Southern Miss alumna Karen Waldrup stunning in red on 'The Voice' finale

Lici Beveridge, Hattiesburg American

It was a star-studded event Tuesday night on the Season 25 finale of "The Voice."

Clips of former judges and guests were woven into the live show, which featured performances by stars like Lainey Wilson, The Black Keys, Jelly Roll, Kate Hudson, Muni Long and Thomas Rhett.

During the show, Wilson was invited by Judge Reba McEntire to join the Grand Ole Opry.

University of Southern Mississippi graduate Karen Waldrup wore a red dress with red boots to match on the final night of the competition, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
University of Southern Mississippi graduate Karen Waldrup wore a red dress with red boots to match on the final night of the competition, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Surprise! Lainey Wilson during 'The Voice' finale was invited by Reba to join the Grand Ole Opry

The five finalists sang duets with their coaches. University of Southern Mississippi alumna Karen Waldrup, a native of Mandeville, Louisiana, sang with Wilson.

Karen Waldrup performed "You Look Good" By Lady A with coaches Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, whom she thanked for mentoring her.

"You made such a huge impact on my life and my music," Waldrup said on Facebook. "I will never be able to express my gratitude for this incredible journey."

'The Voice' finale: Reba McEntire scores victory with soulful powerhouse Asher HaVon

But it was her faith in God that carried her through the competition, she said.

"The reason I'm on this stage right now is because every time I stepped foot on this stage, I gave my performance to God," Waldrup said.

Waldrup wore a shimmering red gown with sparkling red boots to match for her final appearance on the show.

Despite being a powerhouse throughout the season, Waldrup's journey on "The Voice" came to an end on the final night, but she did not take home the top prize. That honor went to Asher HaVon, from Selma, Alabama, who was mentored by McEntire.

After congratulating HaVon for winning the competition, Waldrup also thanked the show and her support team.

"Thank you, Dan + Shay and 'The Voice' for showcasing a singer from Mandeville, Louisiana — an experience I am forever grateful for," Waldrup wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans who have supported me during this journey and will continue to be by my side."

Asher HaVon, of Selma, Alabama, was named the winner of Season 25 of "The Voice" during the show's finale, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Asher HaVon, of Selma, Alabama, was named the winner of Season 25 of "The Voice" during the show's finale, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

'The Voice' Top 5 finalists

  • Fifth place: Karen Waldrup (Team Dan + Shay)

  • Fourth place: Nathan Chester (Team Legend)

  • Third place: Bryan Olesen (Team Legend)

  • Second place: Josh Sanders (Team Reba)

  • First place: Asher HaVon (Team Reba)

Do you have news to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: USM grad Karen Waldrup takes fifth place on 'The Voice'

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