AMES, Iowa — EllieMae Millenkamp’s senior year at Iowa State University started with singing on national TV and is ending with the unknown of when she’ll sing live again.
Millenkamp, senior in agricultural business from Jerome, Idaho, was on NBC’s “The Voice” last fall. She sang Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go Round” during the blind auditions, and judge Blake Shelton turned his chair to give her a standing ovation.
“We’re supposed to hear somebody that we like, and coach ‘em. And I heard enough. I wanted you on my team. Welcome to Team Blake,” Shelton said following Millenkamp’s audition.
Since her time on the show ended, Millenkamp’s music career didn’t slow down – until the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to cancel all live shows in March and April.
“It doesn’t make me depressed, but it’s sad because it’s so quiet,” she said. “I feed off the energy of going to shows, so not playing shows completely opens up my weekends. I really miss it and I’m excited to get back.”
The music hasn’t stopped entirely. Millenkamp is scheduling shows further out in the year, singing live on social media and writing songs.