Brandi Carlile

After debuting with her self-titled album in 2005, the Washington state-bred Carlile saw her fanbase mushroom with her sophomore disc, The Story. Among the growing legion of Carlile fans is Elton John. “Brandi has an amazing voice,” he says. “She’s a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her.” The Story upped the ante considerably, selling over 350,000 copies and rising to No. 41 on the Billboard album sales chart. Several of Carlile’s songs have appeared in commercials and on televisions shows such as Grey’s Anatomy. Along the way, she’s toured with the likes of Ray LaMontagne and Sheryl Crow, who raved about Carlile’s support performances online: “She has the most amazing voice I may have ever heard. Soulful. Country. Perfect in every way—and propelled by taste.”

Paste Magazine called her “the best voice in indie rock,” and if you’ve ever heard Brandi Carlile sing, you know they are right. She recently released her third album, Give Up the Ghost, and is currently touring relentlessly with her longtime bandmates (the “twins” Tim and Phil Hanseroth, cellist Josh Newmann and drummer Allison Miller). Carlile’s career wish list is coming alive right before her eyes: she recorded a duet with Elton John, taped her first performance on the legendary Austin City Limits, has been invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and will be a main stage performer at this summer’s Lilith Fair.