2021 Entertainer of the Year at the Josie Music Awards and Nashville America Records Artist, Kari Holmes, is a woman of substance. Blessed with an angelic voice and with her high energy performances, she is taking the music scene by storm. In September of 2021, she was nominated for 5 Josie Music Awards, which is the largest independent award show in the US, and was invited to perform her new single, “When I See You Smile,” during the televised ceremony. She was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Artist of the year, Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year (for her song, “Deserves to be Loved) in the modern country category. Kari took home Entertainer of the Year. In 2022 she was nominated again for Entertainer, Artist, Vocalist and Album of thr year.
She is currently working on her new 7 song EP with producer, Kent Wells (Dolly Parton's producer/guitarist.) She co-wrote all 7 songs with fellow Nashville songwriters.
With 200 shows a year on average touring with her full band as well as acoustically, it is no surprise for her recognition of entertainer of the year. Kari Holmes is fierce, exhilarating and nothing you've ever heard or seen before. She is vivacious when she hit's the stage and is often called the energizer bunny. With her pure, big vocals to go along with a jaw dropping performance, it’s no wonder why people are falling in love with this country sweetheart.
She recorded her first full length album with her label at Hilltop Studios (home to Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, etc.) The album is being produced by country legend, David Frizzell, and features Nashville’s A-List musicians, including Brent Mason (Grammy Award winner, 14 time winner of the ACM Awards, 2 time winner of the CMA Award Musician of the Year, Guitarist of the Year Award, inducted into the Musician’s Hall of Fame and in July 2020 will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame) Steve Turner (Dolly Parton’s drummer for over 25 years) Eugene Moles (only musician to be a member of both Merle Haggard’s “Strangers” and Buck Owen’s “Buckaroos”) and many more. David Frizzell quickly nicknamed her, “One Take Kari.” He said, “I’ve been doing this a long time and not everyone can hold out notes like you can and what’s even better is that you play and write. The hardest thing is trying to find something wrong with her.” This 12 track album features eight of Kari’s originals, which she says is very important to her being not only a vocalist, but a songwriter since she was fourteen.
Her current single, “When I See You Smile,” was released to country radio and is currently climbing the Music Row Chart, as well as other music charts in Nashville and is being picked up by Billboard reporting stations. Her music video for her song she co-wrote, “Deserves to be Loved,” is getting national recognition. Recorded and shot in Nashville, TN, it is being played on national networks, national/syndicated/On-Demand, Internet/Music blogs, and regionally. This list includes CMT, Heartland, The Country Network, Music Choice, Music Mix USA, Instore Sports Network, Country Line TV App, etc.
In 2021, she wasalso nominated in her home state for three categories for the Detroit Music Awards: Outstanding Country Artist, Vocalist and Songwriter.
Before she signed with Nashville America Records, she independently released two EP’s that quickly gained steam in Nashville. Her single, "Something New" was released to mainstream country radio and instantly made it on Music Row. Her top 25 Inspirational Country Music charting single, "More From Me," helped to nominate her for ICM's New Artist of the Year. She then released her second EP, “You’re My Everything,” and is currently promoting both EP’s as she opens for national acts, as well as headlining her own.
Although Kari's sexy innocence and "the girl next door" look stands out, she has a fierce side to her as well that she pulls out in her writing and performances. She might stand under 5'4", but don't let that fool you. She knows of love, loss and heartbreak and has written over 100 songs expressing just that. She pours her heart and soul into everything she does and stays true to her bubbly, friendly, high spirited personality. Even though she's felt pain and known heartbreak, she still writes of hope, faith and the importance of keeping your dignity, being an aspiring, positive role model to all. In her words, “Writing is how I react to life…good and bad, and with that, I can reach out to others. Performing on stage is the second step to how I react to life. It's where I leave everything. The one thing that I want people to take away from my shows is a feeling. That's what music is all about anyway...to let your emotions take you for a ride. When I think back to my favorite concerts, it instantly puts me back in that moment. Those are the ones worth remembering."
She's been described as a cross between Shania Twain, for her looks, style and attitude, Taylor Swift for her writing abilities, and Carrie Underwood for her ability to belt.