“I love this song bc it’s about having a good time using the name of a cocktail in Louisiana called a Louisiana Hurricane to describe the easy spirit of the narrator letting everyone know the party is going down.” — Karen Waldrup’s “Louisiana Hurricane”
From Mandeville, Louisiana … a beautiful neighborhood of kids that played street hockey and sat under the streetlight at night. Started singing as a child and, at 16, playing guitar.
Music has been the greatest gift of my lifetime. I’m not sure that non-creative people always understand the contentment that musicians have. Can you share a memorable or behind-the-scenes moment from your music career that stands out to you?
I would say when thinking about a memorable moment, I can’t stop thinking about my time in Haiti. I was asked to travel to Haiti in 2018 and was both honored and reluctant to travel to Haiti. After prayer and lots of consideration, I decided that going to Haiti and playing music was exactly how I wanted to use my gift. I realized I could create an impact on the world. I never imagined that my experience in Haiti would not only benefit the Haitian community but would benefit me and my faith.
We went to Haiti singing songs for different communities across the island, hugged, praised God, laughed with children, made a video, and ended up raising money to build 3 homes for the family. I have a special place in my heart for Haiti and I feel like my work there is just beginning. Because our community is Waldrup Worldwide, located all around the world, I felt like having an international charity was a better fit for me because of the internet, my music is global. I want my charity work to be global as well. I remember seeing moms who were extremely poor, kids without shoes, starving families, and people living in blue tarp tents but these same people had the strongest faith in God than I have ever seen. That was inspiring to me. It taught me that faith has nothing to do with how much money someone has or how great something is going, but truly surrendering and praising God no matter what our circumstances are. I could never have imagined how inspiring this was to me throughout my life. I think about my time in Haiti every single day. It impacted me greatly.
I didn’t really even mean to do music really. I just started playing and it feels like all these years later I’m simply still enjoying listening to and playing music. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your music career, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I have faced in my music career is being an independent artist. With funding, limited time (there is only so much time in a day), and limited resources, I have had to be extremely creative and resourceful throughout my entire career. The interesting thing about being an independent artist is that years ago, people could not do it without the internet, and technology to support it, it wouldn’t be possible. I realize I am a pioneer for artists behind me who may experience the same challenges. That makes it more fun- even though it is so challenging.
Graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a degree in marketing. Moved to Nashville in 2008 to pursue a career in country music (you had met Taylor Swift on your first visit to Music City).
Three years later appeared on Bravo TV’s reality music competition show, Platinum Hit, experimenting with different songwriting styles on the show and, in 2015, a finalist on Nashville Rising Star.
More recently, a Top 5 finalist, on Season 25 of NBC’s The Voice. You were part of Dan & Shay’s team (they blocked Reba from selecting you for her team). What was your biggest takeaway from these experiences that you’ve been able to share with other artists?
Being a part of The Voice required a ton of sacrifice for both me and my team- writing, touring, and traveling. Sometimes in life, you have to take that step back to take steps forward. I have no regret participating in these series and I encourage anyone to participate. My time in California was good for my soul, my career, and my ability to learn. I learned so much and am forever grateful to Dan & Shay, The Voice, the network, and all of the people who were involved in my journey.
It was truly a remarkable experience to be a part of all of these opportunities.
BMI songwriter and independent artist, bridging the gap between classic country sounds and modern-day innovation. Mainstream breakthrough success in 2016 when CMT played the music video for “I Got That Kind of Time.” Who are some of your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, The Chicks, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, and Dolly Parton. Really all women who write, live life, and also get to be themselves on stage inspire me. Listening to their music inspires me to write about what I live, the experiences that I have, being authentic, and individuality. I love being expressive and living it all on stage.
Opened for Rodney Atkins, Carrie Underwood, Hank Williams Jr., Sara Evans, and Terri Clark. Being on the road is your happy place. Six-Figure Musician. An Open Letter to Any Musician Who Wants to Make $100,000 (or more) in the Music Business, a book that shows artists how to succeed in the industry. What advice would you give to young musicians who are just starting out?
Pace yourself. It is kind of like a race, you have to remember that it is a journey, just like life, and you have to remember that music is much more fun when you take the burden off yourself. That is the secret. Realizing that your gift from God is special, precious and uniquely yours. You don’t have to accomplish it all at once. Go kayaking. Make time for your family. Live your life! Wake up each day with a positive attitude that you will get a yes, and then you will. Do not compare yourself to others. Watch out for the dangers of the internet or the cultural impact on you and your art. Just because someone else is having success does not mean you aren’t. Look at someone else’s success as inspiration rather than comparison … You will never be satisfied. Music is fun and there is room for all of us. Just make great music and the rest will come.
“You don’t have a testimony until God sends you a test. And this has been one of the biggest tests of my life. But I’m ready to grow from it … and move on.” You found your dreams starting to come true, with song covers racking up millions of viral views. Then you caught your boyfriend cheating. Next you dealt with an online stalker who discovered where you lived. “I went through a time that no matter how many times I moved, I felt like I just couldn’t get away from the bad guys.” You sang “Me Again” with William Michael Morgan as a serenade for all of those who stuck with you through that time. How have the song’s lyrics continued to influence your life?
“Me Again” is one of those songs where you sit on a barstool, with your guitar and sing it from your heart. It is about thanking the people who lifted you when you were at your worst. It is about what you don’t fall for, appreciating the ones who loved you no matter what. This song is still impactful for me because everyone in the crowd traveled, purchased a ticket, took time off, got a hotel, and we all somehow gathered together just because of one thing: music. The power of music, the connection it creates, and the beauty of bringing people together that are from all different walks of life, political preferences, religion, geographic. Nothing matters when those lights go out and the band starts walking on.
“Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He made me feel safe when I was with him. And he never doubted me. He believed in me through all the hard times.” Meeting Cody, your future husband, shortly after going through one of the most difficult times in your life. Our faith in God together is so very important. What is one of your favorite bible verses to pray over your marriage?
Mark 10:19 says “What therefore God has joined together let not man separate”
Mission of Hope: Haiti. You’ve shared that it is the most meaningful project you’ve ever been a part of. Writing the song, “Tell Them We Lived,” about our legacy when we are no longer here. As an organization following Jesus Christ, Mission of Hope exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child. How can fans contribute to the Mission?
You can visit my website, KarenWaldrup.com, click Haiti, and donate. This organization is unbelievable and does just great things for those in need.
Another meaningful project of yours was writing the song, “Normandy,” with D-Day World War II veteran Jim “Pee Wee” Martin and Hunter Jergens. Martin was a member of the 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment — the famed “Band of Brothers.” Martin and other members of the 506th dropped into France and helped to secure two bridges, cutting off Germany’s ability to send reinforcements to the beaches of Normandy. You met him at a birthday party, where he shared his memories of the famous day. You meant for the song to be a gift to him, but he said he wanted people to remember that the paratroopers didn’t want to go in there, but we were the ones who were attacked. Can you share how this song has impacted fans’ lives?
“Normandy” is a special jewel every time I sing it. There is just this peace that comes over the crowd, the band, and me. It feels like it is the perfect way to say thank you to our veterans. I have had grandchildren and children of WW2 veterans come to the shows and tell me how much the song means to them. Every time we perform it live, I get to sing Jim Martin’s exact words. That is just such an honor every single time. I think it just makes everyone stop and appreciate D-DAY, WW2, and all of our veterans. It is an honor to sing it every time.
“Louisiana Hurricane,” featuring Dani Stacy and Bri Fletcher. I love this song bc it’s about having a good time using the name of a cocktail in Louisiana called a Louisiana Hurricane to describe the easy spirit of the narrator letting everyone know the party is going down. We wanted something to not only represent where I’m from but also who I am naming some of Country Music’s wild women like Dolly Parton & Tanya Tucker to paint the picture. The production on this track is true to who I am. How did you make sure the music video would stay true to the meaning behind the lyrics?
We filmed the music video on stage in Louisiana. That is exactly what the song is about–having fun, being yourself on stage. I reference women like Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, and Janis Joplin because those three women are the best examples of that! The song is carefree. The video is care-free. It is not this huge production. It is not this crazy-produced video. It is just people playing music and having fun which is exactly the point in the song.
Online platform, “Waldrup Worldwide,” is a million strong. How else do you connect with your fans, and what role do they play in your career?
I connect with my fans by posting content that is authentic and real. I think that people appreciate that about me. I do not try to be someone I am not. I don’t try to act like I have everything figured out or that everything is perfect. I post content that I think would make people feel good. I think it is extremely important for me to do that since this world is already filled with such negativity-especially online. I want people to feel like when they come on my page it is like a breathe of fresh air. I want them to view Waldrip Worldwide as normal and a safe space no matter where they are from, what they believe in, or anything else besides being worthy of being a part of something sweet. Waldrup Worldwide is sweet and a safe space. We remove people who are being hateful, bullying, or disrespectful in any shape or form. We simply remove them from our socials. We have room for everyone but not room for hateful people. That is why it is so fun since we aim to make it a positive space.
I’m so excited to announce that on October 5th, I’ll be playing right in the heart of Nashville at Chiefs on Broadway with new music, old favorites, and so much more. What is your favorite Eric Church song to play and why?
I used to sing “Springsteen” when I was playing in a cover band. I like the song because it takes us all back to a place of positive life memories. It also makes me think of the days when I just started playing music. It is funny how people always call those days “the good ole days”.
Self-care, world traveler, scuba diver, the ocean, dart thrower, dog lover. What else do you do to keep balance in your personal life, outside of your demanding music career?
I like to sit on my back patio. It is my favorite place in the world. I have a glider, and firepit, and my husband loves to grill. So sitting on the back patio makes me happy- kicking my feet up and relaxing. I love sitting in the sauna, going to the lake working out, and picking tomatoes out of my neighbor’s gardens. It is funny that the small things you appreciate when you come home from the road. One day, I would love to have my own garden.
What’s ahead in 2025?
That is the fun part about music. You never really know. We know we will write, record, and release music- like we always do. We always go into a new year with the same positive excitement for a great year ahead. And that is exactly what we will do in 2025.