You know that feeling when a song just rips your heart out and hands it back to you, slightly more bruised but somehow better? That is the Brandi Carlile experience. It is not just about the notes or the vibrato. It's the grit.
Most people recognize her name from the 2019 Grammys, where she absolutely leveled the room with a performance of "The Joke." But the road to those standing ovations wasn't exactly paved with easy radio hits. Honestly, Brandi Carlile hit songs are a bit of an anomaly in the modern music industry because they rely on vocal gymnastics that most singers wouldn't dare attempt outside of a shower.
She’s been doing this since 2005. Two decades. That’s a long time to wait for the world to catch up to your frequency.
The Breakout: "The Story" and the Power of the Crack
If you were watching Grey’s Anatomy back in 2007, you heard it. You know the one. The song starts as a gentle folk lullaby and then, at the two-minute mark, Brandi’s voice doesn't just climb—it breaks.
That "crack" in "The Story" was intentional. It was raw. It was everything.
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Curiously, the song wasn't even written by Brandi. It was penned by Phil Hanseroth, one-half of "the twins" (Phil and Tim) who have been her ride-or-die bandmates since the Seattle club days. While it only reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, its impact was massive. It became a permanent fixture in the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) world. It basically became her calling card.
"The Joke": A Modern Classic Born From a Dare
Fast forward a decade. 2017. Producer Dave Cobb—the guy who helped redefine the Nashville sound—basically told Brandi that she hadn't had a "vocal moment" like "The Story" in ten years.
That's a hell of a thing to say to a songwriter.
Brandi took it as a challenge. She went home, brooded a bit (as you do), and came back with "The Joke." It’s a song for the underdogs, the "unloved or illegal," and the kids who don't fit into the boxes society builds for them.
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When she hit those final notes at the 61st Grammys, the search traffic for "Brandi Carlile hit songs" went through the roof. It wasn't just a win for her; it was a win for Roots music. The song took home Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance, proving that you don't need a heavy synth-pop beat to dominate a digital world.
The Collaborations: Elton John, Miley, and the Highwomen
Brandi has become the "Kevin Bacon" of the music industry. Everyone is connected to her. She’s like the glue holding together folk, rock, and country.
Her 2025 album, Returning to Myself, has kept this momentum going, but it’s her side projects that often catch people off guard. Take "Crowded Table" with The Highwomen. It’s a group she formed with Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires. The song is a literal anthem for inclusivity.
Then there’s the Elton John connection. Brandi has gone from a kid with Elton John posters on her wall to his actual peer. Their 2025 collaboration, "Who Believes in Angels?", is a masterclass in harmony. You’ve also got her work with Miley Cyrus on "Thousand Miles." It’s a weirdly perfect pairing. Brandi’s dusty, folk-tinged rasp against Miley’s rock-and-roll growl just works.
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Key Tracks You Might Have Missed
- "Right on Time": This 2021 hit from In These Silent Days is basically a vocal flex. The piano opening is gorgeous, but the way she jumps octaves in the chorus is what earned it a Record of the Year nomination.
- "Broken Horses": This isn't your standard Carlile ballad. It's a rock song. It's loud, it's aggressive, and it won Best Rock Song at the 2023 Grammys.
- "The Mother": A brutally honest look at parenthood. No "precious moments" fluff here—just the reality of your identity being subsumed by a tiny human.
- "Party of One": The version featuring Sam Smith is particularly haunting. It's about the exhaustion of fighting with someone you love.
The "Joni" Factor
You can't talk about Brandi’s recent success without mentioning Joni Mitchell. Brandi was the architect of the "Joni Jams," helping bring the legendary singer back to the stage after her brain aneurysm.
While some internet critics (there are always critics) were weirdly vocal about Brandi being "too involved" in Joni’s comeback, the reality is that Brandi’s advocacy helped a new generation discover songs like "Both Sides Now." This expert-level understanding of music history is why her own hits feel so timeless. She isn't chasing trends. She's chasing ghosts of the greats.
Why Her Music Sticks
People don't just "listen" to Brandi Carlile. They inhabit her songs.
She writes about the stuff we usually hide: the shame of addiction in "Sugartooth," the messy forgiveness in "Harder to Forgive," and the terror of being seen for who you really are.
Her latest 2025/2026 tour cycle has shown that even as she moves into massive arenas, the songs still feel like they were written in a basement in Ravensdale, Washington. That's the trick. To grow big without losing the smallness that made you special in the first place.
The Strategy for Your Playlist:
If you're looking to truly "get" Brandi Carlile, don't just stick to the Spotify "This Is" playlist. Start with "The Story" to understand the vocal power. Move to "The Joke" for the emotional core. Then, dive into "Broken Horses" to see her range. Finally, listen to "Turpentine"—an older track that perfectly captures the "Carlile-Hanseroth" harmony that started it all. By the time you get through those, you'll see why she's one of the few artists whose "hits" are defined by heart rather than just radio spins.