Belinda Carlisle and Brandi Carlile are two famous singers who have made their mark in the music industry. Belinda is best known as the lead vocalist of the all-female pop-rock band The Go-Go’s, while Brandi is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who blends folk, rock, country and Americana genres. But are they related in any way, or is it just a coincidence that they share similar names?
No Family Connection
The answer is no, Belinda Carlisle and Brandi Carlile are not related in any way, despite their similar names and connections to the music industry. They have different musical styles, but share a passion for music.
Belinda Carlisle was born on August 17, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. She started her career as a drummer for the punk band The Germs, before joining The Go-Go’s in 1978 as their lead singer. The Go-Go’s became one of the most successful female bands of all time, with hits like “We Got the Beat”, “Vacation” and “Our Lips Are Sealed”. They were nominated for Best New Artist at the 1982 Grammy Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
Brandi Carlile was born on June 1, 1981 in Ravensdale, Washington. She taught herself to sing and play guitar at a young age, and started performing in local venues as a teenager. She released her self-titled debut album in 2005, and gained critical acclaim for her subsequent albums, such as The Story (2007), By the Way, I Forgive You (2018) and In These Silent Days (2021). She has won six Grammy Awards, including Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance. She is also a member of the country supergroup The Highwomen, along with Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby.
A Friendly Encounter
Although Belinda Carlisle and Brandi Carlile are not related by blood, they have met each other in person and expressed their admiration for each other. In October 2021, they finally met at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, where The Go-Go’s were being honored. They posed for a photo together and joked about their name confusion on social media.
Brandi Carlile posted on Instagram: “It finally happened…and although Belinda Carlisle and I are now best friends. We ARE NOT the same person!” She also added in the comments: “Feels like the beginning of something…”
Belinda Carlisle reposted the photo on her own account and wrote: “Finally met my long lost sister @brandicarlile last night at @rockhall induction ceremony…she’s amazing!”
The Go-Go’s also shared a picture of Brandi Carlile with the whole band on Twitter and wrote: “Look who we met tonight!! @brandicarlile rules”
According to Variety, Brandi Carlile said in the press room: “I’ve been getting called Belinda Carlisle since I started making music and having my name anywhere on a marquee. I mean, I would pull up to theaters and have it say ‘Belinda Carlisle,’ or ‘Brandi Carlisle’ with the S. And I think Belinda’s been getting some of the same shit over the course of the last decade or two. So we finally met yesterday and decided to get a photo together so people would see that we’re two different people. I am in love with her and so happy for the Go-Go’s and couldn’t be more honored and excited to be confused for such an absolute killer.”
Conclusion
Belinda Carlisle and Brandi Carlile are not related in any way, but they are both talented singers who have achieved success in their respective genres. They have also shown respect and appreciation for each other’s work, and have become friends after meeting at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They may not share a family tree, but they share a love for music.
