section_path: Personal life
section_name: Personal life
paragraph_text: Personal life
  
  In a November 2002 interview, Carlile identified herself as a lesbian. She later told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't have to have a lot of formality around it... there were people before me who paved the way."
  
  In June 2012, she announced she was engaged to Catherine Shepherd, whom she had met in 2009. They married in Wareham, Massachusetts, on September 15, 2012. They have two daughters. Since 2012, Shepherd has been the executive director of the Looking Out Foundation, Carlile's nonprofit. She had previously worked as Paul McCartney 's charity coordinator for ten years.
  
  Two of Carlile's longtime collaborators are Tim and Phil Hanseroth, with whom she has performed since she was 17 years old. Phil is now Carlile's brother-in-law, having married Carlile's younger sister Tiffany. The three of them have matching tattoos of the Auryn amulet, the double ouroboros that are the central magical item in the book and movie The Neverending Story.
  
  Carlile keeps various animals. She is a Christian and lives in Maple Valley, Washington.
  
  In a November 2002 interview, Carlile identified herself as a lesbian. She later told the Los Angeles Times, "I don't have to have a lot of formality around it... there were people before me who paved the way."
  
  In June 2012, she announced she was engaged to Catherine Shepherd, whom she had met in 2009. They married in Wareham, Massachusetts, on September 15, 2012. They have two daughters. Since 2012, Shepherd has been the executive director of the Looking Out Foundation, Carlile's nonprofit. She had previously worked as Paul McCartney 's charity coordinator for ten years.
  
  Two of Carlile's longtime collaborators are Tim and Phil Hanseroth, with whom she has performed since she was 17 years old. Phil is now Carlile's brother-in-law, having married Carlile's younger sister Tiffany. The three of them have matching tattoos of the Auryn amulet, the double ouroboros that are the central magical item in the book and movie The Neverending Story.
  
  Carlile keeps various animals. She is a Christian and lives in Maple Valley, Washington.