Brandi M. Carlile is an American three-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and producer whose music spans multiple genres. Carlile has released six studio albums and earned seven Grammy Award nominations, including one for The Firewatcher's Daughter and six for By the Way, I Forgive You. She was the most nominated woman at the 61st Grammy Awards (six) including nominations for Album of the Year (By the Way, I Forgive You), Record of the Year (The Joke) and Song of the Year (The Joke).

Carlile dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music, teaching herself piano and guitar. Her debut major label album, Brandi Carlile, was released to critical acclaim yet achieved limited commercial success. Carlile garnered wider recognition with her 2007 single "The Story", from her album of the same name. The Story was awarded gold status in 2017, having sold more than 500,000 copies to date. The Firewatcher's Daughter earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.

Carlile's music through the years has been categorized in several genres, including pop, rock, alternative country, and folk. She said of her style, "I've gone through all sorts of vocal phases, from pop to blues to R&B, but no matter what I do, I just can't get the country and western out of my voice." Carlile has been a part of several activism campaigns and an advocate for causes ranging from spreading awareness for health issues to empowerment of women.