Country music star pulled her Bible into bed with her to get through 'awful' divorce
Country Music Star Karen Waldrup Shares How Faith and Friendship Helped Her Through Divorce
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville‑based singer‑songwriter Karen Waldrup, who rose to national attention as a top‑five finalist on Season 25 of The Voice, said she navigated the “awful” period of her divorce with the help of her faith, close friends and new music.
Waldrup married Cody Henderson in September 2020 and announced the end of their marriage in a February Facebook post, saying, “After a lot of time, reflection and prayer, I’m ready to share that my marriage has ended in divorce. This has been a deeply personal journey, and I’ve taken the time I needed to process it privately. I’m grateful for the love, grace and support around me, and I appreciate kindness as I continue to move forward.”
The singer‑songwriter, 48, has been active in the country music scene for more than a decade. She is a BMI songwriter, a member of the Recording Academy and the Country Music Association, has earned 12 Nashville Industry Music Awards, and has released seven studio albums and more than 50 songs worldwide. Her music has taken her to more than 15 countries.
Music as a refuge
While working on her latest recordings, Waldrup said she turned to songwriting as a way to process the pain of her separation. Her newest single, “Keeping the Faith,” was recorded in the fall of 2024 and released alongside her track “Just in Case” on September 18. “Keeping the Faith” is “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of,” she told Fox News Digital. “I think you can kind of hear it in the vocal, the desperation of keeping the faith and saying, ‘Hey, you know what, no matter what goes on, you’ve got to get back up and go.’”
Waldrup described the day she tracked the song as “the toughest day I’ve ever been in the studio.” She added that the brokenness she felt during that session “came out great” because it gave the track emotional depth. “There's a bridge in the song that says there’s a reason I'm still standing here stronger than I ever knew,” she said.
Faith, scripture and supportive friends
Waldrup credited her Christian faith with sustaining her through the difficult months. “My faith definitely carried me through that season,” she said. “I was sleeping with my Bible every night and waking up each morning to read scripture. My faith was the foundation of what got me through that.”
In addition to her faith, she highlighted the role of a small group of trusted friends. “My friends believed in me. They believed I would get through it. I made a list of the top six people—one being God, so God plus five people—that I felt could listen without making me feel worse,” she said. She said she limited her conversations to these five people to avoid the “opinions of 50 people” that can come with a divorce.
Looking forward
Waldrup said she now feels “living God’s purpose for my life.” “I do think part of my purpose in music is to inspire. I don’t make my musical experience all about me,” she said. “This music is a gift. I’m talking about faith, music, joy, friendship and love—everything that life asks us to confront.”
The single “Just in Case” is available now on streaming platforms and is expected to appear on her upcoming album, which she plans to release early next year.
Waldrup’s experience underscores the importance of faith, community and creative expression for artists navigating personal crises. Her story has already resonated with fans across the country, who have praised her openness and resilience.
