An Abbeville native is in the national spotlight for Wednesday's inauguration festivities.
Koryn Hawthorne is one of several gospel singers who performed in Washington D.C. Wednesday night. She was a finalist on The Voice, and continues to make a name for herself with her voice.
Hawthorne is the youngest performer on the program for the 2021 Inaugural Gospel Celebration. She says she's honored to be a part of history.
"It's a blessing from God," she said.
Saying 'yes' to a phone call from her record label about taping a performance for the Inauguration Day festivities was a no-brainer for Hawthorne.
"I was just really excited to be able to kind of give for the president and the vice president."
But Hawthorne wasn't just performing for the new administration.
Luis Gartia, a student at Hawthorne's old high school, said, "People where we're at don't really make it far. It takes a lot for somebody to come from right here and do something big like that and it means a lot."
Students at the school watched in awe.
"I'm glad she came from this school," added Nathaniel Tezeno. "It inspires everybody else to try and do better."
On the official website, organizers say the celebration lends a voice of hope, unity, and healing to the world. Hawthorne hopes the same is true with the incoming administration.
"Even this year a lot has happened already," stated Hawthorne. "So I'm really happy and just proud to be able to call them president and vice president, and I think that means a lot to me and so many others."
Hawthorne says she hopes to be invited back for future events.
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