Austin Gilbert Put His Stamp On Jake Owen’s ‘Eight Second Ride’ During ‘The Voice’ Knockouts Round

Season 28 The Voice contestant, Austin Gilbert, took the stage with a Jake Owen classic this week, putting his own spin on “Eight Second Ride” as he fought for a spot in competition’s Playoffs. The rising singer stepped into the final night of Season 28 Knockouts ready to prove himself, going head-to-head with fellow Team Reba member Peyton Kyle.

Each contestant chose their own songs, giving fans a closer look at who they are as artists. Gilbert leaned into his country roots with the high-energy Jake Owen hit, while Peyton took on Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Want to Be.”

“I chose this song because I love to work a crowd. It gets me going and it gets a crowd hyped up and on their feet. It’s a country anthem,” Gilbert told his coach, Reba McEntire.

He certainly made his presence known in front of the coaches and live audience as he stepped up to the mic donning his signature western look. An epic light show lit up the stage at the top of the performance, setting the tone for an unforgettable delivery.

Without a doubt, Gilbert brought the energy to the stage as he channeled his passion for capturing his audience’s attention. The Eugene, Oregon native let his authentic twang shine as he told the classic country tale of a guy meeting a girl in a bar and instantly feeling a spark between them.

The chorus goes, “And she said, Hey boy, do you mind Taking me home tonight?/ Because I have not never seen a country boy/ With tires on his truck this high/ I said, Climb on up, but honey, watch the cup/ That I’m spitting my dip inside/ And hold on tight ’cause it’s going to be wilder/ Than any eight second ride.”

He earned a standing ovation from the coaching panel and some very high praise, making it a very hard decision for McEntire.

“You guys both showed up, you left nothing. This is what the knockouts are about. Honestly Reba, I don’t know that I could choose because both of you nailed it so well,” Michael Bublé admitted.

Snoop Dogg told Gilbert he thought his song choice was “perfect” as it “showed a whole lot of what you have to offer and why Reba stole you.”

While Niall Horan gave some strong critiques to both acts, he gave his vote to Kyle.

Austin, you never disappoint, you sing your butt off and you did a great job. I’m very very proud of ya. Payton, I liked you from the beginning because I was the only one that turned for you…thank you for that,” she told the contestants before admitting that she was “really torn” about her decision.

While both Gilbert and Kyle delivered standout performances, only one could move forward. In the end, Peyton earned the win, with coach Reba McEntire praising his versatility.

 “Peyton has got an amazing voice,” she said. “I think you could throw the phone book at him and he’d try to sing that and he’d do it very well.”

Austin’s run on The Voice may have ended in the Knockouts, but his performance proved why his heart and authentic country sound has connected with fans and the coaches all season long. The 25-year-old Army veteran earned his spot in the competition at the start of the season with a powerful rendition of Luke Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make,” which earned him a spot on Michael Bublé’s team. McEntire later stole Gilbert for her team following Battle Rounds. 

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This latest round of performances marked the final night of the Season 28 Knockout Rounds, which found the coaches selecting two of their teammates to face off in a sing-off. This time, the artists got to choose which song they sang and there were no Saves or Steals meaning in each round, one singer had to go home.

Next week, the winners of this round will advance to the The Voice Playoffs, followed by the two-night finale taking place December 15 and 16, 2025, on NBC.