'The Voice' Season 25: Fans claim Karen Waldrup could win the title with all country fans' votes
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA: Karen Waldrup performed the popular song "Stay" by Sugarland during her semifinal performance on the Monday, May 13 episode of 'The Voice'. Despite the coaches' glowing feedback, fans speculate that her strong support from the Country music community might propel her to the finale.
For this performance, Dan + Shay asked Karen to put her own needs first and use her storytelling skills. "I'm thankful they're pushing me out of my comfort zone," Karen said. The Mandeville, Louisiana, native's coaches urged her to be more vulnerable on Sugarland's song. In short, she nailed it.
Karen didn't simply sing the living daylights out of the heart-tugger; she also delivered a stage performance that bodes well for her potential as an actor. Following a somewhat lackluster Monday, she was an absolute delight.
On Reddit, not every viewer had the same opinion one person wrote, "Unpopular, but I thought Karen was boring. She's also very nasal. Sorry, not even close to an Asher. She's not a bad singer, of course." Another felt Karen would fill the Country singer quota in the finale, writing, "Karen (there's gonna be a country artist, and I think it'll be her)."
One fan observed, "Asher, Karen, and Madison have slightly worse live performances than non-lives but good nonetheless." Another fan predicted, "Karen will get all the country votes... No one is getting more than that... Karen wins in your first scenario."
On X, some fans worried about her spot in the finale writing, "Karen has an incredible voice though. Seems she doesn’t have many fans, but you can’t deny her voice is incredible." Another person chimed in, "It pisses me off that she doesnt have the fanbase/votes. Karen deserves to be top 5 although this wasnt my fave performance of hers. But all of her other performances were."
Karen has an incredible voice though. Seems she doesn’t have many fans, but you can’t deny her voice is incredible.
— Reality TV Chats (@realitytvchatss) May 14, 2024
#TheVoice
It pisses me off that she doesnt have the fanbase/votes. Karen deserves to be top 5 although this wasnt my fave performance of hers. But all of her other performances were #thevoice
— RaeHeartsReality (@madeforreality1) May 14, 2024
Dan + Shay enjoyed Karen Waldrup's 'vulnerability' in 'The Voice' semifinal
Karen's coaches, Dan + Shay, were delighted to see her show "a little more vulnerability" in this performance. According to Shay Mooney, Karen "wore [her] heart on [her] sleeve," while Dan Smyers noted that she "put all that work into that song" and showcased her talent brilliantly.
Who is Karen Waldrup in 'The Voice' Season 25?
Karen's singing prowess earned her a scholarship to the symphony choir at the University of Southern Mississippi, which led to local fame through performances at parties, football games, and bars. Her viral cover videos have amassed over 437 million views, leading her to over 1 million followers.
She has released singles, an EP, and an album, with one track being on Rolling Stone's Top 10 Country Songs of the Week. Her music videos have also been featured on CMT. Karen's deep appreciation for the human connection in music led her to collaborate with World War II D-Day veteran Jim Martin on the album "Normandy."
Both Fox News and military outlets have acknowledged the record's significance. Apart from her musical pursuits, Karen enjoys scuba diving and actively engages in philanthropic endeavors, including collaborating with the Mission of Hope in Haiti.
When will 'The Voice' Season 25 finale air?
The Season 25 grand finale of 'The Voice' will have two episodes. According to the program, the first portion will air on May 20, followed by the final show on May 21.
'The Voice' Season 25 airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC.