brandi carlile wife
Brandi Carlile’s wife is Catherine Shepherd, a British former actress and nonprofit executive born in London around 1975. Shepherd is the daughter of veteran British actor Jack Shepherd, and she became executive director of the Looking Out Foundation.
Brandi Carlile is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter from Washington State. She is known for songs like “The Joke,” her work with Tim and Phil Hanseroth, and her memoir Broken Horses. Off stage, she is just as known for her family and her charity work.
This article covers Catherine’s background, her career, how the couple met, their wedding, their two daughters, and her public profile. A note on accuracy: Catherine keeps a low profile, and her exact birth date, schooling, and net worth have not been publicly confirmed by reliable sources. I’ve left those out rather than guess.
Who Is Catherine Shepherd, Brandi Carlile’s Wife?
Catherine Shepherd was born in London, England. She is the daughter of the veteran British actor Jack Shepherd. As of early 2025 she was 49, which puts her birth year at about 1975. Her exact date of birth is not public. Her nationality is British.
She grew up in a family connected to the theatre, and she began her working life in the arts. Her detailed school and college history has not been reliably reported, so there is no verified education to list here.
After taking the Carlile name, she is sometimes written about as Catherine Carlile. In most coverage she is still called Catherine Shepherd.
Catherine Shepherd’s Career as Brandi Carlile’s Wife
Catherine’s career has had three main parts: acting, charity work, and music management.
She worked as an actress early on. She also spent two years as an advertising executive at the Time Out Group in London. In 2001 she joined Paul McCartney’s charitable foundation, where she stayed for about a decade.
She left that role in 2011 and moved to the Looking Out Foundation. Brandi co-founded it in 2008 with Tim and Phil Hanseroth, and it supports local communities and mental health programs through music. Catherine became its executive director and worked there through 2024. She is also Brandi’s manager.
Her net worth has not been reported by reliable sources. Brandi and Catherine were named among People’s Women Changing the World in 2023 for their charitable work. Together, that makes her one of the more influential people behind the scenes in music.
How Did Brandi Carlile and Catherine Shepherd Meet?
Their story began with a phone call. In 2009, Catherine was working for Paul McCartney’s charity. She contacted Brandi about donating Beatles memorabilia. They built a long-distance friendship by phone, and they met in person in 2010.
Reports say they met face to face backstage at a charity event. Their shared interest in charity work made the connection easy. Brandi’s foundation was growing, and Catherine already knew how to run charitable programs.
The timeline from the phone call to the wedding is short, about three years. Early reports described their relationship as quick and sincere. Neither has shared much about the engagement itself, so details are limited.
Brandi Carlile’s Wife and Their Wedding Details
The couple married on September 15, 2012, in Boston, and they later held additional ceremonies in Washington and London. The Boston ceremony was small and private.
The timing mattered. In 2012, marriage equality was still debated across the United States, and many states did not recognize same-sex marriages. Brandi has spoken in interviews about how meaningful it was to marry then. Massachusetts was one of the first states to allow it, which made Boston a natural choice.
Having ceremonies in both Washington and London let family and friends on each side of the Atlantic take part. Public details about decorations, vows, or guest lists are scarce, which fits the couple’s preference for privacy.
Children and Family Life with Brandi Carlile’s Wife
Brandi and Catherine have two daughters, Evangeline Ruth and Elijah. Evangeline was born in 2014 and Elijah in 2018. That makes them about 12 and 8 today.
The family lives in rural Washington State. Brandi has said she is raising her daughters with care for the world they are growing up in. She told Billboard she is “in a house with women raising two young women that I need to keep safe.”
Balancing tours with school routines takes planning. Catherine manages much of the logistics for both Brandi’s career and family life. The couple shares occasional family moments online, but they keep the girls’ lives mostly private.
Catherine Shepherd on Social Media
Catherine keeps a much lower profile than her wife. She is far less active in public than Brandi, who posts often to a large following. Photos of Catherine usually appear on Brandi’s Instagram account, which is where publications often source family pictures.
Follower counts change quickly, so check her profile directly for current numbers. Content tied to her tends to center on family moments, concert appearances, awards events, and Looking Out Foundation work. She was also at Brandi’s side for the Super Bowl LX pregame performance of “America the Beautiful” in February 2026.
Quick Facts: Brandi Carlile’s Wife
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Catherine Shepherd (also Catherine Carlile) |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed (born about 1975) |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Former actress, nonprofit executive, music manager |
| Married to | Brandi Carlile |
| Marriage Year | 2012 (Boston, September 15) |
| Children | 2 (Evangeline Ruth, Elijah) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly reported |
FAQ: Brandi Carlile’s Wife
Q: What is Brandi Carlile’s wife’s name?
A: Her name is Catherine Shepherd, also written as Catherine Carlile. She is a British former actress and nonprofit leader.
Q: How old is Catherine Shepherd?
A: She was 49 in early 2025, so she is around 50 now. Her exact birth date is not public.
Q: What does Catherine Shepherd do for a living?
A: She manages Brandi Carlile’s career. She also served as executive director of the Looking Out Foundation through 2024.
Q: When did Brandi Carlile and Catherine Shepherd get married?
A: They married on September 15, 2012, in Boston. They held further celebrations in Washington and London.
Q: How many kids do Brandi Carlile and Catherine Shepherd have?
A: They have two daughters, Evangeline Ruth (born 2014) and Elijah (born 2018).
Conclusion
Catherine Shepherd is a London-born former actress and charity executive who now manages her wife’s career. She and Brandi met through a phone call about charity work, married in 2012, and are raising two daughters in Washington State. Brandi Carlile’s wife has stayed mostly out of the spotlight while shaping both the music and the philanthropy around it. Their story shows how shared values can turn into a lasting partnership.
