Country Artist Karen Wheeler

Known as “The Entertainer’s Entertainer,” Karen Wheeler delivers a song with a voice so strong and true, comedy with such innocence, and a natural stage presence – you know she has been in the music business all her life. Karen’s parents, successful performers in their own right, paved the way. Her mother, “Little Jean,” was a masterful vocalist and all-around entertainer who, at age 16, had her own radio show on KWOC Radio in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Karen’s famous father, Onie Wheeler, respected worldwide not only for his hit records in the 50s, 60s and 70s, but for his songwriting, harmonica playing and being a member of the Roy Acuff Show for 22 years until his untimely death on May 26, 1984 from a massive heart attack while singing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

At the age of 11, Karen began her professional career, singing harmony on her parents’ records. By age 12, she signed her first recording contract with K-Ark Records in St. Louis and made her first television appearance on the “St. Louis Hop.” Signing with Columbia Records at 15, she made her move to Nashville. During this monumental time, she also made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and continued to do so until the late 80s. It has been reported that Karen has more encores on the Grand Ole Opry stage than any other female artist in the business today!

In addition to Columbia Records, Karen has released music on RCA and Capitol, as well as Chart, Boone, Hilltop, Starday, Fox Fire and Raindrop Records. Her dynamic live performances have pleased audiences around the world including numerous USO shows for troops in Vietnam, Thailand, Puerto Rico and Greenland. Additionally, she has opened for most of the legends in Country music such as Conway Twitty, Cal Smith, Mickey Gilley, Sonny James, Hank Williams Jr., Bill Anderson, Don Williams, The Statler Brothers, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, George Jones, Billy Walker, Johnny Russell, Gene Watson, Johnny Duncan, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jim Ed Brown, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Johnny Cash, Nat Stuckey, Marty Robbins, Tommy Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Dolly Parton. She has even graced the stage with “Little House on the Prairie’s” Michael Landon.