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Brandy Lynn Clark (born October 9, 1975) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Her songs have been recorded by Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, and Kacey Musgraves. Brandy Clark CMT.com Bio. Retrieved July 22, 2013. She debuted as an artist in her own right in 2013 with her album 12 Stories and has released four additional studio albums. Clark is a sixteen-time Grammy Award nominee, including the 2015 Best New Artist award, and won the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year as a co-writer on "Follow Your Arrow". In 2023, Clark and frequent collaborator Shane McAnally wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Shucked, earning a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
Clark began playing guitar at nine years old and sang in school musicals, also writing songs. She obtained a basketball scholarship at Central Washington University, but later moved back home, obtaining an associate degree from Centralia College in 1997. Still a teenager, she joined the music business program at Belmont University, and moved to Nashville in 1998. At Belmont she took guitar lessons again and joined a band with her mother and a friend. She studied commercial music and was chosen to perform in the school's "Best of the Best Showcase". Upon graduation, Clark got a job with Leadership Music which led to her eventual publishing deal.
As a Music Row songwriter Clark writes songs that are mostly about the seedy underbelly of country folk. They are observational pieces based on flawed characters that tell the truth on the human condition. They contain Black comedy, with a blend of wit and realism, while having the artistic license to make them fictional.. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
In 2012 she opened shows for Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow. Brandy found an advocate in country artist Marty Stuart when on Saturday December 8, 2012 she joined him to make her Grand Ole Opry debut when she played his Grand Ole Opry Anniversary celebration and also at his Late Night Jam at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. GAC News (May 16, 2013). Retrieved July 22, 2013.
At the beginning of 2013 Brandy was chosen by CMT as one of the "Women of Country", a year-long promotion featuring up and coming artists. CMT Press Release (January 14, 2013). Retrieved July 22, 2013.
In December 2012, Clark digitally released a self-titled three-track EP including songs "Pray to Jesus", "Stripes" and "Take a Little Pill". The song "Stripes" was released as a single and the official video made its CMT debut on July 4, 2013. It was directed by Becky Fluke (Little Big Town, Pistol Annies) and HLN's Nancy Grace plays a cameo role.
As a co-writer of Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart", on September 10, 2013, Brandy received a nomination in the Song of the Year category (presented to the songwriters) for the 47th Annual CMA Awards broadcast, held in Nashville on November 6, 2013. 2013 CMA Awards Nominations Announced (September 10, 2013). Retrieved October 24, 2013. She was also twice nominated for Song of the Year at the 4th Annual American Country Awards which were held in Las Vegas on December 10, 2013. American Country Awards 2013 (October 31, 2013). Retrieved November 1, 2013.
Clark released Your Life Is a Record in 2020. Also produced by Joyce, the album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album.
In 2023, Clark released a self-titled album, Brandy Clark. It was nominated for five Grammys, including Best Americana Album. Clark won the Grammy, her first, for Best Americana Performance for her song, "Dear Insecurity", featuring Brandi Carlile.
Music roots publication Engine 145 described her as "one of the most talented songwriters on Music Row, and she proves she is as talented a performer as she is a writer." 12 Stories received a 4.5-out-of-5 rating. (July 16, 2013). Retrieved July 22, 2013
Americana and Roots music blog Twang Nation placed 12 Stories at the top spot of its best of 2013 "Cream of the Crop". Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2013 (November 30, 2013).
NPR music critic Ann Powers named the album her favorite of 2013. Powers noted that others share her sentiments, writing, "the top honor on many critics' lists is going to Clark, a storyteller of the highest caliber."
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Clark's 2017 release Live from Los Angeles is "smart to the core."
Your Life Is a Record has been described as "the best-sounding album that she’s released." The New Yorker wrote about the album saying, "No One Is Writing Better Country Songs than Brandy Clark Is". Writing about her 2023 self-titled album, NPR Music described Clark's voice as "a powerful, agile instrument that she wields masterfully".
Clark was honored with Centralia College's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025, recognizing her country music career and connection to the college.
| +Songs written by Brandy Clark | |||
| 2005 | "That's Why I Hate Pontiacs" | Rebecca Lynn Howard | Alive and Well (unreleased) |
| 2008 | "She'll Believe You" | Kenny Rogers | 50 Years |
| 2009 | "Things a Mama Don't Know" | Mica Roberts | Days You Live For |
| 2010 | "The Maker of Them All" | Guy Penrod | Breathe Deep |
| "Cry" | Reba McEntire | All The Women I Am | |
| "The Day She Got Divorced" | |||
| 2011 | "Mama's Broken Heart" | Miranda Lambert | Four the Record |
| "The Boy Never Stays" | Sarah Darling | Angels & Devils | |
| "Crazy Women" | LeAnn Rimes | Lady & Gentlemen | |
| "That's How I'll Remember You" | David Nail | The Sound of a Million Dreams | |
| "Tryin' to Go to Church" | Ashton Shepherd | Where Country Grows | |
| 2012 | "Better Dig Two" | The Band Perry | Pioneer |
| "Waitin' on a Train" | Buffy Lawson | I'm Leaving You for Me | |
| "We Can't Be Friends" | Joanna Smith | ||
| "Boys and Buses" | Hayden Panettiere | The Music of Nashville, Season 1: The Complete Collection | |
| 2013 | "Dandelion" | Kacey Musgraves | Same Trailer Different Park |
| "Follow Your Arrow" | |||
| "It Is What It Is" | |||
| "Hollywood" | Maggie Rose | Cut to Impress | |
| "Love Without You" | Darius Rucker | True Believers | |
| "You Can Come Over" | Craig Campbell | Never Regret | |
| "Get Outta My Yard" | Gretchen Wilson | Right on Time | |
| "Come Back To Me" | Keith Urban | Fuse | |
| "Songs About Trucks" | Wade Bowen | Wade Bowen | |
| "We'll Come Back Around" | Craig Morgan | The Journey (Livin' Hits) | |
| "Last Night's Make Up" | Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan | Dos Divas | |
| "Homecoming Queen" | Sheryl Crow | Feels Like Home | |
| 2014 | "Two Rings Shy" | Miranda Lambert | Platinum |
| "Burnin' Bed' | David Nail | I'm a Fire | |
| "Bad Girl Phase" | Sunny Sweeney | Provoked | |
| "Wheels On The House" | Ray Scott | Ray Scott | |
| "Bad Car" | Terri Clark | Some Songs | |
| "I Cheated On You" | |||
| "Drunk Americans" | Toby Keith | 35 MPH Town | |
| 2015 | "She Got Drunk Last Night" | Reba McEntire | Love Somebody |
| "Late to the Party" | Kacey Musgraves | Pageant Material | |
| "This Town" | |||
| "Biscuits" | |||
| "Miserable" | |||
| 2016 | "Liar Liar" | Aubrie Sellers | New City Blues |
| "Pawn Shop" | Shelley Skidmore | Shelley Skidmore | |
| "White Picket Fences" | |||
| "Chaser" | Jennifer Nettles | Playing with Fire | |
| "Drunk in Heels" | |||
| "Playing with Fire" | |||
| "Salvation Works" | |||
| "Starting Over" | |||
| "Sugar" | |||
| "Unlove You" | |||
| "Christmas Makes Me Cry" | Kacey Musgraves | A Very Kacey Christmas | |
| 2017 | "Pray to Jesus" | The Oak Ridge Boys | 17th Avenue Revival |
| "Bad Girl Phase" | Sunny Sweeney | Provoked | |
| 2019 | "Tammy Wynette Kind of Pain" | Reba McEntire | Stronger Than the Truth |
| 2020 | "Red Wine & Blue" | Hailey Whitters | The Dream |
| "Ten Year Town" | |||
| "Sparrow" | Ashley McBryde | Never Will | |
| "Voodoo Doll" | |||
| 2021 | "Dear Miss Loretta" | Carly Pearce featuring Patty Loveless | |
| 2022 | "Brenda Put Your Bra On" | Ashley McBryde | Lindeville |
| "Dandelion Diner" | |||
| "The Girl in the Picture" | |||
| "If These Dogs Could Talk" | |||
| "Play Ball" | |||
| "Ronnie's Pawn Shop" | |||
| "The Missed Connection Section of the Lindeville Gazette" | |||
| "Gospel Night at the Strip Club" | |||
| "Forkem Family Funeral Home" | |||
| "Bonfire at Tina's" | |||
| "Lindeville" | |||
| 2023 | "Tennessee's Waiting" | King Calaway | Tennessee's Waiting |
| 2024 | "Treehouse" | Ben Platt | Honeymind |
| 2025 | "Trailblazer" | Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson |
| +Brandy Clark studio album releases and sales performance | ||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||
| +Brandy Clark live album releases and sales performance |
| +Brandy Clark charting songs | |||
| 2015 ! scope="row" | "Hold My Hand" | 49 | 12 Stories |
| +Brandy Clark award nominations | |||||
| 2013 | 47th Country Music Association Awards | Song of the Year | "Mama's Broken Heart" | ||
| 56th Grammy Awards | Best Country Song | ||||
| 2014 | 49th Academy of Country Music Awards | Song of the Year | ACM Press Release (January 29, 2014). Retrieved February 5, 2014. | ||
| 48th Country Music Association Awards | Song of the Year | "Follow Your Arrow" | |||
| New Artist of the Year | Herself | ||||
| 2015 | 57th Grammy Awards | Best Country Album | 12 Stories | ||
| Best New Artist | Herself | ||||
| 2016 | 58th Grammy Awards | Best Country Song | "Hold My Hand" | ||
| 2017 | 59th Grammy Awards | Best Country Solo Performance | "Love Can Go to Hell" | ||
| Best Country Album | Big Day in a Small Town | ||||
| 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards | New Female Vocalist of the Year | Herself | |||
| 2021 | 63rd Grammy Awards | Best Country Album | Your Life Is a Record | ||
| Best Country Solo Performance | "Who You Thought I Was" | ||||
| 32nd GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Music Artist | Herself | |||
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Shucked | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | |||||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score | ||||
| 76th Tony Awards | Best Original Score | ||||
| 2024 | 66th Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | |||
| Best Country Solo Performance | "Buried" | ||||
| Best Country Song | |||||
| Best Americana Performance | "Dear Insecurity" | ||||
| Best American Roots Song | |||||
| Best Americana Album | Brandy Clark |
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