At age 3, Lacy Mandigo sang "Jingle Bells" for a small audience at the Statesville YMCA.

Now 18, the Statesville native is singing on a much bigger stage.

Lacy has made it through three of the televised rounds on NBC’s "The Voice" and will sing during the live playoffs in front of millions of viewers this week.

Lacy always had a strong connection to music, according to stepmother Kim Mandigo, who said she knew Lacy had musical talent since she was a toddler and began singing at church. She said there was not a “dry eye” in the pews after Lacy sang.

The Record & Landmark spoke to Lacy and her family about her experience on national TV and the people and inspirations that got her there.

Roots in rock and blues

Like many musicians, the songs of Elvis Presley provided an early inspiration.

“When she was 3 years old, I put Elvis in and the very first song she sang with me was ‘Hound Dog’,” said Lacy's father, Brian. “I think that’s when she started getting that rasp and dirtiness to her voice; that’s when she learned how to sing with a growl.”