Kari received her Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music with a Vocal Performance Emphasis at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee - the alma mater of various Country artists like Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, and Larry Stewart. Kari was an inaugural member of Southbound, Belmont's Country music ensemble, which consisted of four male and four female vocalists and a six-piece band. It was with this group that Kari developed her gift for rich harmony vocals, and experienced the full range of styles within contemporary and classic country music. Southbound also offered Kari the opportunity to perform in some of Nashville's most famous venues, including the Bluebird Café. Kari's sound is a rich blend of Southern Rock and modern Country.

When Kari is not singing, she is a lecturer at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, Indiana.