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 Mary Chapin Carpenter will perform at the Bijou August 23.

Five-time Grammy Award winning artist Mary Chapin Carpenter will perform at the historic Bijou Theater in Knoxville August 23 at 8 p.m.

Carpenter first emerged on the music scene in 1987 with her debut album “Hometown Girl.” But it was her 1992 album “Come On Come On,” that spring boarded her to fame producing seven charting country singles and certifying quadruple platinum in the U.S. for sales exceeding four million copies.

Along with her Grammy wins carpenter won two back to back Country Music Association Awards for female vocalist of the year in 1992 and 1993. To date, Carpenter has sold more than 13 million albums.

 Carpenter is best remembered for such hits as “Passionate Kisses”, “I Feel Lucky”, “He Thinks he’ll Keep her” and many others.

Her songs have also been recorded by such diverse artists as Joan Baez, Wynonna, Maura O'Connell, Mary Black, Cyndi Lauper, Shawn Colvin, Dianne Reeves, Betty Buckley,  Tony Rice and Trisha Yearwood.

In a telephone interview, carpenter discussed her latest CD and her current tour that is taking her across the nation and to Canada.

 “We’re excited to be back in Knoxville,” Carpenter said. The Bijou is wonderful theater and we have played there before. In the past five days we have traveled from Utah to Calgary to North Dakota. I consider myself so lucky to be on stage every night.”

 Her latest CD, “Ashes and Roses” is a collection of 14 songs all written by Carpenter who eloquently conveys great beauty through pain. The CD, set to be released June 12, is a culmination of 5 years of writing songs that detail her brush with death, her father’s passing and her divorce. But, despite the somber inspiration, the CD is anything but sad and depressing. Rather, it is inspiring in the sense it inspires an emotional healing and spiritual nurturing.  

One track, “Soul Companion” is a duet with legendary performer James Taylor.

 “James Taylor is great to work with,” Carpenter said. “Some people think this album is a departure of my earlier work, but it’s not. It is a natural part of a continuum. It is more acoustic and vocal than my other work in the past.”

 Carpenter started her career in folk music but eventually gravitated toward country.

“My earliest influences were the Beetles,” Carpenter said. “I loved Motown  and pop radio of the ‘60s. I still enjoy working with folk artists such as Randy Newman.”

 Opening for Carpenter is Tift Merritt a North Carolina native whose songwriting style has been compared to Emmy Lou Harris and Joni Mitchell. Merritt has performed on Late Night with David Letterman and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.    

 Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online or by calling 865-656-4444 or 877-995-9961. The Bijou is located at 803 South Gay Street in Knoxville.