
Brandi Carlile
GRAMMYConnect Presents: 6 Degrees From Brandi Carlile
Over the course of their careers, GRAMMY-nominated artists intersect with hundreds—maybe thousands—of fellow musicians, producers, and other industry professionals. Many have a chance to work with entertainers outside the music industry, or even a politician or two.
Given a typical GRAMMY-nominated artist's far-reaching network, we thought it would be fun to explore a few of these connections with folk-rock singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, who is nominated for six GRAMMYs this year. To help facilitate the conversation, we used GRAMMYconnect.com, our AI-powered site developed in partnership with IBM.
"It was really cool to kinda stroll dowm memory lane and see so many of the people that have touched my live over the years," says Carlile. "I even came across a few connections I didn't know I had."
One of those hidden connections was with none other than Amy Schumer, the comedienne, actress, and activist who shares a passion for many of the same causes as Carlile. Turns out Schumer and Carlile were born on the same exact day: June 1, 1981. “I think it’s quite a compliment to share a birthday with somebody that exciting and funny, and of that depth,” says Carlile. The two actually met one time at a hotel swimming pool, when Brandi’s wife managed to get a laugh out of Schumer. “She made the funniest woman in America laugh.”
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That’s not the only surprising link GRAMMYConnect found to Carlile: The Washington-born singer also has deep ties to former President Barack Obama. Obama has included a few of Carlile’s songs on the favorites list he posts every year. Not only that, but he wrote the foreword to Cover Stories, Carlile’s 2017 album to benefit children of war.
“I’ve got a lot of connection points with Barack Obama over the last eight to 10 years," says Carlile. “There are so many ways he’s impacted my life… I think the most potent connection I have to him is that I proposed to my wife on the day that he came out as the first American president in support of marriage equality.”
And here’s one that many of you probably missed: Brandi is connected to Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, due to her cameo in A Star is Born. In the scene, Cooper’s character, Jackson Maine, participates in a GRAMMY Awards tribute to Roy Orbison. Brandi plays herself, and takes the lead on vocals in the scene.
We also explored Carlile’s connections to Dolly Parton, who will be honored as the 2019 MusicCares Person of the Year at the L.A. Convention Center two nights before the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Click Dolly’s name to find out how the two are connected! And while you’re at it, find out how Carlile connects to GRAMMY winners Pearl Jam, Elton John, Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris.
To explore more of Brandi’s connections, or the connections of more than 19,000 GRAMMY-nominated artists through the years, go to GRAMMYconnect.com. Then, be sure to watch the 61st GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS.