Brandi Carlile has been named to the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame and will be inducted by Bonnie Raitt, who’ll pay tribute in song and join voices with Carlile in a special “Austin City Limits” episode set to be taped this summer.
The singers will join forces during a shoot scheduled to take place July 1 at the long-running PBS series’ home studio, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, in Austin, Texas. Highlights from their performances will be edited into an hour-long show that will be the premiere episode of the fall season of “Austin City Limits,” airing in September. Tickets to the taping will be distributed in a public giveaway, with details forthcoming.
“Being inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame by one of my absolute heroes — Bonnie Raitt — means everything to me,” said Carlile in a statement. “I’m so grateful to have had such a deep and powerful connection to the city of Austin and Austin City Limits all these years — and I cannot wait to hit the Moody stage in July to celebrate this immense honor.”
Said Raitt: “I’m thrilled to induct my friend Brandi into the ACL Hall of Fame. She is truly one of our most respected and impactful artists. I admire her not only for her incredible music, but for standing up for the causes and artists she’s passionate about, all while balancing her wonderful family life. I can’t wait to get to perform together for this show that has meant so much to us both.”
Raitt recently named Carlile as one of the greatest living American songwriters, in a New York Times piece where notable singers and writers were asked to add their own picks for that honor, as a sidebar to an official Times critics’ list.
Carlile has done the inducting for the ACL Hall of Fame herself, having done the honors for Sheryl Crow in the episode that started the 2022 season. “ACL” has had Carlile on three times, in 2010, 2018 and 2022. Raitt’s many performances on the series, meanwhile, date back to 1984. Raitt was inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2016.
“When Brandi Carlile first stepped onto the ACL stage more than 15 years ago, it was immediately clear she possessed a rare and singular talent,” said ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. “The moment you hear her voice, you know exactly who it is. She will always have a home here at ACL, and now she takes her well-deserved place in the ACL Hall of Fame. Having Bonnie Raitt there to welcome her into the fold makes the occasion all the more special.”
Past inductions have sometimes but not always included musical collaborations between inductor and inductee — depending, oftentimes, on whether the person doing the honors is a singer or from some other walk of entertainment. Sean Penn did the honors for Lyle Lovett, Matthew McConaughey inducted Willie Nelson, Cameron Crowe was on hand to usher My Morning Jacket in, and Ethan Hawke did it for John Prine. Other inductions included Jason Isbell showing up for Lucinda Williams, Don Henley inducting Trisha Yearwood, Jimmie Vaughan paying tribute to Buddy Guy, and Chris Isaak saluting Roy Orbison. When Raitt was inducted a decade ago, it was Mavis Staples who did the honors.
“ACL” series reps encouraged fans who want tickets to the July 1 taping to follow @acltv on Instagram, Facebook and X for details to be announced.
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