Florence native Kirbi delivered what coaches called her best performance yet on The Voice Season 28, earning a standing ovation and moving forward to the Playoffs. The 24-year-old contemporary Christian singer performed Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake’s 2025 song “Hard Fought Hallelujah” during the Knockouts round, stunning all four coaches with her emotional delivery and powerful stage presence.
The Standout Performance
Leaning into her Christian roots, Kirbi selected a song that spoke deeply to her background. She comes from the Shoals area of Northern Alabama and is a self-professed Jelly Roll fan, having once opened for the star and gotten a picture with him. Her Coach, Niall Horan, advised her during rehearsals to play with the song’s dynamics, telling her, “When it’s small, make it small; when it’s big make it big.”
The performance left all four coaches visibly impressed. Reba McEntire told her, “You got into it, it was very emotional.” Michael Bublé noted her courage in song selection, saying, “You understand who you are, where you want to go; you have the guts to take on songs that seem like they may not be in your lane.” Snoop Dogg marveled at her performance, calling it perfect for her.
The highest praise came from her coach, Niall Horan, who said:
“I feel like I’m gonna pass out. Kirbi, that was your best performance to date without a shadow of a doubt. It was beautiful to watch, beautiful to listen to, you just smashed it.”
Journey to the Knockouts
Kirbi’s journey on The Voice began with a remarkable four-chair turn during her blind audition. She performed FOR KING + COUNTRY’s “God Only Knows,” impressing all coaches with her vocal control and unique tone. Horan had told her during auditions, “We wait all day for voices like yours. This is absolutely incredible.”
During the Battle Rounds, Kirbi sang Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” with teammate Carolina Rodriguez. Reba McEntire described her voice as having a “sweet, pure” quality that was “totally believable.” Snoop Dogg praised her as a “veteran on stage,” while Horan valued her as “one of the greater storytellers in the competition.”
Social Media and Fan Reactions
The performance generated significant buzz on social media platforms following the episode’s airing. Fans and viewers took to various platforms to share their enthusiasm for Kirbi’s knockout performance.
On Instagram, Kirbi reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude for making it past the Battles. She wrote, “God has been so good and gracious to me when I don’t show myself the same grace. Thank you Jesus for bringing me this far, and thank you so much to every person who has cheered me on and encouraged me.”
Viewers on Facebook and other platforms described the performance as “powerful” and “inspiring,” with many noting how her genuine emotion connected with audiences. Her ability to maintain her artistic identity while taking on challenging material resonated strongly with fans of the show.
Coach’s Decision and Playoffs
Horan selected Kirbi as the winner of her knockout round, pitting her against Dustin Daley Gaspard. Explaining his decision, Horan said:
“I picked Kirbi simply down to the fact that what she did in her performance tonight was just undeniable. There was no way she could sing like that, give the emotion that she gave, and leave this competition. She absolutely deserves to be in my top four.”
Kirbi now advances to the Playoffs as part of Team Niall’s top four artists. Her performance continues a strong season for Alabama singers, with Jazz McKenzie of Birmingham also advancing to the Knockouts.
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