Born in WV and raised in Hookstown , PA Karen moved to Nashville after graduating with a degree in Social Work from West Virginia Wesleyan College. This award winning songwriter has had #1 hits by Faith Hill, Tracy Byrd, Third Time Out and Michael Martin Murphy, Her songs have been recorded by both contemporary country stars like Terri Clark & Trick Pony as well as icons like Reba, Dolly, Kathy Mattea, Conway Twitty,Tammy Wynette and George Jones .
Her list of hits include:
Take Me As I Am , Let’s Go To Vegas,
Every Time I Cry, On A Night Like This, Across The Miles,
Face InThe Crowd, Keep Walkin’ On and more.
Three of Karen’s songs, Take Me As I Am, Let’s Go To Vegas and Keeper Of The Stars have all achieved BMI’s 2 Millionaire Award (songs surpassing 2 million radio airplays) ,two songs are approaching 3 million plays.
Karen won the coveted Academy of Country Music’s Song of The Year award with Tracy Byrd’s classic Keeper of the Stars which was featured on CMT’s 100 Greatest Country Love Songs of All Time TV special.
Her songs have been nominated for both ACM, CMA, Dove, Grammy and IBMA Awards. As a backup singer and rhythm guitarist, Karen has toured with Faith Hill, Reba, Patty Loveless and RussTaff. She has also sung on many of their recordings as well as being in demand as a demo singer.
As an artist, Karen recorded 2 major label projects with MCA and Warner Bros Records, Wildest Dreams and Fearless. She has also recorded five indie projects Phoenix Rising, Me & Mahalia, Out of the Park – Greatest Hits, Farther Along-Classic Hymns, and The Story Of My Life.
Karen in is the process of finishing a book entitled Song & Spirit which illustrates how faith has inspired many of country music’s most successful songwriters.
Karen resides in Brentwood, TN where along with working as a staff writer for Pokey & Louise Music she continues record, produce and perform. Eclectic experience and passion for nurturing new talent has also made her a sought after music business mentor.