Hanover grad Katie Wheatley didn't make it onto The Voice, but the experience was a blast

Sometimes in life, "it just takes some time."

That was the message shared by Katie Wheatley, 28, a 2013 graduate of Hanover High School, when she performed on NBC's "The Voice" in the final round of blind auditions on Oct. 16.

Wheatley, who over a decade ago performed in Hanover High School's "Hanover idol" singing competition, had come full circle. Now, she was on the real thing, auditioning in front of judges John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan and Reba McEntire.

In that audition, it held a special meaning for her getting to perform a cover of "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World, styled after a version by Audrey Assad.

'Even in waiting seasons, they’re not wasted seasons," said Wheatley during an interview on Wednesday.

"There's hope, even in the waiting," she said.

That rang true for Wheatley, who has been awaiting her first child in December. Her son, Averett Kenneth, is due on Dec. 15.

Wheatley was the first contestant to perform on "The Voice" while pregnant, according to her audition video on the show.

For her, getting to share the moment with her unborn son was a truly special moment.

"I’m thrilled that one day the two of us will get to look back at it," said Wheatley. “Can we consider myself a duo?” she asked in her audition video.

At the time of the audition, Wheatley was holding two huge secrets from her family and friends.

Wheatley was ready to announce her pregnancy shortly before the auditions took place in July, but with the secrecy of spending a month in California, she didn't want to announce the pregnancy immediately before disappearing for a month.

"I didn't want to freak people out," she said.

Instead, Wheatley waited and announced her pregnancy to her friends and family after returning from the month in California. Then, only recently, was she able to announce why she had disappeared for a month: to audition for "The Voice."

Wheatley's audition came as one of the last blind auditions for the show, and with most judges already having a full team, she did not get chosen for any of the remaining judges' teams.

Though no judge turned a chair, Wheatley was praised by judge Gwen Stefani, who highlighted the nuances in her voice.

“I really love how you go in and out of your chest voice," Stefani said to Wheatley after her audition.

"You have that little bit of a scratchy yodel," she added. "All those nuances are really special.”

Wheatley was congratulated on her baby by Stefani and fellow judge Niall Horan, who surmised that they might see Wheatley back on their stage some day with her son.

For the moment, Wheatley is focused on starting her family, she said, and she doesn't anticipate that happening in the near future.

Still, the experience was "unforgettable" and a "once in a lifetime," she said.

"It was a blast," said Wheatley, who noted what is shown on the show is only about 5% of the actual experience.

Wheatley spent a month in California for the show, working with vocal coaches and mingling with the other contestants.

Her favorite part of the experience was getting to meet so many other contestants from different walks of life.

"You create a bond," she said of her time with her fellow contestants.

During that time, Wheatley was able to record a song in her hotel room, which she will be releasing next month.

"God has given me so many blessings this year," said Wheatley. "I’m speechless."

Wheatley, maiden name Katie Tine, currently lives in Owasso, Oklahoma, where she is the creative arts administrative associate at First Church. She moved to Oklahoma from Hanover with her husband, Nick Wheatley, in 2017.

Though the producers of the show focused in on her time in Oklahoma, Wheatley said she was proud to represent Hanover on national television. In her original application to the producers, Wheatley even mentioned her past experience of performing in the Hanover Idol contest in high school.

Ultimately, Wheatley hopes that she can set an example for her son to follow his dreams some day.

'Whatever stage you want to go to, don’t stop reaching for your dreams.”

“The Voice” airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC and on Peacock TV.

Harrison Jones is the Hanover reporter for the Evening Sun. Reach him at hjones@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: Hanover PA grad Katie Wheatley shares audition experience on The Voice