Brandi Carlile Returns to ‘SNL’ to Perform Songs From ‘Returning to Myself’

Brandi Carlile Delivers Powerful Performance on SNL, Promoting Her Latest Album 'Returning to Myself'

On November 2, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile returned to Saturday Night Live (SNL) for a highly anticipated performance, showcasing her soulful voice and emotional range. This marked her fourth time as musical guest on the iconic sketch comedy show and her second appearance this year.

Carlile kicked off her set with "Church & State," a haunting arrangement that highlights themes of sociopolitical unrest and a "failing empire." The song is co-written with producer Andrew Watt and longtime collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth, reflecting Carlile's continued commitment to crafting powerful, thought-provoking music.

Next, she performed "Human," a soaring ballad that explores vulnerability and resilience. This track is also the name of her upcoming Human Tour, set to kick off in February 2026. The two songs are part of Carlile's latest album, "Returning to Myself," released on October 25.

"Returning to Myself" marks Carlile's first solo LP since 2021's critically acclaimed "In These Silent Days." Her music has continued to make waves in the industry, earning her multiple Grammy awards and nominations. Since her last solo project, Carlile has remained a prominent figure in American roots and rock music, curating music festivals, collaborating with legends like Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and Tanya Tucker, and forming the country supergroup The Highwomen.

Carlile's SNL appearance follows a busy October that saw her performing at Joni Mitchell's "Joni Jam" at the Hollywood Bowl and announcing her return to Europe in fall 2026 after the North American leg of her tour. Her performance was met with rave reviews, with fans praising her powerful vocals and emotional delivery.

In addition to her musical performance, Carlile also made headlines for stealing the scene during episode promos, delivering a hilarious joke about noticing co-star Ashley Padilla's haircut before Miles Teller, who hosted this week's episode.
 
I dunno... Brandi Carlile is super talented and all, but can't she just stick to her music? All these celebrity appearances and festivals, it's like she's trying too hard to stay relevant. And what's with the album title "Returning to Myself"? Sounds like a bunch of marketing fluff to me 🤔. I mean, can't we just listen to the music for once instead of analyzing every move she makes? Also, I don't get why everyone's so hyped about this SNL thing... it's just a sketch comedy show, right? 🎶
 
OMG I'm still on winter break from uni 🤯 and I just watched Brandi Carliles SNL performance on my phone 📱 and OMG she's sooo talented!! I was a bit confused about the song "Church & State" tho, what does that even mean? 😂 And why did they make her perform with an orchestra?! It felt like a different show 🎵. By the way, who's Joni Mitchell again? Never heard of her 🤔
 
OMG I'm still reeling from that SNL performance 🤯 Brandi Carlile is literally giving me LIFE with her music! Her voice and emotions are just so raw and real it's like she's speaking directly to your soul 😊 The way she performed "Church & State" gave me chills, and "Human" was so beautifully vulnerable. I'm OBSESSED with the new album "Returning to Myself" can't wait to listen to the whole thing 🎵 And yaaas to her hilarious promo scenes too! Ashley Padilla's haircut was definitely a funny bit 😂
 
omg i loved brandi carliles energy on snl she always brings such depth to her performances 🤩💖 it's amazing how she can tackle heavy topics like sociopolitical unrest with such vulnerability and strength. and that joke about ashley padilla's haircut was EVERYTHING 😂🔥
 
OMG y'all, Brandi Carlile is still slaying the game 🤩🎸! I mean, have you seen her live? She's like a rockstar... in a good way 😏. But seriously, "Returning to Myself" is such a powerful album, it's like she's speaking straight to your soul 💖. I love how she's not afraid to tackle tough topics like social unrest and vulnerability 🤝. And can we talk about her vocals? Girl can WERK those pipes 🔥🎶. Plus, I'm obsessed with her sense of humor 😂, who else could make a joke about someone's haircut during SNL promos? Legend!
 
omg u no wut i'm thinkin' Brandi Carlile is literally the queen of soul 🙌😍 her voice is like butter for ur soul, u feel me? i was listening to 'Returning to Myself' on repeat and i'm still tryna process all the emotions she's putting out there, it's like she's speakin straight 2 ur heart. i love how she's not afraid 2 tackle tough topics like sociopolitical unrest & vulnerability - she's a true artist 🎨. and can we talk about her collabs with Elton John & Joni Mitchell? legend status 🤩
 
🤯 Brandi Carlile is like the ultimate female rockstar! I mean, she's been killing it in the music industry for years and still pushing boundaries with her new album "Returning to Myself". That performance on SNL was straight fire 🔥 - she brought so much emotion and passion to those songs. And can we talk about how gorgeous she looked? 💃 I'm loving the whole vibe of this album, it's like she's speaking truth to power and I am HERE. FOR. IT 🤩 The fact that she's still touring and performing with legends in the industry is just a testament to her talent and dedication. I'm so excited to see what she does next! 💖
 
omg i'm so hyped 4 brandi carlile!!! 🤩 she always brings such energy to her performances and it sounds like snl had an epic show with her! "church & state" is giving me chills just thinking about it 🌪️ i've been listening to 'returning to myself' nonstop since its release and carlile's songwriting skills never cease to amaze me... she's such an inspiration to so many artists out there ❤️ and can we talk about how amazing it is that she's still killing the game after all these years?!? 🤩
 
omg u guys i just watched brandi carliles snl perf and i'm SHAKING 🤯 she's literally giving me LIFE with her new album 'returning to myself' it's so raw and emotional i love how she's using her platform to speak out about the world we're living in rn i've been listening to it nonstop since oct 25 release day 💖 and i'm not even kidding when i said that song "human" gave me CHILLS 🌫️ have u guys heard it yet? 😂
 
omg i'm obsessed with Brandi Carlile!!! 🤩 she's so talented and her voice gives me all the feels every time! I loved how she performed on SNL, it was like she was singing directly to my soul 💖 "Church & State" is such a powerful song and I love how she's using her music to talk about important issues. can't wait to listen to more of "Returning to Myself" - it's already getting so much love from me! 🎶
 
😊 Brandi Carlile's SNL performance was like a ray of hope in these crazy times. You know, it made me think... what happens when we're given the space to express ourselves? Like, really express ourselves - our emotions, our thoughts, our fears, and our dreams? 🤯 It's like that song "Returning to Myself" is saying. When we get to return to ourselves, to reconnect with who we are beneath all the noise and expectations, that's when true power lies. 💪

And it got me thinking... how many times do we let others define us or dictate our paths? Like, we're constantly trying to prove something to someone else instead of just being ourselves. 🤷‍♀️ It's like Carlile is saying - "I'm returning to myself" and that's what we should all be doing too. 💥 So, the next time you feel lost or uncertain, take a cue from Brandi Carlile and remind yourself that it's okay to be imperfect, to stumble, and to learn. 🌱
 
I'm totally obsessed with Brandi Carlile right now 🤩 she's like the queen of soulful music and I love how she uses her platform to promote thought-provoking songs that actually make you think 😊 her performance on SNL was so powerful, it gave me chills every time she sang those haunting notes. I've been listening to her latest album "Returning to Myself" nonstop and I'm still trying to process all the emotions she's pouring into these songs 🎶 what I love most about Brandi is that she's not just a talented musician, but also an incredible person who uses her voice for good 💖
 
I love Brandi Carlile's music so much! 😍 She's got such a special energy on stage that just draws you in. I was at her last show and it was insane how passionate the crowd was! 🤩 But what I love most about her is that she's not afraid to tackle tough topics in her songs - like "Church & State" does. It's so refreshing to see an artist using their platform to speak out on issues that matter. And can we talk about how amazing it is that she's still collaborating with legends like Elton John and Joni Mitchell? 🤝 That woman is a true icon! 💫
 
🎸😍 I must say that Brandi Carlile's SNL performance was absolutely captivating! The way she wove together themes of social justice and personal growth in her song "Church & State" really resonated with me 🤯. Her vocal range is truly breathtaking, and I loved how she brought such emotional depth to each song - it's like she was sharing a piece of her own soul with us ❤️. The fact that she's pushing the boundaries of roots rock music with her latest album "Returning to Myself" is really exciting for me, and I'm eager to dive into her upcoming Human Tour 🎟️!
 
[Image of Brandi Carlile on SNL with a surprised expression]

Brandi Carlile is like that one aunt at the family reunion – she shows up, brings the heat, and steals the show! 🤣🎸 [GIF of a woman walking into a room, and everyone's face lighting up]
 
omg can u even imagine how epic brandi carlile is ?? 🤩 she killed it on snl and i'm literally still reeling from her performance 😲 "church & state" is like the anthem of our times and bravi for speaking truth to power 💪 meanwhile, "human" is giving me all the feels 🎶 i've been listening to "returning to myself" nonstop since its release and it's honestly a game changer 🤯 brandi carlile is not just an amazing singer-songwriter but also a talented producer & collaborator 🌟
 
omg 🤯 Brandi Carlile is literally on fire right now 💥 her SNL performance was INSANE 🔥 i mean have you listened to "Returning to Myself" ?? it's like she's speaking straight to your soul 🌈 her voice, her energy, everything about it just feels so raw and honest 🤯 and that joke about Ashley Padilla's haircut LOL 😂 i'm dead 💀 anyway, seriously though, Brandi Carlile is a NATIONAL TREASURE 🎉 can't wait for the Human Tour to come to my city ASAP 🎟️
 
I don't know, man... Brandi Carlile is a talented artist, no doubt, but all these superstars popping up on SNL just feels like a bunch of hype 🤯. I mean, what's the real point of it all? Is she just promoting her new album to a broader audience? It's been out for a few months already... And let's be honest, has our attention span really decreased that much? Can't we focus on something meaningful for once? 🤔
 
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