Brandi Carlile Biography

Songwriter and singer Brandi Carlile was a hit at the 2019 Grammys, where she won awards for “The Joke,” the single from her sixth album, By the Way, I Forgive You.

Carlile had already been a star to those in the know, thanks in large part to President Barack Obama, who put her song “Wherever Is Your Heart” on a publicized playlist and who wrote the liner notes for her album Cover Stories.

That album featured a roster of musical greats performing versions of every song on her 2007 album, The Story, which was produced by T-Bone Burnett.

Carlile’s been a performing singer since she left high school and began playing in Seattle area venues, forming a collaboration with musicians Tim and Phil Hanseroth (the three of them share songwriting credits). Columbia Records signed her in 2004 and Carlile released her debut album in 2005, Brandi Carlile.

Her albums include Give Up the Ghost (2009), Bear Creek (2012) and The Firewatcher’s Daughter (2015, and nominated for a Grammy in the Americana category).

By the Way, I Forgive You won the Grammy for album of the year and best Americana album, and “The Joke” won best American roots Grammys.