In my Brandi Carlile Era
How an audiobook made me want to go to Mexico
There are two events PT Cruisin’ around in my head right now: Girls Just Wanna Weekend and the Grammys.
Last week I noticed I had multiple friends vacationing in Mexico. I realized they were there for Girls Just Wanna Weekend, or GJWW, Brandi Carlile’s annual concert vacation.
Also last week, my husband left for L.A., where I was supposed to meet him for the Grammys (he’s nominated) but he got sick and decided not to go. So I cancelled my flights. But now he’s better and he’s going and I’m going to watch the livestream at home. Anyway, the Grammys!
Insert Wayne’s World doodlee-doo dissolve sound.
In 2019 I was a bookseller at Parnassus Books. We had absolutely no control over the music that played while the store was open. As soon as we closed, Sissy would turn on Brandi Carlile. The music was too slow and sad for me, but I appreciated how much everyone loved it.
Also in 2019, John got nominated for a Grammy. We flew to L.A. and went to the awards. I hilariously did not know what Brandi Carlile looked like. My only exposure to her was listening to her on repeat while I push-broomed the bookstore after hours. So I did not recognize her when I met her. I was like, man, this lady with the snap front shirt and these tall-ass twins is cool as hell.
Lol until I die.
So, I’m thinking about the Grammys, meeting Brandi Carlile the last time I was there and all my friends who were in Mexico last week (shout-out to Susannah for writing a recap). Brandi is on my mind. I decide to download her memoir Broken Horses on audio.
I’m listening to the audiobook as I scoot around the house doing my lil chores. It’s great. I’m vibing with her voice and the story. One of the chapters end and I hear a faint strumming of a guitar. Then she starts singing. And she keeps singing for two more songs. I’m blown away. I find reasons to run errands just so I can listen to it in the car. At the end of almost every chapter, she sings one, two, or three songs, most of them covers.
A few days ago, I took my mental health walk in the woods. I was 73% of the way through the book, so I put my airpods in and started walking. I realize immediately that I am listening to the end of the book. I’m so confused. The book ends, she reads the acknowledgments and I look at the Libro.fm percentage counter. Still at 80%. Then she starts singing. The last 90 minutes of the audiobook are her singing all THIRTY SONGS from the book. I started crying hahahaha.
Then this week on We Can Do Hard Things, Glennon and Abby do a whole episode on Girls Just Wanna Weekend. They talk about how it was the first time they’d been, how much fun they had, what an amazing, safe space Brandi has created.
TikTok is showing me all these GJWW videos. I feel like I’m being influenced by the universe to go to Mexico. Will I actually go next year? TBD. A lot depends on if I remember that I want to go. Those of you in perimenopause know what I’m talking about.
As a favor to future me, I signed up for the GJWW newsletter, where I assume I will be alerted to the 2025 date and the timeline to purchase tickets. Watch this space lol.
Because I’m never not a bookseller, two books I recommend alongside Broken Horses are Maybe We'll Make It by Margo Price (also a great audiobook) and Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Busted Up the Old Boys Club by Marissa R. Moss.
This will be in your inbox before I know if John won a Grammy, so if you’re curious, keep an eye on my IG stories. Or if you’re local, just listen for a scream coming from West Nashville around 2:30 p.m.
Ooooh, so is this how you snapped that photo of BTS at the Grammys in 2019? Also, being nominated for a grammy!! 😮
Listening for the scream. 👂