Team Shakira’s country singer Kristen Merlin crushed her performance of Sugarland’s “Stay” on The Voice live show Monday, before her mic dropped out about 30 seconds from the end of her performance. Still, Merlin, ever the consummate performer, continued singing during the tech failure. A technician put a mic in her hands right in time for the song’s final note, and when the sound came on she was still on pitch and unwavering. Merlin’s professionalism in the face of what could have been disastrous, sent the entire room, including all four coaches, to their feet for a standing ovation.
Of the potential debacle Merlin told Today.com, "It was so nerve-racking, and honestly I just wanted to run off and cry in a corner.”
She added that she did stay strong and kept singing, "Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. For me, rocking a show, I don't think I'd ever really stop. I'm always in life just always going, always trying, never giving up, and I think that kind of just proved it."
Coach Shakira was so thrilled with Merlin’s performance she called her beautiful inside and out.