Brandi Carlile brought her soulful voice and captivating stage presence back to Saturday Night Live (SNL) on November 2, performing two emotionally charged songs from her latest album 'Returning to Myself'. The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter's fourth stint as musical guest on the show marked her second appearance this year, following a notable duet with Elton John earlier in April.
Carlile kicked off her performance with "Church & State", delivering a haunting arrangement co-written with Andrew Watt and longtime collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth. The song's poignant lyrics, which speak to societal unrest, resonated deeply with the audience. She followed up with "Human", a soaring ballad that showcases vulnerability and resilience – also the name of her upcoming Human Tour.
The two songs are from Carlile's eighth studio album 'Returning to Myself', released in October, which marks her first solo LP since 2021's 'In These Silent Days'. The album has garnered significant attention, including multiple Grammy wins and nominations. Since then, Carlile has maintained a strong presence in American roots and rock music, curating music festivals, forming the country supergroup The Highwomen, and collaborating with legendary artists like Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Tanya Tucker.
Carlile's SNL appearance is part of her busy touring schedule, which includes performances at Joni Mitchell's 'Joni Jam' at the Hollywood Bowl and her European return in fall 2026. The singer also made a memorable cameo in the episode's promos, stealing the scene with a quick-witted joke about co-star Ashley Padilla's haircut.
Carlile kicked off her performance with "Church & State", delivering a haunting arrangement co-written with Andrew Watt and longtime collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth. The song's poignant lyrics, which speak to societal unrest, resonated deeply with the audience. She followed up with "Human", a soaring ballad that showcases vulnerability and resilience – also the name of her upcoming Human Tour.
The two songs are from Carlile's eighth studio album 'Returning to Myself', released in October, which marks her first solo LP since 2021's 'In These Silent Days'. The album has garnered significant attention, including multiple Grammy wins and nominations. Since then, Carlile has maintained a strong presence in American roots and rock music, curating music festivals, forming the country supergroup The Highwomen, and collaborating with legendary artists like Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Tanya Tucker.
Carlile's SNL appearance is part of her busy touring schedule, which includes performances at Joni Mitchell's 'Joni Jam' at the Hollywood Bowl and her European return in fall 2026. The singer also made a memorable cameo in the episode's promos, stealing the scene with a quick-witted joke about co-star Ashley Padilla's haircut.
! her energy is so infectious and she has this amazing way of connecting with the audience through her music... i mean, have you heard "Human" it gives me chills every time 
. I've been listening to her album 'Returning to Myself' nonstop since it came out and it's like she's speaking straight to my soul. I'm also loving how she's not afraid to use her platform to talk about important issues, like societal unrest in "Church & State". I've always admired her passion and conviction 
.
! She always brings so much emotion to her performances and it feels like you're right there with her on stage. I'm glad she could share some of the powerful songs from 'Returning to Myself' with us, especially "Church & State" - that one really resonated with me. Can't wait to check out the Human Tour when it hits our shores 
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Brandi Carlile brought fire to SNL! 
She totally killed it on stage 
her voice is still giving me chills 
and that stage presence? 
can't be taught, girl! 
The song choices were perfect too - "Church & State" was so hauntingly beautiful and "Human" showed off her range 
. I'm low-key obsessed with the new album too 
she's killin it on SNL and her album 'Returning to Myself' is giving all the feels. i think its time to give her Human Tour some major hype because that song is a bop! but u know what? idk if i'm gonna lie, i kinda prefer her more stripped down stuff like "The Joke". dont get me wrong, im lovin the vibes of 'Returning to Myself' but sometimes less is more, right?
, Brandi Carlile slayed on SNL!!! Her performance was literally mesmerizing 
! She brought so much emotion & power to those songs, especially "Church & State" - it gave me all the feels 
. And can we talk about her stage presence? 
she's got that magic, you know?! 
I've been listenin to her album nonstop since it dropped in Oct and I'm obsessed 
. I love how she's still killin the game after all these years 
! And let's not forget about those promos - Ashley Padilla's haircut joke 
i love how she uses her platform to speak about important issues like church & state, it really resonates with people. and can we talk about how gorgeous she looks live 
her stage presence is just something else!
. She's got this raw energy on stage that just draws you in. I loved how she performed those two songs from her new album - they're so emotional and real. It's like she's speaking straight to your heart, ya know? And can we talk about how awesome it is that she's still killing the game at 40+ years young? 
She's a true rockstar in every sense of the word! I also loved her little joke during the promos - girl's got attitude 
, her music is real and honest and that's what resonates with people.
I don't get why Brandi Carlile is still on tour this late. Doesn't she take care of herself? 
Her songs are super emotional but I wish there was more to her performance than just singing her heart out... where's the production value, you know? 