Multiple Grammy Award-Winner Mary Chapin Carpenter Comes to SOPAC July 26

For over 30 years, Singer-Songwriter phenomenon Mary Chapin Carpenter has been making music that has captured the heart and soul of America. Impossible to pigeonhole in a single genre, Mary Chapin Carpenter's music has earned her accolades from every corner, including five Grammy Awards and the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year twice over. From thoughtful ballads like "Superman" to rollicking and irreverent rockers like "Passionate Kisses," Mary Chapin Carpenter's captivating voice and songwriting has kept her at the top of the charts for over 30 years. The Princeton, New Jersey native will perform on the South Orange Performing Arts Center mainstage on Thursday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's career took off with her 1989 album State of the Heart which was followed by 1990's Shooting Straight in the Dark. Both albums produced four Top 20 hits on the Billboard country singles charts. Influenced by The Mamas & the Papas, The Beatles, and Judy Collins, her thoughtful and heart-felt lyrics have made her an influence for generations of Singer-Songwriters.

One of her most successful albums, 1992's Come On Come On, yielded seven hit singles, achieved quadruple platinum status, and remained on the Country Top 100 list for more than 97 weeks. The New York Times sang Carpenter's praises, "[the album] had risen through the country ranks without flash or bravado: no big hair, sequined gowns, teary performances...Enriched with Ms. Carpenter's subtlety, Come On Come On grows stronger and prettier with every listen."

By the early 2000s, Mary Chapin Carpenter had several albums under her belt and showed no signs of slowing down. Her 2004 album, Between Here and Gone, addressed events such as September 11, and the death of Singer-Songwriter Dave Carter. The album received some of the best reviews of her career. In 2018 she took another look back at her catalog with her latest album Sometimes Just the Sky. It features 12 stripped down versions of her songs, along with the original title track.

Mary Chapin Carpenter comes to SOPAC Thursday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $58-$78 and are on sale on Friday, April 20 at 12 p.m. They can be purchased online at https://www.sopacnow.org/mary-chapin-carpenter/ or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.