Brandi Carlile was born into a musically gifted, impoverished family on the outskirts of Seattle and grew up in a constant state of change, moving from house to house, trailer to trailer, fourteen times in as many years. Though imperfect in every way, her dysfunctional childhood was as beautiful as it was strange, and as nurturing as it was difficult. At the age of five, Brandi contracted bacterial meningitis, which almost took her life, leaving an indelible mark on her formative years and altering her journey into young adulthood.
As an openly gay teenager, Brandi grappled with the tension between her sexuality and her faith when her pastor publicly refused to baptize her on the day of the ceremony. Shockingly, her small town rallied around Brandi in support and set her on a path to salvation where the rest of the misfits and rejects find it: through twisted, joyful, weird, and wonderful music.
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In Broken Horses, Brandi Carlile takes readers through the events of her life that shaped her very raw artтАФfrom her start at a local singing competition where she performed Elton JohnтАЩs тАЬHonky CatтАЭ in a bedazzled white polyester suit, to her first break opening for Dave Matthews Band, to many sleepless tours over fifteen years and six studio albums, all while raising two children with her wife, Catherine Shepherd. This hard-won success led her to collaborations with personal heroes like Elton John, Dolly Parton, Mavis Staples, Pearl Jam, Tanya Tucker, and Joni Mitchell, as well as her peers in the supergroup The Highwomen, and ultimately to the Grammy stage, where she converted millions of viewers into instant fans.
Evocative and piercingly honest, Broken Horses is at once an examination of faith through the eyes of a person rejected by the churchтАЩs basic tenets and a meditation on the moments and lyrics that have shaped the life of a creative mind, a brilliant artist, and a genuine empath on a mission to give back.
Carlile recorded new stripped-down, solo renditions of more than 30 of the songs featured in the book, including her own and songs from artists whoтАЩve inspired her, from Dolly Parton to Elton John, Leonard Cohen and more, available exclusively on the audiobook:
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тАЬI DonтАЩt Hurt AnymoreтАЭ by Hank Snow
тАЬCoat of Many ColorsтАЭ by Dolly Parton
тАЬRide on OutтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬHonky CatтАЭ by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
тАЬPhiladelphiaтАЭ by Neil Young
тАЬHappyтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThat YearтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬHallelujahтАЭ by Leonard Cohen
тАЬEye of the NeedleтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬTurpentineтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬWastedтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThe StoryтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬCloser to YouтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬCarolineтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬJosephineтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬSugartoothтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬLooking OutтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬBeginning to Feel the YearsтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬLove SongsтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬI WillтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬI Belong to YouтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThat WasnтАЩt MeтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThe MotherтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThe Stranger at My DoorтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬHeroes and SongsтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬMurder in the CityтАЭ by The Avett Brothers
тАЬParty of OneтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬThe JokeтАЭ by Brandi Carlile
тАЬHold You DearтАЭ by The Secret Sisters
тАЬBring My Flowers NowтАЭ by Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker
тАЬYour SongтАЭ by Elton John and Bernie Taupin