Karlie Bartholomew Finds the Beauty in Growing Up with “Love You Like A Rose”

Some memories exist in a place between the past and present; moments we can no longer return to, but somehow still carry with us. A familiar backyard. The sound of summer evenings. The small rituals we create before we understand how quickly life will change.

For Nashville-based singer-songwriter Karlie Bartholomew, those memories became the foundation for her newest release, “Love You Like A Rose,” a reflective folk-inspired song about childhood, change, and the lasting imprint of the places that shape us.

Built around delicate melodies and vivid storytelling, the song feels like opening a box of old photographs, each lyric revealing another piece of a life once lived. Bartholomew recalls childhood summers through intimate snapshots: buttercups leaving their mark, chasing fireflies after sunset, and the comfort of hearing the wind move through the trees. These moments are simple, but that is where the song’s power lies. It celebrates the ordinary experiences that often become the ones we treasure most.

“As a child, I created my own way of saying goodbye to my family that ended with: ‘Love you like a flower, love you like a rose, remember me,’” Karlie shares. “This song grew out of that memory and became my way of saying goodbye to carefree summers spent in my parents’ backyard.”

What began as a child’s way of expressing love became something much larger with time: a reflection on growing older and learning that home is not always a place we can physically return to.

Throughout the song, Bartholomew captures the quiet transition from childhood into adulthood. The spaces that once held endless possibilities begin to change. The backyard that felt like a universe becomes a memory. The carefree days of running barefoot slowly give way to the responsibilities and realities of growing up.

Yet “Love You Like A Rose” is not a song about losing the past. Instead, it is about recognizing that the people, places, and moments that define us continue to live within us... even after life takes us somewhere new.

That ability to transform personal experiences into shared emotional landscapes has become one of Bartholomew’s greatest strengths as a songwriter. Her music thrives in the space between vulnerability and connection, inviting listeners to find their own stories within hers.

Influenced by the storytelling traditions of artists like Joni Mitchell, Bartholomew approaches songwriting with a focus on honesty, intimacy, and emotional detail. Her songs are less about creating a perfect moment and more about preserving the imperfect ones that matter most.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Karlie discovered her passion for music at an early age. Though naturally shy as a child, she found confidence through songwriting and performance, eventually teaching herself guitar on her father’s retired six-string while in high school.

Her dedication to her craft led her to Berklee College of Music, where she was selected in 2017 as a featured soloist for the school’s commencement concert honoring Lucinda Williams. Performing before an audience of more than 7,000 people — including Williams herself, Lionel Richie, Todd Rundgren, and Neil Portnow — Karlie showcased the emotional depth and artistry that would continue to define her music.

After earning her degree in Professional Music with focuses in Contemporary Writing/Production and Performance, Bartholomew released her debut EP, A Way to Start, in 2021. The project introduced listeners to her thoughtful songwriting and intimate storytelling style, while her 2025 single “Haunted House” continued to build momentum, further establishing her as an emerging voice in the Americana landscape and expanding her growing audience.

With “Love You Like A Rose,” released July 24, 2026, Karlie Bartholomew offers a gentle reminder that growing up does not mean leaving everything behind. Sometimes, the places we miss most become the very things we carry forward, blooming in memory long after we’ve gone.