Fri Jan 02 02:50:00 UTC 2026: Summary:
Brandi Carlile credits Joni Mitchell as a significant influence on her songwriting, using Mitchell as a personal benchmark for authenticity. Carlile also played a key role in encouraging Mitchell’s return to the stage after a health scare, culminating in a full set performance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival after more than 20 years.
News Article:
Brandi Carlile Reveals Joni Mitchell’s Profound Impact on Her Music and Role in Singer’s Comeback
NASHVILLE, TN – Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile has opened up about the immense influence Joni Mitchell has had on her own artistic process. In a recent interview, Carlile described Mitchell as a standard for authenticity in her songwriting, even revealing that she filters her own work through the lens of whether she could “drive up to that gate and play this song for Joni over a glass of wine.”
Carlile emphasizes that her songs must come from an authentic place, inspired by “the muse” rather than the desire for external validation.
Beyond inspiring her songwriting, Carlile played a pivotal role in Joni Mitchell’s triumphant return to the stage. After a near-fatal brain aneurysm left Mitchell fearing she might never sing again, Carlile encouraged her to perform at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival. Carlile explained that the agreement was initially just to gather and play songs in a circle, similar to their casual “Joni Jams.” The performance marked Mitchell’s first full set in over 20 years.
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