Kata Hay, an aspiring singer who gained public recognition as a contestant on NBC's The Voice in 2016, was arrested on Wednesday by authorities in Oklahoma, based on a vehicular homicide warrant issued by the Goodlettsville Police Department in Tennessee. The arrest followed an appeal from the Tennessee police department for public assistance in locating Hay, whose real name is Kata Huddleston. Police had previously released a photograph of Hay on social media, indicating their belief that she might be traveling towards Oklahoma accompanied by a white male and possibly towing a large camper.

The Oklahoma native was apprehended in her home state by a local sheriff's deputy early Wednesday morning. The Goodlettsville Police Department later confirmed the arrest in a follow-up social media post, expressing gratitude to the numerous citizens who provided tips regarding Ms. Huddleston's whereabouts. The department stated that her arrest was a direct result of these tips and announced that she will be extradited back to Davidson County, Tennessee, to face charges.

Beyond the vehicular homicide warrant, Hay is reportedly facing a series of other legal challenges stemming from a separate incident on December 10. According to TMZ, these charges include an open DUI case, leaving the scene of an accident where property damage was estimated to exceed $1,500, and driving with an open container of alcohol. Furthermore, Hay has a past conviction from 2022 for sexual contact with a minor, for which she was sentenced to six months in jail.

During her time on The Voice, where she competed in season 10, Hay's blind audition performing Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman” garnered significant attention. Three out of the four coaches—Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, and Christina Aguilera—turned their chairs for her. She ultimately chose Christina Aguilera as her coach. Her audition segment made headlines when she openly admitted that Aguilera was her “first girl crush,” leading to a memorable onstage kiss between them. Hay successfully navigated through the battle and knockout rounds, reaching the top 20 contestants, before her elimination in the first week of the live playoffs.

Hay is expected to appear before a district court judge in Oklahoma on Monday to sign a waiver of extradition, a procedural step that will facilitate her transfer to Tennessee to address the charges against her.