USM grad Karen Waldrup continues to ‘The Voice’ final round
Karen Waldrup didn’t have to wait long to find out she was one of five singers going into the finals on Season 25 of “The Voice.”
The University of Southern Mississippi alumna from Mandeville, Louisiana, was the first out of the gate to be named a finalist, following judge Chance the Rapper’s performance of his new single, “Together.”
Waldrup gave a magical performance of Sugarland’s “Stay,” which convinced voters to let her know they too wanted her to stay in the competition.
Team Dan + Shay, who mentored Waldrup in their first appearance as judges on the show, have praised the singer’s talent and stage presence throughout the show.
“They’ve been very supportive,” Waldrup said of her coaches Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney.
Team Legend’s Nathan Chester and Team Reba’s Asher HaVon and Josh Sanders were the next semifinalists to make it into next week’s final round.
The remaining five contestants had to sing for their lives in hopes of being named the fifth and final singer to move on in the competition.
That honor went to Team Reba’s Bryan Oleson, who sang Coldplay’s “Vida la Vida.”
The Top 5 will perform one more time on Monday, with the winner to be announced live Tuesday night on NBC.
The Top 5 contestants going into the final round of “The Voice”:
● Nathan Chester (Team Legend)
● Asher HaVon (Team Reba)
● Bryan Olesen (Team Legend)
● Josh Sanders (Team Reba)
● Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay) Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com . Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.