Asher Havon hosts listening party for new single ‘Thank You’  

Asher Havon went across the country to become the winner of the 25th season of “The Voice,” but he had to come back to his hometown to find out he was now “The Voice of Selma.” 

Havon was in Selma Nov. 14 to host the listening party for his Reba McEntire-honoring single, “Thank You.” He held the event in his hometown because he wanted the people of Selma to be the first to hear the single. He also wanted to share how much McEntire’s guidance and care meant to him. 

Havon was also in the midst of worrying about his mother, who was scheduled for a very serious surgery that same week. However, as he explained, “I was raised right. I was taught the importance of home.” He wanted everyone to know how important this event was to him before he rushed off to Birmingham, where his mother was to have surgery. 

Havon recently posted on social media that the song will be associated with a 2025 film, but he refused to give any further information. In fact, everyone in the audience had to sign a nondisclosure agreement about what they heard.  

The entire event was an invitation-only, intimate affair. Fewer than 25 people were inside the venue, on purpose. Those present included Billy Young, president of the Selma City Council, and Jennine Webb, the co-founder and deputy director of TKO. The Knights and Orchids, an LGBTQIA organization of Selma, were in attendance. 

There were also two very special friends of Havon present in the audience who had also participated in the creation of the single “Thank You.” They were equally excited to talk about the song and their relationship to Havon. Havon explained that their friendship was over a decade long, and that he could not make the song without including them. 

Havon created an intimate atmosphere for the event. He sat and spoke his heart to the audience for about 20 minutes before playing the single. He was interviewed by three high school students from the National Youth Advisory Board of Foot Soldiers Park. 

Havon said that he was nervous for everyone to hear the single but was glad to play it for everyone. Then the music was played. The song is a ballad full of strong and elongated notes, with some choir-focused sounds from his two good friends. After the song finished playing, the entire audience gave him a round of applause. His once nervous expression immediately turned into a wide smile. 

Moments later, the crowd was video recorded and interviewed by Asher Havon’s life partner, Gabriel De La Rosa. The reaction to the song was jubilant and loud.  

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Members of the audience got the chance to have their pictures taken with Havon and to video record him sending personal messages. One even encouraging children to stay away from drugs and to persevere through any tribulation.  

During Council President Young’s picture taking moment, he named Havon “The Voice of Selma,” after which Havon’s face lit up with pride and surprise.  

After the event, and before his Facebook LIVE appearance with his mother (before her surgery), Havon released an endearing statement to Angela Benjamin, who he affectionately calls his Auntie, and his friends and fans around the world, as well as the citizens of Selma: 

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude and thankfulness for my amazing auntie Angela Benjamin, who has been my rock since I was 15 years old. Thank you for always believing in me and making things happen! Tonight, I had the incredible opportunity to host a private listening session in my hometown of Selma, Alabama. It was a beautiful experience to share my journey with some inspiring eighth, ninth and tenth graders as my interviewers. 

A huge thank you to the Selma City Council, […] my friends from far and near, and my amazing partner for being there and supporting me. Your encouragement means the world to me! This Thanksgiving Day, my single drops, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it!"  

“Thank You” is due to be released to the public on Nov. 28. During the listening session, he encouraged everyone to pre-save the single, which will be available on all streaming platforms. 

There are many more things in store from Asher Havon, and there are well over 25,000 streamers who are waiting to hear more from "The Voice of Selma.” 

Valencia Benjamin is one of the Selma Sun’s community correspondents, a group of dedicated writers who bring news of interesting people and events to their neighbors. If you would like to be a community correspondent, contact Publisher Cindy Fisher at publisher@selmasun.com.