Idol Chatter & Voice Views

More than three years ago, DaNica Shirey stepped away from the stage after the death of her father, one of the biggest supporters of her music.

Wednesday night, she stepped onto the Pullo Center stage in front of a packed house of adoring fans eager to welcome her home after a successful run on NBC’s The Voice.

They chanted her name. They gave her a standing ovation after she performed Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” her signature song.

And they cheered wildly at every mention of the words “wild card.”

Because even though DaNica was eliminated when The Voice cut its field of singers from eight to five Tuesday night, one wild card contestant will get to compete in the finale for the Season 7 title.

Laurel Lokhaiser, 13, of York, is among the fans who think that wild card spot should go to DaNica, noting she had the most Twitter support of the three contestants cut this week.

“Oh, my gosh, she was amazing,” Laurel said after DaNica completed a four-song set during which she also reprised her covers of “Help Me,” “Big White Room” and “Creep.”

Several fans expressed surprise that DaNica wasn’t voted into the Top 5.

“She’s been very strong all along,” said Ruth Joynes, 58, of Red Lion. “I don’t know what everyone was looking for.”

Added Erin Hawk, 18, of Dallastown: “She’s such a powerhouse, super amazing. And she was the last girl (in the finals), which is amazing, too. I’m just hoping she gets back in (via the wild card.)”

DaNica, 25, and the first Yorker to appear on The Voice, arrived at the Pullo Center entrance in a fire truck and said one glimpse of such a large crowd made it clear how much support she has from local fans.

“We were kind of sneaking in the back; they didn’t want anyone to see me, and I was like in tears coming through,” she said before singing Wednesday night. “I’m like, ‘I can’t believe all these people are here for me.’”

Her stop home will be brief. She has to head back to The Voice to prepare for the wild card round; she believes she’ll be performing for a national audience again early next week.

But she says she has regained the confidence she lost following the death of her father, Joseph, who served as her music manager.

Part of that is because of Pharrell Williams, her coach on the Voice, a mentor who absolutely won’t let her doubt herself, DaNica said.

And part of that is because of the fans who send her messages of support on a daily basis.

In Pharrell Williams, she’s found a new biggest supporter of her voice. After she performed Tuesday night, he told DaNica she has “a super bright future” in music and that he plans to be involved.

“It’s really amazing knowing that no matter what happens, this is not the end of the journey,” DaNica said. “I feel like I have the love and support of him no matter what. And I have the love and support of everyone here, no matter what. It’s really reassuring. That’s why I love doing what I do.

know that he’s very interested in working on some songs with me,” she added of Pharrell. “He made that very clear. He said that again to me last night. He said, ‘Let’s get into the studio tonight.’ But I was flying home right after the show.”

And what would her father have thought of the Wednesday night scene at the Pullo Center and the reception she received?

“He would be so proud, I feel like,” DaNica said. “I feel like I can always see him in my mind, standing there smiling, freaking out the way he would backstage. I feel like he would be ecstatic.”

DaNica talks to her fans

Sorry, my videos aren’t nearly as professional as the one by photographer Bill Kalina above. But, hey, you can hear DaNica.

DaNica sings for her fans