Rising Stars: Meet Karen Waldrup

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Waldrup.

Hi Karen, We’re thrilled to have a chance to hear your story today. Before we get into specifics, please briefly describe how you got to where you are today.
I started singing as a very young child- like 5 or so. I never could sing enough; I just always loved it to the point that it wasn’t enjoyable for my sisters, mom, and dad. But then I went on to sing for church and continued singing in church from 8th grade until high school graduation. Then I went to the University of Southern Mississippi to study, and that’s really where it got crazy because I wanted to play in every bar or club in town, and they wanted me, so I was playing 5 nights a week! It was the time of my life, but when I graduated college, I wanted to go somewhere to take music to the next level, and when I visited Nashville, I met Taylor Swift my first night here and had such a fabulous time in Nashville it felt like home. Then I got here, I didn’t know anyone or have any clue what I was doing, but I believed in myself, and I wanted to be an artist, so I just got up and sang at writers’ rounds, went to events, met people, and took chances. Then I ended up recording several albums, forming a band, and hitting the road, and we built over 1 million followers online by doing regular video content. I built it one day at a time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? No, I wouldn’t call it smooth, lol. It’s like a roller coaster ride, where you’re always up and down, and the most important time is when you’re going up. That’s the time to be creative, write, record, try new sounds, and attend meetings. When the coaster starts going full speed, you gatta, hold on because it’s fast and fun. But, the secret is not getting disheartened when the coaster is gaining speed again. It’s a process, a journey, and fun if you don’t take it too seriously. The key is to keep going, keep creating, and keep believing in yourself.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I sing. I write. I perform. I LOVE PEOPLE! What sets me apart is that I live my life ethically, try to do the right thing, do what I say I will do, and treat people with respect and integrity. In a business of insanity, I have always been able to keep my head on my shoulders and not get down when hearing the word “no.” I don’t hear it; I hear “not now.” There have been so many times in my career that someone I met later became a friend, co-writer, or producer because I didn’t take the “no” as a “no” and continued sending them music. I am most proud of the music I write, which touches people’s hearts and makes them feel something. I love creating music that makes someone have a great night out, dance, cry, smile, or experience reflection and think about the past or the future. I love how music takes us into a place of peace, calmness, and joy. It’s magical. What sets me apart is that I’m honest. I am honest about who I am, where I came from, and what I am there to do. Just be me! My love for creating music is what drives me every day.

How do you define success?
To me, success is being happy with what you’re doing. At the end of the day, laying down for bed and enjoying your life is a success. Success also means being proud of your growth and doing better daily to grow your reach, brand, and impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: Karenwaldrup.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/karenwaldrupmusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/karenwaldrup
• Twitter: Twitter.com/karenwaldrup
• Youtube: YouTube.com/karenwaldrupmusic