Career Timeline of Brandi Carlile: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Brandi Carlile made an impact.
Brandi Carlile is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter and producer known for her genre-bending music, which incorporates elements of folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock. She is the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards. Carlile was also nominated for an Academy Award, and in 2023, TIME recognized her as one of their Women of the Year, highlighting her significant impact and influence.
2004: Signing with Columbia Records
In 2004, Brandi Carlile was signed to Columbia Records based on the strength of her home recordings.
2005: Release of Self-Titled Album 'Brandi Carlile'
In 2005, Brandi Carlile released her self-titled album 'Brandi Carlile', featuring early songs and newly recorded tracks.
2005: Critical Acclaim for Debut Album
In 2005, Brandi Carlile's debut album earned enthusiastic reviews, leading to her being featured on Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch in 2005" list, as well as similar lists by Interview and Paste.
2005: Release of debut major label album 'Brandi Carlile'
In 2005, Brandi Carlile's debut major label album, 'Brandi Carlile', was released to critical acclaim.
2006: Headlining Tours and Supporting Other Artists
By the end of 2006, Brandi Carlile had embarked on several headlining tours and supported artists such as Ray LaMontagne, The Fray, Chris Isaak, Tori Amos, and Shawn Colvin.
2006: Re-release of Brandi Carlile album
In 2006, Columbia Records re-released Brandi Carlile's self-titled album, including re-recordings of "Throw It All Away" and "What Can I Say".
2007: Performances and Appearances
In 2007, Brandi Carlile performed at the Borderline in London, appeared as a guest on Newton Faulkner's UK tour, and was the opening act for Maroon 5 and OneRepublic during their Australia tour.
2007: Release of 'The Story' and Critical Recognition
In 2007, Brandi Carlile released 'The Story', produced by T-Bone Burnett, which garnered critical acclaim and solidified her status as a singular talent.
2007: Release of 'The Story' Album
In 2007, Brandi Carlile released her album, The Story.
April 2008: Performance on BBC2's Later... with Jools Holland
In April 2008, Brandi Carlile performed on the BBC2 show 'Later... with Jools Holland'.
2008: Establishment of the Looking Out Foundation
In 2008, Brandi Carlile and Tim and Phil Hanseroth established the Looking Out Foundation to financially support causes they believe in.
2008: "The Story" featured in General Motors commercials during the Summer Olympics
In 2008, Brandi Carlile's song "The Story" was prominently featured in General Motors commercials during the Summer Olympics. The song's use in the commercials led to a significant increase in album and single sales. The song was also used in a commercial for Super Bock in 2008.
2009: Release of 'Give Up the Ghost'
In 2009, Brandi Carlile released 'Give Up the Ghost', which debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200.
November 2010: Recording of Live Album at Benaroya Hall
In November 2010, Brandi Carlile recorded her live album 'Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony' during two sold-out shows at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington.
2010: Nomination for GLAAD Media Award
In 2010, Brandi Carlile was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Music Artist" for the album 'Give Up the Ghost'. Also in 2010, The National Geographic Channel in Latin America used "If There Was No You" in its series Grandes Migraciones.
2010: Seattle's City of Music Breakthrough Award
In 2010, Brandi Carlile won Seattle's City of Music Breakthrough Award.
2011: Release of 'Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony'
In 2011, Brandi Carlile's album 'Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony' was released, reaching number 14 on the Top Rock Albums chart.
2012: Release of 'Bear Creek'
In 2012, Brandi Carlile released the album 'Bear Creek'.
2012: Catherine Shepherd Becomes Executive Director
In 2012, Brandi Carlile's wife, Catherine, became the executive director of the Looking Out Foundation.
January 11, 2014: National Anthem Performance
On January 11, 2014, Brandi Carlile sang the national anthem for the Saints vs. Seahawks NFL playoff game.
March 3, 2015: Release of 'The Firewatcher's Daughter'
On March 3, 2015, Brandi Carlile released her fifth album, 'The Firewatcher's Daughter', on ATO Records.
May 4, 2015: Performance with the Avett Brothers on Late Show with David Letterman
On May 4, 2015, Brandi Carlile performed with the Avett Brothers on Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Keep on the Sunny Side".
December 6, 2015: Grammy Nomination for Best Americana Album
On December 6, 2015, Brandi Carlile's 'The Firewatcher's Daughter' earned her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Americana Album.
2015: Release of 'The Firewatcher's Daughter'
In 2015, Brandi Carlile released the album 'The Firewatcher's Daughter'.
April 7, 2016: Musical Guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers
On April 7, 2016, Brandi Carlile was the featured musical guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she sang "Mainstream Kid" and dedicated the performance to Senator Bernie Sanders.
May 2017: Release of 'Cover Stories' Benefit Album
In May 2017, Brandi Carlile released 'Cover Stories', a benefit album featuring songs from her 2007 album, The Story. Proceeds benefited War Child UK.
November 2017: Death of Paul Buckmaster
In November 2017, British string and orchestral arranger Paul Buckmaster died two weeks after completing arrangements for several of Brandi Carlile's songs on 'By the Way, I Forgive You'.
February 16, 2018: Release of By the Way, I Forgive You
On February 16, 2018, Brandi Carlile's sixth studio album, 'By the Way, I Forgive You', was released, preceded by three tracks: "The Joke", "The Mother", and "Sugartooth". Carlile performed songs from the album on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
July 2018: Announcement of "Girls Just Wanna Weekend" Music Festival
In July 2018, Brandi Carlile announced the creation of her own music festival, "Girls Just Wanna Weekend".
October 2018: Re-imagining of 'Party of One' with Sam Smith
In October 2018, Brandi Carlile teamed up with Sam Smith to re-imagine the single "Party of One" as a duet, with proceeds from the sale of the single going to the Story Campaign.
2018: Release of 'By the Way, I Forgive You'
In 2018, Brandi Carlile released the album 'By the Way, I Forgive You'.
January 16, 2019: Chris Cornell Tribute Concert
On January 16, 2019, Brandi Carlile participated in a five-hour all-star tribute concert for Chris Cornell at The Forum in Los Angeles. She performed renditions of "Hunger Strike", "Like a Stone", and "Black Hole Sun". The proceeds benefited the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation and the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation.
February 3, 2019: "Girls Just Wanna Weekend" Festival
From January 30 to February 3, 2019, Brandi Carlile's "Girls Just Wanna Weekend" festival took place at Puerto Aventuras on the Riviera Maya in Mexico, featuring all-female musicians.
July 19, 2019: The Highwomen Debut Single Release
On July 19, 2019, The Highwomen, the country music supergroup co-founded by Brandi Carlile, released their debut single "Redesigning Women".
October 14, 2019: Performance of Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'
On October 14, 2019, Brandi Carlile performed Joni Mitchell's album Blue in its entirety at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
2019: Grammy Awards and Success of By the Way, I Forgive You
In 2019, Brandi Carlile received six nominations at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for 'By the Way, I Forgive You', winning Americana album, Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance (for "The Joke").
2019: Grammy Awards for 'While I'm Livin'', Formation of The Highwomen, and Release of Debut Album
In 2019, Brandi Carlile received three Grammy Awards for her songwriting work on Tanya Tucker's album 'While I'm Livin''. She also formed the all-female quartet called the Highwomen with Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby, and they released their self-titled debut album.
February 2020: Record Store Day 2020 Ambassador
In February 2020, Brandi Carlile was named the Record Store Day 2020 Ambassador.
June 2, 2020: Collaboration with Soundgarden Members
On June 2, 2020, Brandi Carlile collaborated with Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd from Soundgarden at Seattle's London Bridge Studio.
September 26, 2020: Release of 'A Rooster Says' Vinyl
On September 26, 2020, during a Record Store Day event, Brandi Carlile and Soundgarden members released "A Rooster Says", a 12-inch single vinyl featuring new versions of "Black Hole Sun" and "Searching with My Good Eye Closed".
October 2020: Release of 'A Beautiful Noise' with Alicia Keys
In October 2020, Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys released "A Beautiful Noise" and performed it on 'Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy' on CBS to urge people to vote.
April 2021: Release of 'Broken Horses: A Memoir'
In April 2021, Brandi Carlile released her autobiography, 'Broken Horses: A Memoir', which debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for non-fiction.
September 20, 2021: Honored with 'She is the Music' Award
On September 20, 2021, Brandi Carlile was honored with the 'She is the Music' Award at the 16th annual Songs of Hope celebration program, presented by Jody Gerson of Universal Music Publishing Group.
October 1, 2021: Release of 'In These Silent Days'
On October 1, 2021, Brandi Carlile released her seventh album, 'In These Silent Days'. It received critical acclaim, debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and topped the Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts.
October 2021: Expressed interest in continuing her collaboration with the surviving members of Soundgarden
In October 2021, Carlile expressed interest in continuing her collaboration with the surviving members of Soundgarden.
October 23, 2021: Saturday Night Live Performance
On October 23, 2021, Brandi Carlile was the musical guest on NBC's Saturday Night Live, where she performed "Right on Time" and "Broken Horses".
2021: Release of 'In These Silent Days'
In 2021, Brandi Carlile released the album 'In These Silent Days'.
2021: Grammy Award for "Crowded Table"
In 2021, The Highwomen won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song for the track "Crowded Table".
December 10, 2022: SNL Musical Guest Appearance
On December 10, 2022, Brandi Carlile reappeared on SNL as a musical guest, performing "The Story" and "You and Me on the Rock" with Lucius.
2022: Grammy Award Nominations
In 2022, Brandi Carlile received three Grammy Award nominations for the lead single "Right on Time", including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
2022: First Children's and Family Emmy Award
In 2022, Brandi Carlile won her first Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Program in the TV series 'We the People'.
2022: Newport Folk Festival Performance with Joni Mitchell
In 2022, Joni Mitchell performed with Brandi Carlile and her associates as the closing act of the Newport Folk Festival, billed as "Brandi Carlile and Friends." The live performance was inducted into Mitchell's live album Joni Mitchell at Newport, which also won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
January 2023: Headlined Massachusetts Governor's Inauguration Party
In January 2023, Brandi Carlile headlined the inauguration party for Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
2023: Grammy Wins
In 2023, Brandi Carlile earned seven more Grammy nominations, winning Best Americana Album for 'In These Silent Days' and Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "Broken Horses".
2023: Second Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song
In 2023, Brandi Carlile received her second Emmy for Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool Program in the YouTube series 'Jam Van'.
2024: Collaboration with Elton John on 'Never Too Late'
In 2024, Brandi Carlile collaborated with Elton John on the single "Never Too Late", the theme song for John's documentary of the same name.
2024: Catherine Shepherd Becomes Chair of the Looking Out Foundation Board
In 2024, Catherine Shepherd transitioned from executive director to chair of the board for the Looking Out Foundation.
April 5, 2025: SNL performance with Elton John
On April 5, 2025, Brandi Carlile performed alongside Elton John on SNL to promote their new album 'Who Believes in Angels?'.
April 2025: Collaborative Album Release
In April 2025, Brandi Carlile and Elton John released the collaborative album 'Who Believes in Angels?' through Interscope Records. It debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200.
June 2025: UK Performances
In June 2025, Brandi Carlile performed at the Opera House in Manchester, the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, and on The Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, UK.
September 3, 2025: Announcement of Ninth Studio Album and Title Track Release
On September 3, 2025, Brandi Carlile announced her ninth studio album, 'Returning to Myself', and released the album's title track as the lead single.
October 24, 2025: Release of 'Returning to Myself' Album
On October 24, 2025, Brandi Carlile released her ninth studio album, 'Returning to Myself'.
2025: Academy Award Nomination for "Never Too Late"
In 2025, Brandi Carlile received her first nomination at the Academy Award for Best Original Song for her writing and vocal contribution on "Never Too Late" with Elton John.
2025: Release of 'Returning to Myself'
In 2025, Brandi Carlile released her eighth studio album, 'Returning to Myself'.
February 2026: Fundraising for The Advocates of Human Rights
In February 2026, at her Minneapolis show on The Human Tour, Brandi Carlile raised over $600,000 for The Advocates of Human Rights.
2026: TIME's Women of the Year
In 2026, Brandi Carlile was named one of TIME's Women of the Year, recognizing her achievements and impact.
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