Karen Waldrup, an aspiring country music artist who graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, fell short on Tuesday’s season finale of The Voice.
The 37-year-old listened as host Carson Daly revealed the order of the show’s top five with Asher HaVon of Alabama taking the crown. Waldrup finished fifth behind Nathan Chester, Bryan Olesen, and Josh Sanders.
Even though the outcome wasn’t what she wanted, Waldrup took some time before Daly read the results to reflect on what’s been a step toward stardom and show gratitude to her coaches, Dan + Shay.
“My life is better because of you two,” Waldrup said. “One of the things that has been most exciting about this entire journey has been getting to sing with you guys.”
Waldrup and Dan + Shay took the stage earlier in the night for one final, joint performance. The trios sang “You Look Good” by Lady A.
After the confetti rained down and HaVon was celebrated as the season 25 winner, Waldrup issued a heartfelt social media post to cap off her run on the NBC singing competition. In it, she once again thanked Dan + Shay while congratulating her fellow contestants.
Waldrup came on to The Voice scene when she wowed with Jo Dee Messina’s “Bye Bye” during blind auditions in February. As coaches fought over whose team she would be on, Dan + Shay were eventually able to land her and through covers of Trisha Yearwood, Lainey Wilson, and Sugarland to name a few, Waldrup was able to convince fans to send her all the way to the finals.
Waldrup is the latest singer with Mississippi ties to make a deep run on The Voice after former Miss Mississippi Holly Brand advanced to the top eight last season. In 2020, Meridian pastor Todd Tilghman won the competition.
