Who Is Brandi Carlile’s Wife? A Guide to the Super Bowl Performer’s Family
Brandi Carlile is one of the artists who will be taking center stage at the 2026 Super Bowl. Ahead of the big game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, Carlile will be singing “America the Beautiful” on Sunday, February 8.
The country singer, who publicly came out as gay in 2002, has been married to her wife, Catherine Shepherd, since 2012. The women have built a family together and are a powerhouse couple.
Scroll down to learn more about Shepherd and her relationship with Carlile. Plus, everything to know about their kids.
What does Catherine Shepherd do for a living?
Not to be confused with Catherine Shepherd the actress, Shepherd currently works as Carlile’s manager and creative director, per her LinkedIn. From 2012 to 2024, she was the executive director and creative director for Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation.
Prior to that, Shepherd spent nine years working for Paul McCartney from 2002 to 2011. She was his personal assistant and charity coordinator.
How did Brandi Carlile meet her wife?
Carlile and Shepherd first met on a phone call in 2009. Shepherd was coordinating McCartney’s charity work and reached out to Carlile to donate Beatles memorabilia to a campaign she was running for her foundation.
After that first conversation, the women began talking on the phone regularly before meeting in person about a year later in 2010. Shepherd came to one of Carlile’s shows in New York City.
“Every time I talked to her over the phone, I thought I was talking to somebody who was like 65 years old,” Carlile wrote in her memoir. “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.”
They got married in Boston in September 2012, followed by another wedding in Carlile’s home state (Washington), and then a civil ceremony in Shepherd’s native England.
Does Brandi Carlile have children?
Yes, Carlile and Shepherd share two daughters. Their first daughter, Evangeline, was born in June 2014. Evangeline is biologically Carlile’s daughter (she used IVF treatments to fertilize her eggs), but Shepherd carried her.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images
In March 2018, the ladies’ second daughter, Elijah, was born. This time, Shepherd got pregnant through artificial insemination (IUI), making the child biologically hers.
Who is the father of Brandi Carlile’s children?
Carlile’s childhood friend David donated sperm to her and Shepherd for both of their daughters.
In a 2020 social media post, Carlile acknowledged David’s role in her daughters’ lives, writing, “Happy Father’s Day to my Dad and to my best friend David who gave Catherine and I the greatest gift in life, our two daughters.”
2026 Super Bowl, Sunday, February 8, 6:30/5:30c, NBC
