Brandi Carlile: What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

The question

What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

I’m the happiest right now. I can see that I’m in a kind of sweet spot: my parents are alive, my kids are little, my wife is hot and my body doesn’t hurt.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 November 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Chris Packham English naturalist

Fourteen. Dew-soaked plimsolls, flying my kestrel before school.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 February 2014 source ↗

Joely Richardson British actress

At work, my happiest moments are between “action” and “cut”. I am also very happy when justice is done, and when camping.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 July 2015 source ↗

Vera Lynn English singer and entertainer

When my daughter, Virginia, was born, in 1946.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 December 2009 source ↗

John Grisham American writer and lawyer

This morning. I had a typical day: got up early, took the dog for a walk, went to the gym for an hour, then wrote for four hours. That makes me a very happy person.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 December 2015 source ↗

More from Brandi Carlile

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Question What most recently moved you to tears? Identity & self

I cried last week after talking about marriage equality with my daughters. My oldest let slip that she believed that if the supreme court overturned Obergefell, she wouldn’t have parents any more. I felt angry with my country and ashamed that I didn’t consider the possibility that she might think that.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 November 2025 source ↗