For the first time in five years, New Jersey has a singer in “The Voice” finale.
Hailey Mia Osorio, a 14-year-old vocalist from Clifton, advanced Tuesday night to the NBC singing competition’s Top 5 finale. A winner will be announced next Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Hailey, whose stage name is Hailey Mia, has spent the last two months on the show’s 21st season, surviving round after round as the youngest artist in the competition.
Hailey made it through Tuesday after delivering perhaps her finest vocal performance yet Monday night, as she sang a controlled yet powerful rendition of Lewis Capaldi’s ballad “Someone You Loved.”
“It’s crazy, you’re 14, your voice is so nuts,” gushed Kelly Clarkson, Hailey’s coach. “How powerful you sing and how much of an amazing storyteller you are, thank you so much.”
More kind words came from fellow judge/coach Ariana Grande, whose team Hailey initially joined after her blind audition before later being “stolen” by Clarkson in the Battle Round.
“I feel like you have never sounded or looked more beautiful, every week you come more and more into your own and sound so spectacular,” Grande said.
Hailey is New Jersey’s first “The Voice” finalist since Paterson teen Wè McDonald finished in third place on Season 11 in 2016. Before her, Marlton’s Christina Grimmie finished third on Season 6 in 2014 and Colts Neck’s Jacquie Lee was second on Season 5 in 2013.
Hailey, a student at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, will sing again Monday night before a winner is crowned Tuesday. If Hailey wins, she’ll be the youngest “Voice” victor to date.
“It feels amazing to have made it this far on the show,” Hailey told NJ Advance Media last week. “I’m so grateful and proud of everything that I’ve accomplished, and I never thought that I would have even made it this far. Being here, working with Ariana (Grande) and Kelly (Clarkson) has just been surreal.”
Hailey Mia, 14 of Clifton, advanced to the semifinals of Season 21 of NBC’s “The Voice” on Tuesday. Pictured: "Live Top 10 Performances" Episode (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)Trae Patton/NBC
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Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.