Brandy Clark: Five Essential Songs

Not only is Brandy Clark a 2024 Grammy winner in the Americana category for her stirring duet with Brandi Carlile, "Dear Insecurity," but earlier this year, the Nashville-based Clark was heralded by The New York Times as one of the "30 Greatest Living American Songwriters" alongside her Music Row cohorts Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally.

Clark's concise songwriting savvy extends to her four solo albums, including her 2016 country chart smash, Big Day in a Small Town, and her self-titled 2023 album. Clark's smart lyrics, intuitive angles, and maverick spirit have made her a treasured collaborator for country superstars like Kacey Musgraves, Reba McIntire, Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert. And yes, the majestic, slow-burn beauty of the Carlile and Alicia Keys duet, "A Beautiful Noise," is one of Clark's marvelous creations too.

She's also crossed confidently into theatre. Recently, Clark made a splash on Broadway — with a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award — for co-writing the score for the rousing, deliciously corny 2023 musical Shucked! with McAnally. That Tony-winning musical will tour the country in 2027 (with a stop at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey next June.)

This year, in anticipation of a forthcoming fifth album, Clark has been crisscrossing the country with her intimate tour, "An Evening with Brandy Clark." Earlier this spring she played City Winery and this Friday, July 31, she'll be at the 92NY to preview some of her new compositions and revisit key songs from her career, embracing all avenues of country, Americana, pop, and folk.

Ahead of that gig, FUV asked Clark just what "Five Essential Songs" might be her lodestars when it comes to good songwriting — and she even included some lyrics she loves.

Brandy Clark: Five Essential Songs:

Patsy Cline, "Crazy"
This is the song that made me want to be both a singer and a songwriter. It’s been my favorite song since I was nine years old and it’s hard for me to say whether it’s the song or the recording. I think the fact that they are both so good is why it’s a classic.

Les Misérables (Original Broadway Cast), “One Day More"
As a musical theater lover, I always go back to this one because it never fails to move me. In my opinion, it’s the best Act 1 finale of all time. They are all singing their individual conflicts and then they all come together on: “Tomorrow is the judgment day, tomorrow we'll discover what our God in heaven has in store.” It’s so so powerful. 

Joni Mitchell, "Both Sides Now" (2000 Both Sides Now recording)
I love a sad song. This version of the song and Joni’s delivery make it the saddest song of all time to me. When I need a good cry, I’ll drive around and listen to this one on repeat.

Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
I learned more about the power of internal rhymes from this song than any other. “TUMBLE out of bed and I STUMBLE to the KITCHEN, pour myself a cup of AMBITION." In the first line, there are more hooky rhymes than in most first verses. And on top of that, it’s a bop about working class and women’s liberation. 

Jann Arden, "You Don’t Know Me"
There are so many great versions of this song, but Jann Arden’s is my favorite. The power in this song for me is that we have all felt this. We’ve fallen in love with a friend who doesn’t even see us romantically enough to see that we are in love with them. It’s a lonely and heartbroken place to be, but a great place for inspiration as a songwriter

- Brandy Clark (July 2026)