ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) – Magdalen Square is Abbeville was standing room only Wednesday afternoon as the crowd waited for the arrival of Koryn Hawthorne, 17, who has made it to the top five on the TV show “The Voice”. The city held a parade in Hawthorne’s honor where she rode on a float to Magdalen Square. Film crews from “The Voice” were there to film the homecoming celebration.

Roaming the crowd it wasn’t hard to find people who know Hawthorne. Justine Sampy was there to cheer Hawthorne on. Sampy’s husband, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin is Hawthorne’s cousin. Sampy has known Hawthorne for several years and said words can’t even explain what it’s been like to watch her grow as a singer and young woman.

“She has a phenomenal voice. She is ‘The Voice’. She really is and she has done a phenomenal performance thus far and it’s just, we’re just looking for the great outcome and I know that she’s going to win,” Sampy said.

Before Hawthorne’s performance, Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza declared May 6, 2015 “Koryn Hawthorne Day” in Abbeville and presented her with a key to the city.