About Karen Brooks
Singer
As a singer, she is known for notable duets with legendary Johnny Cash ("I Will Dance With You") and T. G. Sheppard ("Faking Love"), the latter reaching number one on the Billboard country charts. Brooks also enjoyed success as a solo artist on Warner Records, releasing several top 40 hits.
Songwriter
Her songwriting prowess shines through in her collaborations with country music icons including Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, David Allen Coe, and Exile. Brooks' songwriting extends to artists like Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle, and more. Her talent was recognized with a Grammy Award for the song "I'm So Blue" featured in the Sesame Street movie "Follow that Bird."
Artist
Beyond music, Brooks expresses her creativity as a talented visual artist. Working in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, and digital media, her abstract impressionist pieces often explore Americana themes. Her artistic approach is immediate and intuitive, layering images to draw out compelling stories. A recurring subject in her work is the sad clown, which she suggests could represent her experiences both as an entertainer and from her time on the pro-rodeo circuit. Brooks reflects, "My fascination with clowns is an ongoing thing...what do they feel when they are not making people laugh?" Her work has been showcased in galleries.