During a powerful performance on Saturday Night Live, musician Brandi Carlile replaced a traditional guitar solo with a recitation from a historic American document. While performing her rock anthem "Church & State," Carlile quoted Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists, a text famous for introducing the concept of a "wall of separation between Church and State."
The performance, which took place on the November 1, 2025 episode, brought a rare moment of political and historical commentary to the late-night show's musical stage. The song itself was born from a moment of political reflection, written on the night of the 2024 election.
Key Takeaways
- Brandi Carlile performed her song "Church & State" on Saturday Night Live.
- Instead of a guitar solo, she recited from Thomas Jefferson's 1802 letter on the separation of church and state.
- The song was written on Election Night 2024 and was influenced by the band U2.
- Carlile aimed to deliver a message about secular law and the founding principles of the United States.
A Historic Interlude on a Modern Stage
Viewers of Saturday Night Live witnessed a unique musical break during Brandi Carlile's set. Midway through the intense, U2-influenced track "Church & State," the music softened, and Carlile began to speak.
She delivered a passage directly from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802. The words, delivered with conviction, highlighted a foundational American principle.
"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church and State."
The choice to include this specific text was deliberate. Carlile has explained that the wisdom in Jefferson's address to the Danbury Baptists feels essential today. The letter was originally intended to reassure a religious minority that the government would not interfere with their faith, while also establishing that the law of the land would remain secular.
The Song's Origins: Election Night 2024
The creation of "Church & State" was a direct response to a specific moment in recent American history. Carlile revealed the song was written on November 5, 2024, as election results were unfolding. She was in the studio with her co-producer, Andrew Watt, and longtime band members Phil and Tim Hanseroth.
Feeling a sense of "rage" and unable to look away from the news, she found inspiration in the music of her youth, particularly U2's album "The Joshua Tree."
The U2 Connection
The distinct musical style of "Church & State" is no accident. Carlile has been a lifelong fan of the Irish rock band. She recalled once entering a singing competition at age 15 dressed as Bono, performing "Running to Stand Still." The driving bassline, atmospheric guitar, and powerful drumbeat in her new song are a clear nod to the iconic sound of U2 members Adam Clayton, The Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr.
The initial musical idea, a riff from Tim Hanseroth, had been around for a few years. However, the political climate of election night provided the catalyst to transform it into what Carlile calls a "burning, searing song." It was in this charged atmosphere that the decision was made to incorporate Jefferson's words instead of a conventional guitar solo.
A Message of Secular Governance
While Carlile often avoids overt partisan politics, the message of "Church & State" is unambiguous. By quoting Jefferson, she aimed to emphasize the importance of secular law. In past interviews, Carlile, who identifies as a person of faith, has stated her belief that governance should not be based on any single religious interpretation.
Did You Know?
Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut is a landmark document in American history. The phrase "wall of separation between Church and State" is not in the Constitution itself but comes from this letter, and it has been cited in numerous Supreme Court cases regarding the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.
She has pointed out that even religious texts can support this idea, citing Jesus's instruction to "Give unto Caesar what’s Caesar’s." The performance and the song serve as a protest against the blending of religious doctrine with civil law.
The song's lyrics reinforce this theme, with lines like "I saw the ivory towers before the revolution started" and a hopeful, yet defiant, conclusion about the transient nature of power:
- "When the frailty overcomes them / And they begin to crawl"
- "Reaching out their bloody hands / Guess who gets to make the call?"
- "They’re not gonna live forever … We’ll find a way"
This was Carlile's second musical guest appearance on SNL in 2025. Her other performance of the night was a quieter song titled "Human," which was also connected to the 2024 election, written the night before the results were finalized. Together, the two songs presented a portrait of an artist grappling with the nation's political and social landscape through her music.