The essential Brandi Carlile songs every fan should know

Brandi’s musical fire

Ever felt a song reach deep into your soul and just sit there? That’s what Brandi Carlile does. Born in Washington in 1981, she grew up listening to Elton John and country records, two very different worlds that helped shape her unique style.

Now she’s a force with 11 Grammys and 2 Emmys to prove it. Her music doesn’t belong in a single box. One day it’s folk, the next it’s gritty rock. Whether she’s performing solo or with her female band The Highwomen, Brandi tells the kind of stories you don’t forget.

The Story

The Story wasn’t just a hit, it was The Story that stuck. Released in 2007, it didn’t need flashy production to turn heads. Just Brandi, a guitar, and her voice cracking beautifully on every line.

It landed in Grey’s Anatomy and made people cry in their living rooms. That emotional punch? Totally intentional. At the heart of the song is raw storytelling that tugs at your heartstrings, making it impossible not to feel something every time you listen.

The Joke

Think of The Joke as Brandi’s mic-drop moment. Released in 2018, it hit the world and scooped up two Grammys. Even Barack Obama listed it as a favorite.

It’s an anthem for the underestimated and the misfits. It speaks to anyone who’s ever felt marginalized, giving them a powerful message: you matter, and you’re seen. You don’t just listen; you rise.

Bring My Flowers Now

Ever heard a song and thought, Why am I crying already? Bring My Flowers Now does that. Though Tanya Tucker sings the lead, Brandi co-wrote and produced it, and the message hits home.

This poignant ballad from 2019 offers a powerful reminder to appreciate people while they’re still here. It’s a gentle prompt to say thank you now, rather than wait.

Broken Horses

Some artists walk into rock. Brandi Carlile charged in. Broken Horses (2021) earned her two more Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, proving she can take over just about anything.

This track proves Brandi’s versatility, leaning into a rock vibe with energy and grit. It’s rebellion set to music, and Brandi rides the storm with purpose.

Crowded Table

With her band The Highwomen, Brandi delivers Crowded Table in 2019 as a celebration of inclusion. She imagines a world where everyone has a seat and no one is turned away.

With warm harmonies and open arms, it won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2021, bringing female solidarity center stage. It feels like sitting around a fire with your chosen family. This track is what comfort sounds like.

Caroline

Caroline whispers rather than shouts, with echoes of longing wrapped in string arrangements and soft harmonies. Fans adore it for its emotional truth.

A love song and memoir in one, Caroline captures deep emotion. It’s about storytelling that lingers. Brandi doesn’t over-explain, she lets you fill in the blanks. And maybe that’s why this fan favourite track haunts you in the best way.

Wherever Is Your Heart

Wherever Is Your Heart quietly climbed into listeners’ lives in 2015 and was featured on her album The Firewatcher’s Daughter.

You don’t need directions when you’re listening, just feelings. The song wanders through questions of home and love. Brandi’s voice is soft, hopeful, and introspective here, making each line feel lived in, like a well-worn flannel shirt.

Letter to the Past

On In These Silent Days (2021), this track begins softly with a piano, then builds into a full arrangement. Brandi sounds like she’s standing tall after years of silence.

The songwriting feels like reading a personal letter, full of reflection and hope. You hear her vulnerability, then feel her strength as the song swells. It’s a journey of introspection turned into musical beauty.

Raise Hell

This song from 2012 brings defiance and empowerment in equal measure. It received critical acclaim for blending folk and rock with a rebellious spirit.

Whether you’re mad at the world or just trying to find your fire again, this track is fuel. Brandi sings with swagger and conviction. And sometimes, raising a little hell is exactly what we need.

Stay Gentle

Stay Gentle is easy to miss if you’re not listening closely. Its gentle melody and message of kindness stand out in today’s fast-paced world, ideal for quiet reflection.

There’s a soft beauty in how she encourages us to ‘stay gentle’ despite everything. Some songs don’t want to shout. They want to hold your hand.

That Wasn’t Me

Forgiveness isn’t easy. Brandi singing from the perspective of someone asking for a second chance brings another standout. This raw Grammy-nominated ballad is just a voice trying to make things right.

It’s stripped down, honest, and kind. No judgment. The song may be slow, but its emotional weight is heavy, hitting right where regret lives.

Carried Me With You

This track might’ve been tucked into the A Star Is Born soundtrack, but it doesn’t play second fiddle. It is a powerful ballad that earns its own spotlight.

It captures the bittersweet ache of loving someone through life’s messes. And when Brandi sings it, you believe every word. It’s a moving performance that resonates with fans of the film and her music alike.

Closer to Fine

Who knew Barbie and Brandi were a match made in harmony heaven? In 2023, she and her wife, Catherine covered Closer to Fine for Barbie: The Album, turning a pop-culture moment into something personal.

This classic song makeover feels fresh yet timeless. A duet like this feels like sunlight. Their love sings louder than the music, reminding us that the journey is worth it.

Fulton County Joe

Let’s not forget hidden gems like Fulton County Jane Doe. It’s based on a real-life unsolved case, but Brandi gives the forgotten woman a voice, a soul, and dignity through song.

Brandi wrote it for a woman whose name was lost but whose story deserved to be told. Whether she’s singing for herself or others, Brandi reminds us that music can be a witness. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful. It’s Brandi.

Spanning decades and genres, the most covered rock songs ever revealed highlight the tracks that every band just had to play.

Party of One

Ever felt completely surrounded but still totally alone? That’s the ache Brandi Carlile captures in this song. Featured on her Grammy-winning album, the song helped carve out her mainstream rise.

Featuring a duet version with Sam Smith and a well-shot video starring Elisabeth Moss, the song gained strong attention. It’s all about subtle strength, giving space for Brandi Carlile’s vocals to shine.

If numbers never lie, then the biggest country music icons by record sales tell the true story of who defined the genre.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.