It Wasn't God Who Made Honey Tonk Angels

Brandi Carlile: singer, song writer, and philanthropist.

Ravensdale, Washington, thirty miles Southeast of Seattle, is a town of 1,1500 where Brandi Carlile grew up. Her family was poor, and at eight Bandi sang country music in bars with her mother . It set in motion a career that has been on a high-speed trajectory ever since.

Dropping out of high school, Brandi devoted herself to learning guitar and piano and soon began singing in different venues around Seattle. She grew a local following through her easy manner on stage coupled with her enormous talent. Was her music, folk, rock, or country? I learned of her when I heard her group, The Highwomen, sing the old Kitty Wells song, “ It wasn’t God who Made Honkey Tonk Angels.” The answer is all three.

Her all-women group is new. She typically sings with the twins, Tim and Phil Hanseroth, who are neighbors and best friends. They often share their evening with meals and songs. The three started a foundation in 2008, which has donated over a million dollars to charities like Honor the Earth and Doctors without Borders.

Brandi, who is gay, is married with two small children. She, her wife, and the children travel together in a tour bus on the road. Brandi has an unusual financial arrangement with the twins. The three musicians split evenly all money they earn. The winner of several Grammys, Brandi is the star attraction, but she places a high value on her musical family.

Beautiful, charismatic, energetic, and individualistic, Brandi Carlile is a good musician and person. She is following a path of her own making and living life on her terms. Singer, songwriter, and poet, she is down to earth while soaring like the brightest of the stars.