Karen Wheeler
Karen Wheeler is what the Music Industry calls an “Entertainer’s Entertainer”. The reason Karen has such a great stage presence and no fear of entertaining is because of being raised in a family of true Country Music Entertainers. Karen Wheeler’s country music pedigree goes back to her birth. Karen’s father, Onie Wheeler, was a great entertainer, singer, musician and songwriter. He was also a member of the Grand Ole Opry with the Roy Acuff show for 22 years before dying of a massive heart attack while singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry May 26th, 1984. Karen’s mother was a singer and musician, having her own show at KWOC radio in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She was sixteen years old and known to her fans as “Little Jean”.
Karen Wheeler started recording at the age of eleven. At age fifteen, Karen signed with Columbia records and encored with her debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, the first of many more to come from the stage of the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium, to the stage of the new Grand Ole Opry house. She is reputed to have encored more times on the Grand Ole Opry than any other female artist in the business today! Karen went on to record for major record labels such as RCA & Capitol. Karen has been a member of the “Renfro Valley Barn Dance” and the “Wheeling West Virginia Jamboree”.
One of Karen’s greatest loves is songwriting. She inherited this great talent from her father who wrote many hit songs. She will entertain you with the many songs she has written, some Country, some Novelty funny songs and some of her Gospel songs as well. You will never leave a “Karen Wheeler Show” without being totally entertained.
Karen opened shows for Conway Twitty for 12 years and has toured and appeared with many of country music’s legendary performers such as: Loretta Lynn, Cal Smith, Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins, Farron Young, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Mickey Gilley, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Eddie Rabbitt, Gene Watson, Bill Anderson, Tommy Overstreet, Hank Williams Jr., Sonny James, Johnny Russell, Johnny Cash, Ferlin Husky, Lefty Frizzell, Dottie West, Waylon Jennings, The Statler Brothers, Don Williams, Freddy Fender, Freddie Weller, Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton, T.G. Shepard, Jim Ed Brown, Del Reeves, Porter Wagoner, Tommy Cash, Nat Stuckey, Freddie Hart, Bob Luman, Johnny Duncan, Margo Smith, Little Jimmy Dickens, Billy Walker, Charlie Walker, Billy Jo Spears, Ronnie Milsap, and the list goes on and on.
Karen Wheeler’s versatility as a performer includes television appearances and acting, in the following; “Johnny Cash & The Country Girls”, “The Dean Martin Summer Replacement Show”, “The Wilburn Brothers Show”, “That Nashville Music”, “Pop Goes the Country”, “Nashville Now” and “The Tommy Hunter Show”. Karen has worked with “Little House on the Prairie’s” Michael Landon, and with Claude Akins and Jerry Reed on the TV series "Nashville 99”.
Karen Wheeler has received the following awards; 2001 inducted into the Airplay International Hall Of Fame, 2001 the Golden Microphone Award, 2001 inducted into “Radio Country Hall Of Fame”, 2000 Inducted into the Lone Star State Country Music Association Hall Of Fame, 1999-2000 “King Eagle Entertainer of the Year”, presented by Airplay International in Nashville, 1998 “Radio’s Choice Female Country Artist”, 1997 “Lifetime Achievement Award”, 1996 “CMAA Record of the Year” for writing and recording, “I’d Rather Die Standing”, 1995 “Airplay International Female Vocalist of the Year”, 1994 Airplay International “King Eagle Christian Album of the Year”, 1993 “CMAA American Eagle Female Vocalist of the Year”, 1992 “King Eagle Female Vocalist of the Year”, and in 1974 Karen received the “ASCAP Chart-Buster Award” for “Born To Love & Satisfy”, (breaking into the charts and staying there for 16 weeks) on RCA Records.
Karen served as an Executive Board Secretary for Music City Christian Fellowship for four years. Karen gives all her success in surviving breast cancer, life and music to her faith in her Lord and Savior. "I can do all things in life through God who strengthens me