Why Shouldn't We
Mary Chapin Carpenter has always chosen her own path. From
her first gigs as a rising star on Washington D.C.’s folk scene in
the early 1980s, she has made a reputation as both a singer and
songwriter with a mind of her own. Over the course of an 11-album
recording career, Carpenter has won five Grammy® Awards and
sold over 13 million records. She has scored 12 top 10 singles,
including “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” which was nominated for a
Record of the Year Grammy®.
Carpenter signed with Zoë/Rounder Records in 2007, and her
first release with the label, The Calling, received a Grammy® nom-
ination for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album, her fif-
teenth overall Grammy® nomination. In 2008, Zoë/Rounder
Records released Carpenter’s first holiday album, Come
Darkness, Come Light, which includes some favorite Christmas
songs by other writers, rarely heard traditional tunes, and six
Carpenter originals.
Carpenter has achieved the same success as a live performer,
having toured nationally and internationally for nearly two
decades, winning two Pollstar Country Tour of the Year awards.
She has remained immersed in humanitarian work throughout
her career, performing in support of cancer and AIDS research,
U.S. troops overseas, the Campaign for a Landmine Free World
and hunger relief efforts, among other causes. Carpenter was
also part of a CNN special on the anniversary of September 11,
and recently she has contributed a regular, bi-weekly column to
The Washington Times. Additionally, Carpenter has been fea-
tured on NBC’s “Today Show;” CBS’s “Late Show with David
Letterman,” NPR’s “Morning Edition”, NPR’s “All Things
Considered” and CBS News’ “Sunday Morning.”
Why Shouldn’t We
He Thinks He’ll Keep Her
Mary Chapin Carpenter – guitar and lead vocals
John Jennings – guitar and backing vocals
Jonathan Carroll – keyboards and backing vocals
Vince Santoro – percussion and backing vocals
Glenn Worf – bass