3 Quick Facts About ‘The Voice’ Season 26 Star Katie O

Since 2011, The Voice has introduced viewers to some serious musical talent. Since its Sept. 23 premiere, season 26 has already produced some stellar performances. Tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 15) wraps up Blind Auditions, heading into the Battle Rounds next week. It’s getting down to the wire, and coaches Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani are prepared to duke it out for 18-year-old country singer Katie O. Here are three things you should know about the Jacksonville, Florida native, who left viewers speechless with her cover of LeAnn Rimes’ 1996 hit “One Way Ticket (Because I Can.)”

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1. She Comes From a Musical Family

According to a 2019 bio, Katie O (born Katherine Ondrejicka) has three older brothers: Dawson, Mikey and Dillon. The siblings grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, surrounded by music. After learning to play the piano by ear, their mother eventually released a gospel album.

[RELATED: ‘The Voice’ Coaches Are Fighting Over This Teen Star Following Powerful Leann Rimes Cover]

2. Singing Cured Her Shyness

During an April 2022 appearance on Jacksonville-based podcast RealJax With Jim and Larry, Katie O explained how she started singing. The painfully shy 10-year-old shocked her mother by asking to sign up for an open mic night at a local pizza restaurant. “Since then, I’ve just been hooked on it,” said The Voice season 26 hopeful.

3. ‘The Voice’ Isn’t Her First Reality Show Rodeo

Two years before she floored coaches with a four-chair LeAnn Rimes cover, Katie O auditioned for season 20 of American Idol back in 2022. While she apparently punched her golden ticket to Hollywood, her final showing is unclear. However, Katie had nothing but positive things to say about the journey during her appearance on RealJax With Jim and Larry.

“I met some friends that will be friends for life now,” she said. “It’s kind of like, I found my people. I started talking, and it was like everything just clicked. It didn’t matter their beliefs or anything. It was like music just brought us all together.”

@superhotvocals

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Catch Katie O on ‘The Voice’ Tonight

Thanks to an episode 5 sneak peek, we know Katie O nabbed a four-chair turn on The Voice and now has her pick of coaches. Tune in to NBC at 7 p.m. Central tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 15) to see who she chooses.

Featured image via Instagram