Meet your Cook County Neighbor, Kari Golden
Aug 04, 2025 09:05AM ● By Editor
Images provided
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - August 2, 2025
The first 30 years of my life I was living in Illinois. Not the good part either, the middle of cornfields in Springfield. Growing up was a struggle as I didn’t have the right support and faced a lot of emotional and physical abuse between parents and later, partners. I struggled to keep a job, car and home all at the same time, and couldn’t get ahead no matter how much or hard I worked.
I love a good small town. My dad is from Galena, IL and we would take a road trip up the Mississippi River every summer to visit. Grand Marais and the rest of the shore really remind me of those visits, when life was simpler. It’s nice to feel looked out for, and though I’m still getting to know the locals, I’ve been so overwhelmed with love and open arms from everyone I’ve met so far. Going from feeling invisible in my own hometown to truly feeling “home” in a town is an amazing thing.
I never really had any role models growing up. My parents were both very emotionally detached and my mother was a closet alcoholic, so I had to learn to be a grown up at a young age. Music has been my guiding light. Having nobody to talk to was very lonely, but music made me feel like I wasn’t alone. If I did have a role model, it was my grandmother. She actually saved my life as I was in a very low place while struggling in FL, but I’m so glad she answered the phone. She unfortunately passed just over 3 years ago but she still shows herself in signs all around me. Since her passing, things have began to turn around for me and I truly think she is guiding my journey through life.
I’ve been singing for as long as I could make noise. My father is a musician and I was around a lot of rock-n-roll and blues growing up, so I picked it up listening to him. I did some choir and theater in high school, but didn’t start singing for real until last summer 2024. I took a road trip and needed some extra money, so I took my little portable sound system with me on the road and sang in Nashville, TN next to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Surprisingly they let me go for two hours before stopping me. When I came back, I made sure I grabbed my guitar and started practicing. My open mic debut was in July of last year and I’ve met so many talented musicians that have helped me grow so much, including my guitar player, Bryan.
I have a couple super secret spots I don’t wanna give away, but many of these little rest/hiking stops along the highway are just perfect gems. Onion River is one of my favorite short hikes as it has some really great pools in the falls that are great for swimming on hot summer days. Also I love being around my people, so I’m most likely at Up Yonder or The Raven’s Nest watching one of my friends perform if I’m not performing myself!
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - August 2, 2025
How did you land in Cook County (if you did not grow up here)? What journey led you here?
The first 30 years of my life I was living in Illinois. Not the good part either, the middle of cornfields in Springfield. Growing up was a struggle as I didn’t have the right support and faced a lot of emotional and physical abuse between parents and later, partners. I struggled to keep a job, car and home all at the same time, and couldn’t get ahead no matter how much or hard I worked.
In 2020 after Covid lockdowns, I had a fire and lost all my belongings except my guitar and some sentimental items. After that, I struggled to find stable housing, and ended up moving to Florida with a friend, where I ended up having to live in a van for a while due to her not keeping her promises. While in the van, I’d travel to private homes and clean to get by.
I ended up moving back to IL where I stayed in a shelter for 3 months to hopefully get on my feet. While I was bartending, a coworker told me about the CoolWorks website, so I checked it out. I ended up finding a job with housing provided at one of the resorts up here and I’ve been excelling ever since.
Tell us about your business, Golden Touch Home Care. What services do you offer? What is the best way for someone to reach out to you?
Golden Touch Home Care offers cleaning and pet sitting services along with small handy services and some lawn care. Private homes, Airbnb, post construction, move outs and donation hauling are all possible. Pet sitting is provided in the pets home for an overnight fee or we can also do drop in visits on extra long days. Please visit our Facebook page for more information.
What is your favorite part about life in Cook County?
I love a good small town. My dad is from Galena, IL and we would take a road trip up the Mississippi River every summer to visit. Grand Marais and the rest of the shore really remind me of those visits, when life was simpler. It’s nice to feel looked out for, and though I’m still getting to know the locals, I’ve been so overwhelmed with love and open arms from everyone I’ve met so far. Going from feeling invisible in my own hometown to truly feeling “home” in a town is an amazing thing.
Who or what inspires you in your life? Is there any advice that you were given that stays with you throughout your life?
I never really had any role models growing up. My parents were both very emotionally detached and my mother was a closet alcoholic, so I had to learn to be a grown up at a young age. Music has been my guiding light. Having nobody to talk to was very lonely, but music made me feel like I wasn’t alone. If I did have a role model, it was my grandmother. She actually saved my life as I was in a very low place while struggling in FL, but I’m so glad she answered the phone. She unfortunately passed just over 3 years ago but she still shows herself in signs all around me. Since her passing, things have began to turn around for me and I truly think she is guiding my journey through life.
Will you share how you got started singing? For those who do not know, you are part of a duo called Pure Honey.
I’ve been singing for as long as I could make noise. My father is a musician and I was around a lot of rock-n-roll and blues growing up, so I picked it up listening to him. I did some choir and theater in high school, but didn’t start singing for real until last summer 2024. I took a road trip and needed some extra money, so I took my little portable sound system with me on the road and sang in Nashville, TN next to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Surprisingly they let me go for two hours before stopping me. When I came back, I made sure I grabbed my guitar and started practicing. My open mic debut was in July of last year and I’ve met so many talented musicians that have helped me grow so much, including my guitar player, Bryan.
We linked up and it was immediately great. His guitar skills fit seamlessly with my singing and he has helped bring Pure Honey into form. We are very proud of our little acoustic project and are excited to branch out in the future.
Lastly, where is your favorite go-to spot in Cook County for peace and relaxation?
