Brandi Carlile Announces 'Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version)'
Friday, 14 August 2026
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Collier Schorr
Brandi Carlile has announced 'Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version)'.
The project is a re-recording of the Oscar-nominated, multi-Grammy-winning artist's eighth studio album and first solo release in four years, 'Returning To Myself', which arrived last October.
Due out digitally on September 25, with rainbow vinyl following on December 11 via Interscope Records and Lost Highway Records, the new edition features all songs from the original album alongside "sad gay" intimate reimagined versions, recorded at Long Pond Studio with co-producer Aaron Dessner. The digital edition will also include a new cover of Billy Joel's 1989 ballad And So It Goes. Carlile said:
“When I was a teenager, I loved to toy with my own emotions by actively seeking out songs in a genre that very few are willing to call by its rightful name. The ‘Sad Gay’ genre. You don’t have to actually be gay to let it break your heart into a thousand pieces, it will do that against your will."
She continued: "I would do this just to feel myself spiral into pure emotional self-indulgence in ways only music like this could permit, making me a very sad gay. I reimagined this album in this way because I want to be brought back to the edge of my bed again and I want to bring you with me. I rebuilt the whole thing for you and for myself. This one is for us . . . the sad gays wherever you are."
Alongside the announcement, Carlile has shared Human (Sad Gay Version), which was reworked with composer and electronic musician Jon Hopkins into a soft piano ballad that slowly builds to a soaring climax.
Last week, the singer-songwriter rescheduled the UK and European leg of The Human Tour "due to personal circumstances," moving shows originally scheduled for this autumn to spring 2027. Head here for more details.
She kicked off the second North American leg of the tour this week, with dates continuing through to late September. Tickets are on sale now.
Since 'Returning To Myself', Carlile also released the single Life On The Run in May, which was co-written and co-produced by Dessner, with additional production by Andrew Watt.
'Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version) tracklist:
1. Returning To Myself
2. Human
3. A Woman Oversees
4. A War With Time
5. Anniversary
6. Church & State
7. Joni
8. You Without Me
9. No One Knows Us
10. A Long Goodbye
11. Human (feat. Jon Hopkins) (Sad Gay Version)
12. Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version)
13. You Without Me (Sad Gay Version)
14. No One Knows Us (Sad Gay Version)
15. Anniversary (Sad Gay Version)
16. And So It Goes (Sad Gay Version)
17. A Woman Oversees (Sad Gay Version)
18. Church & State (Sad Gay Version)
19. A War With Time (Sad Gay Version)
20. Joni (Sad Gay Version)
21. A Long Goodbye (Sad Gay Version)
Brandi Carlile Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Fri August 14 2026 - UNCASVILLE Connecticut - Mohegan Sun Arena at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort - Complex (USA)
Sun August 16 2026 - BETHEL New York - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts - Complex (USA)
Tue August 18 2026 - LENOX Massachusetts - Tanglewood (USA)
Thu August 20 2026 - CANANDAIGUA New York - Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) (USA)
Fri August 21 2026 - ROCHESTER HILLS Michigan - Meadow Brook Amphitheatre (USA)
Sun August 23 2026 - GRAND RAPIDS Michigan - Acrisure Amphitheater (USA)
Mon August 24 2026 - MADISON Wisconsin - Breese Stevens Field (USA)
Wed August 26 2026 - HIGHLAND PARK Illinois - Hunter Pavilion at Ravinia Park - Complex (USA)
Sat August 29 2026 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - Bridgestone Arena (USA)
Tue September 01 2026 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Spectrum Center (USA)
Thu September 03 2026 - DULUTH Georgia - Gas South Arena (formerly Infinite Energy Arena) (USA)
Sat September 05 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena - Complex (USA)
Sun September 06 2026 - AUSTIN Texas - Moody Center (USA)
Fri September 11 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA)
Sat September 12 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA)
Sun September 13 2026 - DENVER Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (USA)
Thu September 17 2026 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Sat September 19 2026 - STANFORD California - Frost Amphitheatre (USA)
Sun September 20 2026 - SANTA BARBARA California - Santa Barbara Bowl (USA)
Tue September 22 2026 - SAN DIEGO California - Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (USA)
Sat September 26 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Forest Hills Stadium (USA)
Sun September 27 2026 - MARYLAND Maryland - Merriweather Post Pavilion (USA)
Tue March 23 2027 - OSLO OsloSpektrum (Norway)
Wed March 24 2027 - STOCKHOLM Annexet (Sweden)
Fri March 26 2027 - COPENHAGEN Dr Koncerthuset (Denmark)
Sat March 27 2027 - COLOGNE Palladium (Germany)
Tue March 30 2027 - PARIS La Seine Musicale (France)
Wed March 31 2027 - ZURICH Hall (Switzerland)
Fri April 02 2027 - AMSTERDAM AFAS Live (Netherlands)
Tue April 06 2027 - GLASGOW SEC Armadillo
Wed April 07 2027 - GLASGOW SEC Armadillo
Fri April 09 2027 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Sat April 10 2027 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Sun April 11 2027 - WOLVERHAMPTON Civic at the Halls
Tue April 13 2027 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
Wed April 14 2027 - LONDON Eventim Apollo
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