On Monday’s episode of “The Voice,” Alabama’s Asher HaVon made a heartfelt plea for viewer votes. The soul singer from Selma was competing in the top 12 on the NBC reality series, and it was the first time someone other than the celebrity coaches would decide his fate.

“This is terrifying, that this is the first time America’s weighing in,” HaVon said. “I hope y’all like me, because I really like y’all. I really do. I love you, America.”

As it turns out, America loves him back. HaVon, 31, was among the first group of contestants declared safe on Tuesday’s results episode. He’ll sing again on May 13 as a member of the “Voice” top nine, hoping to make the next cut for the top five finalists.

“AMERICA!!! OMG!!! We are moving to Top 9!!!! THANK YOU!!! Omg!” Havon said Tuesday night in a Facebook post, celebrating his success.

He’s competing on Reba McEntire’s team, and folks who watch “The Voice” clearly agreed with the country star, who proclaimed HaVon’s performance on Monday’s episode — singing “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men — divinely inspired.

“Asher, God put you on this Earth to sing,” McEntire said on Monday. “You said that you hadn’t heard secular music ‘til you were in your 20s, and then God let you come out here and be with us. So thank you, Lord, for letting us have Asher for this time.”

READ: Reba McEntire to Alabama ‘Voice’ performer: ‘God put you on this Earth to sing’

McEntire later praised HaVon in social media videos urging viewers to vote for him. “He is spectacular!” McEntire said. “What more can you say about Asher? His look, his performance, he looks like a star. A superstar!”

According to an NBC press release, HaVon and the eight other singers will perform “hometown dedications” during the next go-round. Monday’s episode, then, is likely to feature a song tied to Selma, and our vote goes to “Glory,” a song written by Common, John Legend and Rhymefest for the 2014 movie “Selma.”

“Glory” won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy Award in 2015-2016, along with several other awards. In 2016, Common and Legend performed the stirring gospel anthem at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

HaVon has a tie to “Glory,” as explained in his official bio for “The Voice.” It says:

“Growing up in Selma, Alabama, Asher was surrounded by gospel singers. President Obama went to Selma in 2015 for a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery in honor of African American civil rights. Asher auditioned for a spot in the choir that was set to perform John Legend’s song ‘Glory.’ The choir director was so blown away by Asher that Asher led the choir that day, performing in front of 200,000 people.”

HaVon has yet to announce his song choice for the May 13 episode of “The Voice,” and he has plenty of options in that regard. Also, as McEntire has said, “He could sing the phone book and make it a hit.” “Glory” would be right in HaVon’s wheelhouse, however, and let’s not forget that Legend is one of the celebrity coaches on “The Voice.” (“Glory” duet, anyone?)

Along with HaVon, the top nine singers are Josh Sanders on Team Reba; Nathan Chester and Bryan Olesen on Team Legend; Madison Curbelo, Karen Waldrup and Tae Lewis on Team Dan & Shay; and Maddi Jane and Serenity Arce on Team Chance (coached by Chance the Rapper).

HaVon is the only Alabama singer to make it this far on “The Voice” during Season 25. Five singers from the state were featured on the show this season, but the others were eliminated during previous episodes. Along with HaVon, they were Val T Webb of Birmingham, Ducote Talmage of Auburn, Rivers Grayson of Muscle Shoals and Corey Curtis, a Saraland resident.

The state’s never had a winner on “The Voice” during its 13-year history on television. However, more than 30 contestants from the state have made their marks on the show over the years, starting with Nakia Reynoso in Season 1 and continuing through spring 2023 with four Alabama singers moving through the competition in Season 23.

D. Smooth, an R&B singer from Birmingham, took third place on “The Voice” during the Season 23 finals in May 2023. Three other Alabama contestants — Ryley Tate Wilson, Jerome Godwin III and JB Somers — were eliminated earlier in the season.

READ: 5 Alabama singers who excelled on ‘The Voice’ (and why we loved them)

If you watch: “The Voice” airs at 7 p.m. CT on Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC. The series also streams on Peacock. Early episodes in the season are filmed in advance.