Brandi Carlile, shown here at the 37th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2022, is among the frontrunners at this year's Grammys gala
AFP

KEY POINTS

  • Brandi Carlile spoke with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Portia de Rossi's birthday
  • The singer-songwriter found the Sussexes normal and decent people with good humor
  • Carlile also performed at de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres' renewal of vows

Brandi Carlile got candid about her first meeting with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Carlile, 41, performed at Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres' surprise renewal of vows. At the event, she met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"We talked to them for a long time like British accents, talked about the angiograms," the singer told Entertainment Tonight about the royal couple. "They just really felt like normal, decent, good humor people. We just had a great chat. I'm not going to pretend that I haven't seen the hubbub, but I haven't paid very close attention to it."

Prince Harry and Markle had kept their presence in Hollywood low-key. Many were even surprised that the former "Suits" star was not among the A-list celebrities at Oprah Winfrey's 69th birthday bash on Jan. 29.

However, they were present at de Rossi's star-studded 50th birthday bash that she secretly turned into a renewal of vows with DeGeneres. The ceremony was officiated by Kris Jenner. The other guests were Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and more.

Carlile also recounted her unexpected performance at the ceremony, admitting that de Rossi suddenly approached her and requested her to sing "The First Time I Saw Your Face."

"I was just an attendee, and Portia was like 'Can you just burst into the first verse of 'The First Time I Saw Your Face,' and I was like, 'Absolutely that's what I do,'" Carlile told ET.

"So in front of like these mega celebrities, I just had to go at the top of my lungs, 'The first time...' and they were looking at me like, 'Does Brandi need some attention right now?'"

She added, "It was actually a beautiful thing to witness. We love them, they are our sisters."

Carlile attended the Grammys with her wife, Catherine Carlile, who is from the United Kingdom, People reported. She took home two awards, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, for "Broken Horses."

She also performed at the award ceremony. Before her performance, Carlile hinted that it would be punk rock.

"I wanted to grow and sort of hit the power note at the GRAMMYs, but this year is going to be a little bit different. I just want to come out there and cut loose tonight. Just be punk rock and just lay it all out there for everybody," she said.

Prince Harry (left) and his wife Meghan Markle (right) stunned the monarchy by announcing they were quitting royal duties and moving to the United States in early 2020
AFP