Niall Horan Relates to 'The Voice' Finalist Aiden Ross

Niall Horan Reflects on Aiden Ross’s Journey as a Mirror of His Own

Niall Horan, 32, recently shared his thoughts on the journey of Aiden Ross, one of the finalists in The Voice season 28. Horan described how Aiden’s story resonates deeply with him, comparing it to his own early experiences in the music industry.

“Since the minute my chair turned around in Aiden's blind audition, I just felt like I was looking at myself up there,” Horan told Us Weekly while attending the live show red carpet event on December 15. “Like, there's so many comparisons to be made.”

Aiden, 20, captured everyone’s attention during the blind auditions with his cover of Adele’s “Love in the Dark,” earning a four-chair turn and eventually joining Team Niall. His path mirrors that of Horan, who was 16 years old when he first auditioned for The X Factor UK in 2010. At the time, Horan was part of One Direction, which included members Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and the late Liam Payne. The group initially came in third place but went on to achieve global fame.

Aiden’s Talent and Youthful Energy Resonate with Horan

Horan praised Aiden’s vocal abilities, calling him “a ridiculous singer” and noting that he might be the best in the competition. “He's arguably the best singer in the competition, arguably the best singer I've heard around in a long time,” Horan said. “But that youthful energy that he's got, the excitement to want to make records and write songs and stuff like that, is something that I see a lot of myself in.”

However, Horan quickly added, “But I'm definitely not as talented as that dude.”

This sentiment highlights the admiration Horan has for Aiden, whose confidence and passion remind him of his younger self.

Aiden Makes It to the Final Six

Aiden is one of six artists who have advanced to the finale. Another member of Team Niall, DEK of Hearts, was also selected as a wildcard artist by viewers, joining Team Michael Bublé’s Max Chambers. The remaining finalists include Jazz McKenzie from Team Bublé, Aubrey Nicole from Team Reba McEntire, and Ralph Edwards from Team Snoop Dogg.

After Aiden performed Damien Rice’s “The Blower's Daughter” during the playoffs, Horan chose him to move forward to the finale. “I think Aiden is the perfect person to represent Team Niall in the finale,” he said.

“He's comfortable in his own voice – to think that this guy is only 20 years old and has that talent is frightening,” Horan continued.

High Level of Talent Across the Board

Horan expressed his admiration for the overall quality of talent in season 28 of The Voice. “I think this season has had the highest level across the board of talent,” he said. “I'm sure everyone else thinks that they've got an unbelievable artist, but the talent level is through the roof.”

Despite the high stakes, Horan encouraged his artists to treat the performance like any other. “My advice for my artists was to 'treat it like any other performance' despite being on live TV,” he explained. “Just go out and do your best three minutes and just leave it up to everyone else to take on the rest.”

Special Guests and Final Performances

The finale will feature performances from special guests, including Zac Brown and Noah Cyrus, before the winner of season 28 is announced. Part two of the finale airs on NBC on Tuesday, December 16, at 9 p.m. ET.