section_path: Early life
section_name: Early life
paragraph_text: Early life
  
  Brandi Marie Carlile was born on June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington, a small town 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Seattle. Growing up in the only house for miles, Carlile played in the woods, built forts, and played music with her brother, Jay, and sister, Tiffany. When she was four, Carlile nearly died from bacterial meningitis. Her heart stopped several times and she was in a coma. Carlile spent her early life living in King County 's southern cities of Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Auburn, in Sumner, Washington, and briefly lived in West Seattle.
  
  Carlile began singing country songs on stage when she was eight years old. At age 8, Carlile performed Johnny Cash 's " Tennessee Flat Top Box " with her mother, Teresa Carlile, and began writing songs at age 15. At 16, Carlile became a backup singer for an Elvis impersonator. According to Carlile, she was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder as a teen. She attended Tahoma High School, but later dropped out to pursue her music career. After being introduced to the music of Elton John, Carlile taught herself to play piano, and at 17, she learned to play the guitar.
  
  Brandi Marie Carlile was born on June 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington, a small town 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Seattle. Growing up in the only house for miles, Carlile played in the woods, built forts, and played music with her brother, Jay, and sister, Tiffany. When she was four, Carlile nearly died from bacterial meningitis. Her heart stopped several times and she was in a coma. Carlile spent her early life living in King County 's southern cities of Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Auburn, in Sumner, Washington, and briefly lived in West Seattle.
  
  Carlile began singing country songs on stage when she was eight years old. At age 8, Carlile performed Johnny Cash 's " Tennessee Flat Top Box " with her mother, Teresa Carlile, and began writing songs at age 15. At 16, Carlile became a backup singer for an Elvis impersonator. According to Carlile, she was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder as a teen. She attended Tahoma High School, but later dropped out to pursue her music career. After being introduced to the music of Elton John, Carlile taught herself to play piano, and at 17, she learned to play the guitar.