And then there were five. What began as a field of 40 hopefuls just a few months ago has narrowed week by week until only a handful remained. The Season 25 Finale of The Voice will feature an intense competition between the top finalists: Bryan Oleson, Josh Sanders, Asher HaVon, Nathan Chester, and Karen Waldrup.
Karen’s Journey on The Voice
Karen Waldrup, a country musician known for blending classic sounds with modern innovation, represents Team Dan + Shay. The duo chose her after her impressive performance of Jo Dee Messina’s ‘Bye Bye’ during the Blinds. Over time, she navigated through the Battles, Knockouts, Playoffs, and Live Shows, eventually making it to the two-part season finale.
Waldrup hails from Mandeville, Louisiana, and earned an orchestra choir scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi. While studying, she began performing at various venues, from bars to football games.
The Memorable Performances
During her time on the show, Karen went up against Ryan Argast in the Battles, where they sang Dan + Shay’s ‘Save Me the Trouble.’ According to Mooney: We didn’t just pick this song because it’s ours… we know you can handle it.
In the Knockouts, she delivered a captivating performance of Trisha Yearwood’s ‘Georgia Rain,’ which pushed her through to subsequent rounds and earned praise from the coaches. Dan Smyers mentioned after one of her performances: Karen, you just have one of the most incredible voices. A lot of people need an engineer in the studio… that’s an incredible ability that not everybody has
.
The Support of Her Coaches
The support from her coaches was evident throughout. Reba McEntire showed interest during the Blinds but was blocked by Dan + Shay. John Legend later expressed his regret for not turning around during her Blind Audition.
A Grateful Finalist
Karen expressed gratitude towards her coaches saying: My life is better because of you two
. This heartfelt sentiment highlighted how significant their guidance was in her journey.
The Final Performance
Towards the culmination of her journey on The Voice, Karen along with Dan + Shay performed ‘You Look Good’ by Lady A during the finale night. This marked a fitting end to her vibrant journey on Season 25 of The Voice.
The Future Beyond The Voice
Though she didn’t win the competition, finishing fifth this season is just an early chapter in Waldrup’s evolving story as an artist. Her performances and growth on The Voice hint at a promising future in country music.
Follow Us