Karissa Gorham Balances Daily Ranch Duties With Anthem Performances at Northwest Rodeos
By Andrew Cutler
Karissa Gorham has a simple piece of advice for those aspiring to perform: “Go for it.”
That mindset helped her carve a niche in Oregon’s rodeo circuit.
“Time goes by so fast, and there’s no reason the next big thing can’t be you,” she says.
Karissa’s voice has echoed across dusty arenas at small-town rodeos all the way up to the Pendleton Round-Up, where her renditions of the national anthem have evolved into a key element in places where patriotism is a way of life.
Karissa’s route from ranch life to the rodeo circuit is 1 that began with a guitar after a childhood setback. The guitar proved to be a crucial building block to her singing career, and she now inspires audiences across the region.
Yet Karissa always held tightly to her Sherman County roots, where the ranch life set the tempo for her music.
“I was always an athlete growing up,” she says. “I played sports for as long as I can remember. My whole identity was sports. My dad ended up getting me a guitar, and that is really where my love for playing music began.”
Though her rodeo anthem career is still in its infancy, she has sung at several high-profile rodeos, including the St. Paul Rodeo and Oregon’s biggest rodeo, the Round-Up. Both events, she says, are career highlights.
“My most memorable performance moment was probably the first time I sang at the Round-Up in 2021,” she says. “They do auditions, and I made it as an alternate. They called me 2 days before the performance and asked if I was available. It was at the Happy Canyon Arena before the Billy Currington concert on September 11, with a packed house. I came on after military personnel and policemen and sang the National Anthem. It’s truly a moment I’ll never forget.”
The Pendleton rodeo is a notable highlight due to its massive scale and patriotic overtones.
Another well-known rodeo holds special significance for Karissa.
“The St. Paul Rodeo was a bucket list rodeo for me to sing at for sure, and my grandad was able to come watch that one, so that was really special,” she says.
Musical Roots Run Deep
Born in Bend, Karissa and her family moved to Kent, a community in Sherman County, when she was 3 years old. Karissa remains a member of the Sherman County community, where she raises her family in the same house where she grew up.
Music has always played a big role in her family. Her father, Ron, uncle Mark, grandmother Pat, and grandfather Verne made up the initial members of the Sundowners band. Her father and uncle later created the band Countryfied, where good food and good music were center stage.
Yet Karissa’s path to performance wasn’t straightforward. A rare medical condition altered her focus on athletics.
“When I was in the 7th grade, I started having pains in my knee,” she says. “My parents ended up taking me to a knee specialist, and from there, I was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans. It’s a really rare condition where a piece of my bone actually died due to a lack of blood flow.”
The diagnosis led to surgery and a 6-month recovery period. During this time, the gift of a guitar from her father introduced her to what would become a lifelong passion.
“I learned 4 chords, and from there was able to play a bunch of songs,” Karissa says.
Finding Her Voice in the Arena
Karissa returned to athletics after she recovered, but music—with all its possibilities—continued to play a significant role in her life. In her first foray into public performances, she sang the national anthem in her senior year at a prep basketball game in Moro. She admits she was nervous before the performance.
“I made it through it, and I guess I thought I did well enough to do it again,” she says. “I still get just as nervous as the first time, maybe even more.”
Karissa began to perform on a regular basis in 2020, stepping into the lead singer slot for Countryfied. From there, she moved on to specific opportunities to sing the national anthem at regional rodeos.
For Karissa, the rodeo ambiance holds a special place in her heart because her brother, Nolan Mobley, and her husband, Tyler, are involved in the sport.
“Rodeo is such a patriotic sport,” she says. “I can always count on people singing along and getting really excited on the high notes. It’s a lot less pressure than at other events. Rodeo fans are the best.”
Balancing Ranch Life & Performance
When she’s not dazzling the crowd at a rodeo with her voice, Karissa balances her busy ranch life. Her daily routine begins early as she manages household responsibilities while attending to her 3 sons: Heston, 7, Royce, 5, and Grit, 2.
“I wake up in the morning, milk the cow, take the boys to school, come home, do laundry, clean the house, play guitar, work out, help Tyler with the cows, go get the boys from school, play with the kiddos, make dinner, and do it all over again,” she says.
The support of her family was critical to her singing success, but sometimes the encouragement comes with humorous moments.
“My husband cries when I sing in public, but that’s between you and me,” she says. “I remember when my oldest was probably 2 years old. He was in the stands when I was singing at a bull riding, and right when I started, he held his hands to his ears and said, ‘Ah! It hurts my ears.”
Along with her rodeo performances, Karissa plays at local fairs, bars, and various venues throughout Oregon, Washington, and California as part of Countryfied. Her musical quest is always evolving, behind the support of a family legacy and a community that highlights tradition and talent.
“I love the tradition of rodeo, and I love getting to be a part of that great tradition,” she says.