songwriter Jacob Lutz while on a trip in Paris.

SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions

Launch Gallery: Team Niall Horan: 'The Voice' Season 24 photos, bios, artist rankings

Best of GoldDerby

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.