'The Voice' Season 25 finale: Viewers doubt Karen Waldrup's victory as she performs with coaches Dan + Shay

Karen Waldrup faced tough competition as she went head-to-head with Nathan Chester, Bryan Olesen, Josh Sanders, and Asher HaVon
'The Voice' Season 25 finalist Karen Waldrup and coaches Dan + Shay sing 'You Look Good' during the finale (X/@nbcthevoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 finalist Karen Waldrup and coaches Dan + Shay sing 'You Look Good' during the finale (X/@nbcthevoice)

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA: In the grand finale of 'The Voice' Season 25, Karen Waldrup seized the spotlight alongside her mentors Dan + Shay, delivering a show-stopping rendition of 'You Look Good,' originally by the acclaimed group Lady Antebellum.

The performance was a mesmerizing display of talent and artistry, showcasing Karen's vocal prowess and the seamless chemistry between her and her coaches. The judges were left in awe as Karen's powerhouse vocals soared through the air, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed the electrifying moment.

Karen faced tough competition as she went head-to-head with Nathan Chester, Bryan Olesen, Josh Sanders, and Asher HaVon. Meanwhile, fans of the show were left underwhelmed by her finale performance and are worried she may not come out on top.

On Reddit, a fan said, "I don't get the Karen hype. She has cute outfits though." Another added, "I think it's down to Asher, Nathan or Josh coming out on top. Country fans seem to be rallying behind Josh over Karen."

On X, one fan shared, "Karen did amazing all season just to not sound her best on part 1 and 2 of the finale The win is slipping out of your hands queen."



 

Another user chimed in, "DK All I see is a younger Marjorie Taylor Green when I see Karen on stage I can't unsee that."



 

Who is 'The Voice' Season 25 finalist Karen Waldrup?

Karen Waldrup, originally from Mandeville, Louisiana, received a scholarship for orchestra choir at the University of Southern Mississippi. During her time at the university, she began performing at various venues, including bars, football games, and parties. Her cover videos have gained almost 500 million views and have amassed over a million followers.

Throughout her time on 'The Voice,' Waldrup faced off against Ryan Argast in the Battles, where she delivered a captivating rendition of Dan + Shay’s 'Save Me the Trouble.' She continued to impress the panel of coaches with her soulful performance of Trisha Yearwood’s 'Georgia Rain' during the Knockouts, ultimately earning unanimous praise and advancing through each round with her incredible talent.

'The Voice' Season 25 finalist Karen Waldrup hails from Louisiana (Instagram/@nbcthevoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 finalist Karen Waldrup hails from Louisiana (Instagram/@nbcthevoice)

Are 'The Voice' coaches Dan and Shay brothers?

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney are not brothers or childhood friends; rather, they are a duo that met by coincidence and discovered a special musical connection. 

During an interview with Taste of Country, the duo stated they met in December 2012 at a house party at Smyers' Nashville residence, which Mooney described as a typical starting artist's house with a unique feature.

Mooney described walking into the living room and seeing a tent that resembled a fort. Smyers explained that he couldn't afford to pay for heating, so he bought a lot of sheets from a thrift store and used them to create a tent in the living room to trap and conserve heat.

Smyers and Mooney first bonded over music in a quirky, budget-friendly living room setup and immediately connected. Smyers mentioned that they all gathered together and spent time playing music. He and Shay have been writing three songs daily ever since that night.

'The Voice' Season 25 coaching duo Dan + Shay (Instagram/@nbcthevoice)
'The Voice' Season 25 coaching duo Dan + Shay first met in December 2012 (Instagram/@nbcthevoice)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Bravo expands its 'Next Gen' franchise to Atlanta, introducing rising personalities navigating careers, relationships, and family dynamics.
2026-10-23T18:55:37.000Z
Bravo drops exciting 'In the City' Season 2 update as Amanda Batula’s relationship with West Wilson reshapes the 'Summer House spinoff.
2026-10-23T17:43:02.000Z
After his suspension from the dance reality show, fans have been waiting for Val to return.
2026-10-23T12:21:08.000Z
Victor sticks to his Fruitgate theory, but the fellow Faithfuls aren't convinced
2026-10-23T03:13:18.000Z
Among the cast members is a former ‘Big Brother’ Season 15 contestant, who will appear alongside her husband
2026-10-23T02:50:43.000Z
The celebrity contestant and his pro dance partner earned the season’s first perfect 10 in their score.
2026-10-22T10:30:31.000Z
Tyler Cameron dedicated his Contemporary routine with Sharna Burgess to mothers everywhere
2026-10-22T08:59:11.000Z
With the upcoming season, viewers can vote for their favorite participants and help them move closer to winning.
2026-10-22T08:24:06.000Z
During Episode 5, one duo used their express pass after they found themselves among the last two teams
2026-10-22T06:38:27.000Z
‘The New Stanford Prison Experiment’ puts 30 volunteers inside a real prison and Chris Lee played both guard and prisoner
2026-10-22T05:18:01.000Z