21 must-see Brandi Carlile collabs that will change your life
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Grammy-winning Americana icon Brandi Carlile held her 5th annual Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival last week. With hundreds of attendees coming together for the most sapphic music festival around, Carlile took to the stage with many of her long-time collaborators including Allison Russell, Annie Lennox, and more. The legendary Sarah McLachlan also took the stage with Carlile.
Related: Out100 Icon Brandi Carlile Is the Voice of LGBTQ+ Hope and Healing
In honor of the sing-along collaborations from the weekend, we’ve put together some of the most iconic performances Carlile has had with her fellow artists. Carlile is known to be a musician’s musician and has gone out of her way time and time again to uplift and support emerging talent. She’s also fully embraced her icon status with duets featured here with Pink, Dolly Parton, the Indigo Girls, Kelly Clarkson, and Sam Smith.
Check out videos of the collaborations below.
Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile - “I Will Always Love You”
Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile, “I Will Always Love You”
On a clear summer’s day at the Newport Folk Festival in 2019, Carlile and Dolly Parton stunned the crowd with Parton’s mega-hit “I Will Always Love You.”
Sam Smith and Brandi Carlile - “Party of One”
Brandi Carlile - Party Of One feat. Sam Smith (Official Video)
The soulful Sam Smith joined Brandi Carlile on a duet of her song “Party of One,” off her Grammy-winning 2018 album, By the Way, I Forgive You. A portion of the proceeds from their collaboration were donated to Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation and Children in Conflict in support of children in war zones.
Joy Oladokun and Brandi Carlile - “Sweet Symphony”
Joy Oladokun & Brandi Carlile - Sweet Symphony Red Rocks 9/9/23 (no Chris Stapleton)
Nashville-based Americana artist Joy Oladokun and Carlile teamed up for a duet of Oladokun’s affirming “Sweet Symphony” at Red Rocks in 2023.
Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile - “She Used To Be Mine”
Sara Bareilles - She Used To Be Mine (feat Brandi Carlile)
Multi-hyphenate Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile moved the audience with Bareilles’s showstopper “She Used To Be Mine” from her musical,Waitress at Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend in Mexico in early 2023.
Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile - “You’re Not Alone”
You're Not Alone ft. Brandi Carlile (Official Music Video)
“’You’re Not Alone’ is an inspiring meditation on the power of ancestral strength and the essential nature of community,” according to Grammy nominee Allison Russell’s YouTube description of the song off of Our Native Daughters’ 2019 debut album. Sista Strings and Larissa Maestro perform on the track as well.
Sara Bareilles, Lucius, and Brandi Carlile - “California”
Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile and Lucius - California (Joni Mitchell cover)
Four voices came together to create a breathtaking version of Joni Mitchell’s “California,” off of her Blue album. Sara Bareilles, Lucius, and Carlile joined forces in early 2023 at Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend 4 in Mexico.
P!nk and Brandi Carlile - “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Pink&BrandiCarlile NothingCompares2U. Citi Field NYC
It was the ride of a lifetime on P!nk’s Summer Carnival Tour, where Carlile opened in a series of cities. Following Sinéad O’Connor’s untimely death in July, the pair began singing O’Connor’s massive hit written by Prince, “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
P!nk and Brandi Carlile with Zac Brown Band - “Coat of Many Colors”
P!nk, Brandi Carlile & Zac Brown Band - "Coat of Many Colors" (Dolly Parton) | 2022 Induction
When national treasure Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Brandi Carlile and P!nk were on hand to bring the audience to tears with this stirring rendition of Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors.”
Brandi Carlile and Catherine Shepherd Carlile - “Closer to Fine”
Brandi Carlile & Catherine Shepherd Carlile | Closer to Fine (Indigo Girls) | Hollywood Bowl 2023
It was a massive boon for lesbian anthems when Greta Gerwig featured the Indigo Girls’ classic “Closer to Fine” prominently in the Barbie film. The cherry on top was that Carlile and her wife, Catherine Shepherd Carlile, performed a churned-down version of the song on the Barbie soundtrack. They performed the song at Brandi Carlile & Friends concert at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in October, sealing their moving performance with a kiss.
Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlile - “Delta Dawn”
Tanya Tucker jumps up in front of me to sing "Delta Dawn" w Brandi Carlile Live Philadelphia Lyrics
Country rabble rouser Tanya Tucker heaped praise for Carlile when she joined her on stage five years ago to sing her hit “Delta Dawn.” Carlile and Shooter Jennings produced Tucker’s acclaimed 2019 album, “While I’m Livin’.” They also collaborated on the documentary, The Return of Tanya Tucker.
Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile - “Dear Insecurity”
Brandy Clark - Dear Insecurity (feat. Brandi Carlile) [Live From The Gorge]
Now a 17-time Grammy nominee, Brandy Clark and Carlile, who produced Clark’s eponymous 2023 album, teamed on Clark’s pining call to move through doubt with “Dear Insecurity.” The duo’s voices wrapped around one another in a stirring performance at Carlile’s three-day celebration at The Gorge in Washington state.
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Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile - “Stand By Your Man”
Stand By Your Man - Brandi Carlile and Brandy Clark Red Rocks 9/8/23 Tammy Wynette
The two gay Brandi/ys camped it up at Red Rocks in Colorado with this Tammy Wynette classic.
Annie Lennox and Brandi Carlile - “Why”
Annie Lennox joins Brandi Carlile at The Gorge June 9 2023 Full clip
When special guest Annie Lennox walked onto the stage at The Gorge in June of 2023 with the strains of her hit song “Why” beginning to play, the crowd went berserk. Onstage, Carlile and Allison Russell cheered and bowed while the former Eurythmics singer took everyone to church.
Annie Lennox and Brandi Carlile - “Love Is a Stranger”
Brandi Carlile & Annie Lennox | Love Is a Stranger (Eurythmics) | Hollywood Bowl, October 14, 2023
Similarly, the crowd hooted and hollered when Lennox took the stage at Brandi Carlile & Friends at the Hollywood Bowl. After singing her solo hits “Why” and “No More I Love You’s” with Carlile, Lennox treated the crowd to a rousing performance of Eurythmics’ 1983 song “Love Is a Stranger.”
Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile - “A Case of You”
Joni Mitchell – A Case of You (Live at the Newport Folk Festival 2022) [Official Video]
When Joni Mitchell gloriously returned to the Newport Folk Festival stage in 2022, after recovering from a near-fatal aneurysm in 2015, the “Joni Jam” was a gift to audiences. At her side, was her friend Brandi Carlile, supporting Mitchell with lush harmonies and sharing verses. That relationship was most evident on Mitchell’s beloved “A Case of You,” off of her Blue album. Mitchell’s return to the stage resulted in a ticketed “Joni Jam” at The Gorge in 2023 and an album from Newport that Carlile produced.
Sarah McLachlan and Brandi Carlile - “Hold On”
Sarah McLachlan & Brandi Carlile - “Hold On” The Gorge Amphitheatre
For many ’90s kids, Sarah McLachlan was the soundtrack of an era, ushering in the age of Lilith Fair where she pushed back against promoters who told her that two women on a concert bill would never sell tickets. Carlile joined McLachlan on “Hold On,” off of her 1993 classic album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.
Sarah McLachlan and Brandi Carlile - “Angel”
Brandi Carlile & Sarah McLachlan - "Angel"
A Washingtonian, Carlile has often returned to The Gorge. In 2022, she joined McLachlan onstage for a tearjerking rendition of “Angel,” from McLachlan’s 1997 smash, Surfacing.
Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile - “Kid Fears”
Indigo Girls Song w Brandi Carlile Live Red Rocks - Kid Fears - 2022 Tour Show
Though this video captures this performance partway in, it’s a notable collaboration on an early Indigo Girls track. Here, Carlile joins Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (her “heroes,” as she’s referred to them), on their rousing “Kid Fears” off of their 1988 self-titled album.
Highwomen with Sheryl Crow and Yola - “Highwomen”
HighWomen with Sheryl Crow and Yola “Highwoman” Live at Newport Folk Fest 7/27/19
The country supergroup the Highwomen — made up of Carlile, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby — won a Grammy award for their song "Crowded Table" for Best Country Song in 2021. Here, the members, plus Yola as a featured artist, sing their single "Highwomen" at the Newport Folk Fest in 2019 with backing vocals from Sheryl Crow.
Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile - “A Beautiful Noise”
Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile - A Beautiful Noise (Official Video)
Ahead of the 2020 election, Grammy winner Alicia Keys and Carlile joined forces on “A Beautiful Noise,” encouraging Americans to vote. The all-women songwriting team included The song was created by an all-female songwriting team consisted of Keys, Carlile, Brandy Clark, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry, Hillary Lindsey, Ruby Amanfu, and Hailey Whitters.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile - “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”
Elton John & Brandi Carlile “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” live at Dodger Stadium (11/20/2022)
Speaking of Carlile’s heroes, she joined her ultimate idol, Elton John, onstage at Dodger Stadium for his 2022 Farewell Tour. Their duet of John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” is one for posterity.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandi Carlile - “Poison & Wine”
Kellyoke | Poison & Wine (The Civil Wars)
At the height of pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Carlile joined Kelly Clarkson on her show for a virtual performance of The Civil Wars’ “Poison & Wine.” Their voices entwined provided some much-needed healing and escape in tough times.
