Brandi Marie Carlile (born June 1, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Her music spans different genres, including folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock. During her career, she has received eleven Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards, in addition to being nominated for an Academy Award.

As of 2021^[update], Carlile has released seven studio albums. Her debut major label album, Brandi Carlile (2005), was released to critical acclaim. Carlile garnered wider recognition with her 2007 single "The Story" from her album of the same name. Carlile later released Give Up the Ghost (2009), Bear Creek (2012), The Firewatcher's Daughter (2015), By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), and In These Silent Days (2021).

Carlile has received three Grammy Awards for her work as a songwriter on Tanya Tucker's album While I'm Livin' (2019). She was the most nominated woman at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, receiving six nominations, including nominations for Album of the Year (By the Way, I Forgive You), Record of the Year and Song of the Year ("The Joke"). In 2019, Carlile formed an all-female quartet called the Highwomen with Amanda Shires, Maren Morris, and Natalie Hemby. The Highwomen released their self-titled debut album in 2019 to critical acclaim and commercial success, winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Song for the track "Crowded Table" in 2021.

Carlile has received two Emmy Awards. In 2022, Carlile won her first Children's and Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Program in the TV series We the People. In 2023, she received her second Emmy for Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool Program in the YouTube series Jam Van. In 2025 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.

Carlile has been involved in activism and fundraising on various issues, including humanitarian aid, COVID-19 relief, racial justice, and LGBT rights.

Brandi Marie Carlile was born on June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington, a small town 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Seattle. Growing up in the only house for miles, Carlile played in the woods, built forts, and played music with her brother, Jay, and sister, Tiffany. When she was four, Carlile nearly died from bacterial meningitis. Her heart stopped several times and she was in a coma. Carlile spent her early life living in King County's southern cities of Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Auburn, in Sumner, Washington, and briefly lived in West Seattle.

Carlile began singing country songs on stage when she was eight years old. At age 8, Carlile performed Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Flat Top Box" with her mother, Teresa Carlile, and began writing songs at age 15. At 16, Carlile became a backup singer for an Elvis impersonator. According to Carlile, she was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder as a teen. She attended Tahoma High School, but later dropped out to pursue her music career. After being introduced to the music of Elton John, Carlile taught herself to play piano, and at 17, she learned to play the guitar.

Carlile began her career performing in Seattle music clubs with twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth. In the beginning, Columbia Records signed Carlile in 2004 on the strength of songs she had been recording periodically at home. Released in 2005, Carlile showcased those early songs along with newly recorded tracks in the self-titled album Brandi Carlile. The 2006 re-release by Columbia Records included re-recordings of "Throw It All Away" and "What Can I Say".^{[citation needed]}