Stagg Grad Makes Battle Round On NBC's 'The Voice'

PALOS PARK, IL — A 20-year-old Stagg High School graduate has advanced to the battle round of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning show The Voice. Abby Kasch, who grew up in Palos Park and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, wowed judges in her blind audition that aired Monday night. Abby earned a spot on Team Kelly by singing "Here For the Party."

“Walking up on that stage was probably the most nervous I ever was in my life,” Abby said, who flew home to watch the taped blind audition with her family. “Channeling my excitement into my performance really helped out with my adrenaline. It was a good feeling to watch that and not go into nervous shutdown.”

Abby drove from Nashville to Atlanta, Georgia, last June for the open call audition of The Voice. She sang in a few rounds, then was called back the next day for the TV round.

“They told me they’d be in touch in the two months and then it was the waiting game,” Abby said. “I was pretty positive. I’m a huge believer in manifesting and thinking positive over it and making it happen. I told myself every day that I was going to be on The Voice.”

She found out in September that she made the taped blind audition. After singing “Here for the Party,” judges Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton turned their chairs. Abby had to choose which team she’d be on for the battle round that will air later this month, so she chose Clarkson.

The first time her parents realized Abby could sing was during a fifth grade Earth Day concert at Palos West Elementary School.

“I never really sang a solo before. Being part of groups and choirs, it wasn’t my big thing,” Abby recalled. “I remember my parents freaking out. They really had no clue.”

During high school, she continued to hone her skills and eventually formed a band with her brother and some other friends. School wasn’t easy, as she was often bullied for her weight. Despite her musical success outside of school, she could never win over her peers.

“My parents told me to have thick skin,” Abby said. “I’m happy to have the growing up that I did. I would have been roughed up in Nashville and never would have made it, especially since Nashville is so man-run.”

After graduating from Stagg, Abby headed for the bright lights of Nashville where has lived for the past year. Four days after she arrive, she landed regular singing gig sat Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge and Honky Tonk Central. Abby hopes to one day record and write her own songs.

“I want to be able to write and record and just put out music,” Abby said. “I want to help other kids struggling with bullying and being put down. I want to have a platform to be an [anti-bullying] advocate. I could have used that growing up.”

As with all “Voice” contestants, Abby is sworn to secrecy about the outcome of the battle round. Live shows with the finalists will start airing in April. You’re just going to have to watch The Voice to see if she makes it to finals. Whatever happens, Abby has already shown the bullies just far she has come.