Brandi Carlile has solidified her place as one of the most powerful voices in American music over the past two decades. After breaking through with her 2007 album The Story, the Washington native continued to win over critics and fans alike with The Firewatcher’s Daughter in 2015, earning her first Grammy nomination. She later racked up multiple wins and nominations for By the Way, I Forgive You (2018), her collaborative work on Tanya Tucker’s While I’m Livin’ (2019), and solo efforts like In These Silent Days (2021). Over the course of her career, Brandi has won eleven Grammy Awards and earned more than 25 nominations, becoming a celebrated force across genres from folk to rock to country.
When she’s not recording soul-stirring ballads, producing powerhouse records, or organizing her all-female music festival Girls Just Wanna Weekend, Brandi enjoys life offstage with her wife, Catherine Shepherd. The couple, who married in 2012, have built a life rooted in creativity, family, and advocacy.
Find out more about the woman who stole Brandi’s heart—and their life together—below.
Born in 1975, Catherine is the daughter of actor Jack Shepherd, who is also a playwright, theatre director and jazz musician. After attending the James Allen’s Girls’ School, Catherine followed in her father’s footsteps and tried her hand at acting. She eventually became quite successful as a charity organizer.
Catherine worked for ten years as the head of the charity organization for the legendary music icon Paul McCartney. During that time, she began working on a project that involved Brandi’s own charity works. Catherine then reached out to see if she could donate some of Paul’s memorabilia.
When the two finally met in person after talking on the phone for more than a year, Brandi was pleasantly surprised to find out that Catherine was her peer. “It was shocking to say the least,” she told People. “Every time I talked to her over the phone, I thought I was talking to somebody who was like 65 years old. I don’t know why. I think because of her wisdom and her demeanor. Or maybe I thought she was Paul’s age or something. So we met backstage in New York, and we were both like 27.”
After marrying in 2012, the couple decided to start a family. They welcomed their first daughter, Evangeline, in 2014, followed by their second, Elijah, in 2018.
