First published 2021
Brandi Carlile opens her life story with brutal honesty, revealing how music saved her from a chaotic childhood. Born into an impoverished but musically talented family outside Seattle, she moved 14 times in 14 years, living in houses and trailers across the region. At five, bacterial meningitis nearly killed her, marking her early years with trauma. As a gay teenager, she faced rejection when her pastor refused to baptize her during the ceremony, but her small town surprisingly rallied to support her. Carlile traces her path from performing Elton John's "Honky Cat" in a bedazzled polyester suit at local competitions to opening for Dave Matthews Band and enduring 15 years of relentless touring. She built a career across six studio albums while raising two children with wife Catherine Shepherd. The memoir chronicles her collaborations with heroes like Elton John, Dolly Parton, and Joni Mitchell, her work with supergroup The Highwomen, and her Grammy stage breakthrough that converted millions into fans. Carlile examines faith through the lens of church rejection and explores how specific moments and lyrics shaped her artistic mind and empathetic mission.
Genres: autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Seattle, United States
Period: 21st Century
336 pages · Hardcover · Crown
Content warnings: abuse, anxiety, depression, homophobia