Brandi Carlile opens up about family, fame, past struggles and personal growth, calling her life today a “sweet spot.”
Brandi Carlile is embracing a rare moment of balance in her life.
In a candid new interview with The Guardian, the 44-year-old singer-songwriter opened up about family, fame and the personal growth that continues to shape both her artistry and identity.
With 11 Grammy Awards, a celebrated memoir, acclaimed collaborations with icons like Joni Mitchell and Elton John, and a thriving charitable foundation, Carlile’s career shows no signs of slowing — but she says it’s her life at home that feels most meaningful.
“I’m the happiest right now,” she said, reflecting on the harmony she feels with her wife, their two daughters, and her still-healthy parents. “I can see that I’m in a kind of sweet spot: my parents are alive, my kids are little, my wife is hot and my body doesn’t hurt.”
The singer, who released her eighth studio album Returning to Myself last month, spoke openly about past struggles, including a panic attack in her 20s that forced her to leave the stage.
She still remembers hearing the crowd’s frustration, calling it her most embarrassing moment. Carlile also reflected on childhood mistakes, admitting she bullied classmates and continues to seek ways to make amends. “To repay those things karmically, I will watch my kids’ hearts like a hawk,” she said.
Known for her earnestness and vulnerability, Carlile didn’t shy away from discussing identity and self-acceptance. She recalled the pain of being told, “I love you but I hate your lifestyle,” calling it the worst thing anyone has ever said to her.
Now, she’s committed to raising her daughters with empathy — and honesty about the challenges her family may face. She described crying recently when her oldest daughter worried that if the Supreme Court overturned marriage equality, she “wouldn’t have parents anymore.”
Despite the weightier topics, Carlile’s sense of humor and self-awareness shone through. She described love as “a lifelong sleepover,” confessed her affection for reality TV, and joked that liking her own appearance “is against the law in the UK.” If she could be anyone else, she said she’d choose Elton John — “a fearless bitch with a huge heart.”
As she looks ahead, Carlile hopes to be remembered as “human, evolving and faithful.” And the biggest lesson life has taught her? “Sacrifice the self and you will gain it. Serve the self and you will lose it.”
