After losing battle rounds, Diaz advanced when she was picked up by judge Miley Cyrus

By Charity Lindsey
Apple Valley Review

After an intense showdown in “The Voice” battle rounds, local singer Lauren Diaz has retained her spot on the show — but on another judge’s team.

Diaz, an Apple Valley resident, sang “Maybe” by Janis Joplin along with fellow contestant Wé McDonald, during the battle, which aired Monday night. Both artists were competing to win the pick of their coach, Alicia Keys, who is Diaz’s longtime music idol.

Although she said it was “a dream come true” to be chosen by Keys during her “blind audition,” which aired last month, Diaz wasn’t disappointed for long after losing the battle to McDonald.

That’s because just moments later, both Miley Cyrus and Adam Levine pushed their judge’s buttons to “steal” Diaz for their own teams.

Diaz told the Daily Press on Tuesday that she immediately knew Cyrus was going to be a great fit for her.

“Me and her are kind of like each other in the sense of our quirkiness,” Diaz said. “I don’t regret picking Alicia in any way, but being on Team Miley ... it feels like home to me.”

Reality still hasn’t fully set in for Diaz, however.

“I feel like I’m still in a dream,” Diaz said. “This experience has been the best experience of my life.”

Diaz said the most difficult part of the competition is having to go head-to-head with her fellow contestants who are “becoming family” to her.

“That part kind of sucks because we grow so close in this process,” Diaz said, adding that when it comes to performing, “the gloves come off.” “It’s just amazing to be able to be with people who share the same interest as you ... It’s truly inspiring.”

Diaz, 24, has been singing since she was 7 years old, winning her first major competition when she was 13 on “America’s Most Talented Kid.”

Her music career was set aside temporarily when she became pregnant with her son at 19, but she said she “knew that no matter what roadblocks, singing is what I am meant to do.”

During her first appearance on “The Voice,” Diaz’s longtime boyfriend and the father of her son surprised her by proposing on national television.

She said her family has been a major support through her journey on the show.

“It’s been crazy for us ... People want to take pictures, even people at Starbucks will recognize my husband from TV,” Diaz said. “But it’s been a very fun experience.”

Diaz, a Sultana High School alum, is also known locally as one of the regular singers at High Desert Church, where she has been helping lead worship for about two years, and as a voice coach.

“Business is doing awesome,” Diaz said. “There’s not enough hours in the day, I’m just trying to get new clients in.” She said that no matter her success on "The Voice," her heart is still set on being a vocal teacher.

Meanwhile, she’s also absorbing as much wisdom as she can from "The Voice" coaches and the “mega mentors” they bring in, including Tim McGraw, who Diaz is a “huge fan of.”

Diaz said she is excited to learn new music and experience more “hands-on” coaching from Cyrus as they go into the Knockout Rounds, which air Oct. 24 and 25.

“You’re really fighting for your life up there,” Diaz said. “It’s about giving it all you got.”

"The Voice" airs on NBC at 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

Charity Lindsey may be contacted at clindsey@vvdailypress.com or 760-951-6245. Follow her on twitter @DP_Charity.