Karen Waldrup gives faith a fighing chance in 'The Voice' playoffs

Karen Waldrup is not settling for any path of least resistance as she enters the live playoffs on Season 25 of "The Voice."

The University of Southern Mississippi graduate from Mandeville, Louisiana, took to the stage Monday with guns blazing as she eased into Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance," ending with an explosion of fireworks that lit the stage on fire.

Waldrup accompanied herself on guitar, occasionally pausing to let the words and music soak in before picking it back up again.

There was nothing subtle about Waldrup's performance. She donned a shimmering fringed dress and though the melody was soft and low, Waldrup's powerful vocals rose clear and bright over the backing music.

Waldrup said in an earlier story she has been singing all her life, but never considered a career in music until she moved to Hattiesburg to attend Southern Miss. After graduation, she moved to Nashville pursue her new goal in life.

"I came up playing the guitar and singing in church and singing in the choir at school, doing anything and everything and loving it," she said. "I never really dreamed it would turn into all of this."

In her words: 'The Voice' powerhouse Karen Waldrup dishes about childhood, USM days and musical career

Waldrup is one of 12 contestants in the final rounds. Three of those candidates will be eliminated tonight. If Waldrup is one of the remaining nine, she will perform again in the next round of finals and eliminations May 13 and May 14. The winner of the competition will be announced May 20.

"The Voice" airs at 7 tonight on NBC.

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This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Karen Waldrup shines in 'The Voice' playoffs