Abbeville’s Koryn Hawthorne brought down the house on “The Voice,” by taking it to church.
Hawthorne, who is battling it out for a spot in the top 12 on NBC’s singing competition, sang ‘How Great Thou Art,’ a Christian hymn and gospel staple.
Her rousing rendition brought the judges, including her current coach, Pharrell Williams, to their feet.
Hawthorne said she chose the song partly because her father is a minister. It earned her some of the highest praise of the night.
“You remind me of Be (Beyonce) so much,” Williams said. “You have that same drive.”
“It’s so cool to see you triumph over your nerves,” Levine said.
Blake Shelton marveled at how much power Hawthorne displayed despite her age.
How old are you? Shelton asked. “Seventeen? That’s the thing that blows me away. Anyway, welcome to the top 12.”
“The Voice” judges are no longer able to decide the fates of the singers.
Monday night marked the start of what is called the “Live Shows,” in which audiences vote for their favorites and thus decide who stays and who moves on in the competition. Hawthorne said she gave it her all in an effort to win over viewers.
“This show has changed my life dramatically,” Hawthorne said. “I want to make it to top 12.”
Results from Monday night’s competition will be announced on Tuesday night’s live show at 7 p.m.