The folk-rock stars memoirBroken Horsesoffers the most intimate look into her life yet.
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Brandi Carlilehas been plagued with terrible sore throats since she was a little kid.
InBroken Horses, her debut memoir out this week, the beloved singer-songwriterrecounts several times her throat betrayed her.
In 2018, she and her longtime collaborators, Phil and Tim Hanseroth (a.k.a.
She continues, And when they fight, the result of that is often an ailment.
Broken Horsesis, in a way, mediation on the pageand in practice.
I realized I was writing the book.
It was stream of consciousness; it wasnt thought-out.
I just decided to stand behind it and make it a book.
This is obviously a shake-up from your typical writing process Its totally a process I was not used to.
I just kept making the decision to walk through those doors and keep doing that.
Its healed things, and its helped me make conscious decisions to emerge.
Im trying to hang on and learn from it.
This time has forced us all to be very introspective, whether we like it or not.
It was very difficult for me to not know how to end it.
I didnt know if my job was coming back.
I didnt know when Id see my friends again.
I didnt know who was going to win the election.
I didnt know if I was always going to be able tolive here.
There was so much I didnt know.
How does the book end?
Does it really endhere?
Thats where I really was challenged.
Theres no such thing as arrival.
I think I love knowing that.
There were some things in there that I had to defend [to my editor].
Im a high-school dropout.
Those are the things I worry about.
So he also wrote the whole thing himself, and you’re free to tell.
It was a little like that.
I love Glennon Doyle as a person.
I called her before I called my editor about [my writing style].
I was like, Tell me the truth.
Do I need to adjust to this system, or does this system have room for who I am?
She was like, This systemabsolutelyhas room for who you are, and needs to make room.
The editor was like, Dont say another word.
I totally get it, Im behind you.
I had turned in handwritten captions to the photos, and I misspelled tons of words.
Id grit my teeth and go, Let it slide!
I guess were doing this!
Its more about a vibe, this rural, complicated, charismatic upbringing.
But thats what I did.
I dont know how or why, but thats what happened.
Its wildly satisfying; its the most fun; its the most fulfilling part of what I do.
Its given me nothing but sheer joy to champion things and then watch those things take root.
Its because I had it in the broader culture.
And if I hadnt, we may not be talking right now.
Thats why I think thats a combination of words that cant be overstated.
It was pivotal in my life.
Its satisfying to know Im a part of that story for somebody else.
I probably wont ever be as abstract a storyteller as I used to think.
And then I wrote The Mother.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
