Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson Sang The Most Incredible Version Of ‘O Holy Night’ On ‘The Voice’

The season 15 finale of “The Voice” was appropriately festive for an episode that aired a week before Christmas. Not only was Chevel Shepherd, a 16-year-old country singer and member of Kelly Clarkson’s team, crowned as this season’s winner, but Clarkson and fellow judge Jennifer Hudson gave a moving performance of “O Holy Night” together.

The two Grammy winners took to the show’s candlelit stage to perform the Christmas classic. The powerhouse vocalists were backed up by a chorus of singers clad in black. Hudson was dressed in a feather-adorned white gown with feather sleeves that made her look positively angelic, while Clarkson contrasted her in a long black gown with a sparkly silver belt.

The two gave an equally yin-and-yang duet, taking turns singing different parts of the song and then gloriously merging their voices together as the music built to a crescendo.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=sM7rdrkM5ac

If you pay close attention, you may notice that Clarkson’s voice sounds a tad more raspy than usual. That’s because the singer revealed that she had been sick the week leading up to the performance.

“I told Jennifer to hit her notes louder tonight so that people wouldn’t notice how sick I was,” Clarkson told reporters after the performance.

Though she may not have been feeling in tip-top shape while performing, it doesn’t make their rendition of their song any less lovely. With two of the biggest voices in music, it’s no surprise that they sound even more amazing together.

But this isn’t the first time that either singer has performed this holiday song in public. Clarkson sang it 15 years ago at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in 2003:

The song seems to be a favorite of Clarkson’s, who also recorded it for the album “American Idol: Great Holiday Classics.”

Hudson performed “O Holy Night” for her 2009 “Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas” TV special for ABC:

While their solo performances are beautiful, nothing beats these world-class singers performing a soulful holiday duet together. Would it be too much to hope for a joint Christmas album from these two?