JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville's very own local talent, Katie O. stands out as a contestant on NBC's 'The Voice.' She was described as Reba McEntire's 18-year-old twin.
Katie survived Tuesday's 'knock out' round on the show. To the young country singer, being on The Voice does not feel real to her. She initially submitted videos to get their attention, and thereafter, said it snowballed into a blind audition, as she was selected by Reba herself.
"I can't say too much, but I have learned really to put my best foot forward and something she said to me, which is kind of simple, but it's just, it means so much is, 'Never give up,'" Katie told First Coast News. "There's been some challenges. Even with my blind audition song, there were parts that I was a little bit nervous for and really she just pushes me to do better."
Katie recently impressed the coaches on the show — Reba, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé — after showing off her skills in a four-way-sing-off during the battle rounds. Afterward, she held it down during the survival round.
Next, is the playoffs. The 18-year-old said she's been singing all her life, but only started performing publicly at the age of 13. After participating in an open mic event, Katie said she knew music was going to play a huge roll in her life.
"I just believe the sky is not the limit," Katie O. said. "You can do anything you set your mind to and might be a little scary at times. In my blind audition, there was a time I was like, 'This is a little outside my comfort zone,' but I kind of just jumped right in and it's just gone wild from there, and I'm so thankful to anyone listening. I would say go for it."
The Jacksonville native said she's proud to chant "DUUUVAL," and said she's currently working on releasing new music for her newly acquired fans.
New episodes of The Voice air on Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC 12.