Brief
Brandi Carlile Performs Sad Gay Version Set at Stonewall Inn
Carlile celebrated her deluxe album at the LGBTQ landmark, delivering an hour‑long set and chatting with photographer Collier Schorr.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Grammy‑winning singer‑songwriter Brandi Carlile performed an hour‑long set of her newly released “Sad Gay Version” of the 2025 album Returning to Myself at Manhattan’s Stonewall Inn on October 2, 2026, Billboard reported.
What happened
Less than a week after issuing the deluxe edition, Carlile arrived at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center with her fan community, the “Bramily.” She opened with intimate renditions of tracks such as “A Woman Oversees” and “A War With Time,” songs that reference her wife and children. The set also included a cover of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes,” recorded for the Practical Magic 2 soundtrack, and the new track “Human.” A brief sound‑cut during “Human” prompted the band to improvise a “magical” moment, according to the article.
What was said
During a conversation with photographer Collier Schorr, who shot the original album cover, Carlile said LGBTQ musicians add “a little sparkle” to sad songs and stressed the “importance of spaces like [Stonewall]” in today’s political climate. Schorr replied, “It’s like, where’s the Emerald City? It’s black and white again.” Carlile also recounted a FaceTime call from Sandra Bullock that led to her covering Joel’s song, noting, “She knows what she’s doing in a flannel shirt,” and praised Bullock’s involvement in the Practical Magic 2 film.
Key facts
- Brandi Carlile performed an hour‑long set of her “Sad Gay Version” songs at the Stonewall Inn on Oct. 2, 2026. (billboard.com)
- The performance featured intimate versions of “A Woman Oversees,” “A War With Time,” a Billy Joel cover, and the new track “Human.” (billboard.com)
- Carlile discussed the show with photographer Collier Schorr, highlighting the significance of LGBTQ spaces. (billboard.com)
- She said a FaceTime call from Sandra Bullock prompted her to record the Joel cover for the Practical Magic 2 soundtrack. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “Brandi Carlile Played a Stonewall Fundraiser – and Stuck Around to Sing Celine Dion & Madonna Karaoke”
