Former ‘The Voice’ Contestant Kata Hay Apprehended on Vehicular Homicide Charges
Kata Hay, a former contestant who rose to prominence on the 2016 season of The Voice, was taken into custody on Wednesday following the issuance of a vehicular homicide warrant. The arrest was confirmed by the Goodlettsville Police Department in Tennessee.
Earlier in the week, law enforcement officials turned to Facebook to solicit the public’s help in tracking down Hay, whose legal name is Kata Huddleston. Authorities indicated they believed the singer was fleeing toward Oklahoma, accompanied by an unidentified male and towing a large camper.
The search concluded early Wednesday morning when a local sheriff’s deputy in Oklahoma apprehended the singer. Following the arrest, the Goodlettsville Police Department released a statement thanking the community for the influx of tips that led to her discovery. “As a direct result, we are pleased to announce that she was arrested early this morning in Oklahoma, where she will remain until she is extradited to Davidson County,” the department shared.
In addition to the grave charge of vehicular homicide, Hay faces several other legal hurdles stemming from a December 10 incident. According to reports from TMZ, she has been charged with driving under the influence, fleeing the scene of an accident involving property damage exceeding $1,500, and operating a vehicle with an open container of alcohol.
This arrest marks a continuation of the singer’s legal troubles; in 2022, Hay was convicted of sexual contact with a minor, a crime for which she served a six-month sentence in jail.
Hay first made headlines during her blind audition for Season 10 of The Voice. Her energetic performance of “Redneck Woman” earned chair turns from Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, and Christina Aguilera. The audition became a viral moment when Hay confessed that Aguilera was her “first girl crush,” leading to an onstage kiss between the two. Hay eventually joined Aguilera’s team and progressed to the top 20 before being eliminated in the live playoffs.
Hay is expected to appear before a district court judge in Oklahoma this coming Monday to finalize an extradition waiver, clearing the way for her return to Tennessee to face trial.
