Newark's Kelsea Johnson reacts to advancing on 'The Voice'

How do you prepare to sing on live television in front of 10 million people?

That's what Newark's Kelsea Johnson is wondering right now after continuing her march on NBC's "The Voice" on Monday night, advancing to the upcoming live playoff round.

After nearly two months of pre-taped segments, Johnson will sing live on one of the program's three playoff episodes next week along with the 23 other remaining contestants.

The live rounds will begin Monday at 8 p.m. and continue on April 17 and April 18.

Johnson said she had one goal during her latest segment on the show, which was filmed in California over the winter: Don't let down her coach, 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys.

"I felt like Alicia took a chance on me, almost. I wanted to prove to her that she didn't make the wrong choice," Johnson said Tuesday afternoon after touring the program's set ahead of next week's live shows. "I just can't wait. A live show is a whole different ballgame."

Johnson's rendition of soul singer Andra Day's "Rise Up" once again won over Johnson's coach on Monday's program, which whittled down the competitors.

Not only did Keys advance the 22-year-old Johnson, whose neo-soul sound is reminiscent of Keys' own work, but she heaped praise just as she had before.

"There's something really mysterious and special about Kelsea. It's that je ne sais quoi — that 'It Factor,'" Keys said. "She has a beautiful style and voice."

Monday's episode pitted Johnson against fellow contestant Sharlane Calister, 24, of Iowa.

Ahead of her performance, Johnson spoke of how the inspirational message of "Rise Up" touched her, especially after Johnson lost her grandfather, who died from complications from liver cancer during "The Voice" audition process.

"He was in a little mariachi band and is definitely a big part of why I'm even here because he brought music into our family," Johnson said on the program Monday after wiping away tears.

Both her mother and father watched Monday's show from back home in Delaware.

A graduate of Delcastle Technical High School and Stony Brook University, Johnson moved to California last year. She plans to put her psychology and sociology degrees aside to pursue a singing career following "The Voice," no matter the outcome.

The show "put a battery in my back," she told The News Journal last month.

Before "The Voice," her biggest performance was singing the national anthem at the annual Duffy's Hope charity basketball game at Newark's Bob Carpenter Center.

Monday's televised result was a waiting game for family, friends and fans. Johnson's appearance came at the very end of the final two-hour "Knockouts" round, leaving everyone waiting until nearly 10 p.m. to learn Johnson's fate.

With plenty of praise from the show's coaches and a couple of winning moments already under her belt, Johnson feels like she's in good shape as she attempts to make the Top 12 next week.

"I'm really confident and just counting down the days," she says. "I think my chances are really good."

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).