What is Vanessa Carlton's Net Worth?
Vanessa Carlton is an American musician and singer-songwriter who has a net worth of $10 million. She is probably best known for her debut single, "A Thousand Miles." Throughout her career, Carlton has continued to release albums and is also involved in charity work.
Early Life
Vanessa Lee Carlton was born on August 16, 1980, in Milford, Pennsylvania. Growing up with two younger siblings, Vanessa showed an early interest in music, learning to play "It's a Small World" on the piano at two years old. Her mother began teaching her musical principles, cultivating her talent from a young age.
At nine, Carlton's focus shifted to ballet, leading her to enroll at the School of American Ballet by the age of 14. Upon completing her ballet education, she returned to music, performing at local nightclubs and bars. This period of performing helped her gain confidence on stage. However, she developed an eating disorder in high school, which she overcame before releasing her first single.
Career
In 2001, Carlton signed a record deal with A&M Records and collaborated with songwriter Peter Zizzo to record her first demo tape. This tape caught the attention of producer Jimmy Iovine, who signed her to another deal. Initially, her debut album was titled "Rinse," but the project was abandoned, with only a few songs making it to her official debut album, "Be Not Nobody."
Despite setbacks, Carlton recorded an early demo of "A Thousand Miles," which caught the attention of A&M president Ron Flair. He not only organized recording sessions for the song but also produced and arranged it himself. As predicted, the song became a major hit, debuting in the top five on the charts and earning several Grammy Award nominations. Her debut album, "Be Not Nobody," released in 2002, sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and included singles like "Ordinary Day" and "Pretty Baby." Carlton then began touring the United States and Europe to support her album.
In 2004, she released her second album, "Harmonium," produced by Third Eye Blind member Stephan Jenkins, who was also her boyfriend at the time. Although the album did not perform as well as her debut, she continued touring throughout North America. She eventually left her record label in 2005.
After parting ways with her record label, Carlton collaborated with various artists before releasing her third album, "Heroes and Thieves," in 2007. The album included hits like "Nolita Fairytale" and performed better on the charts, receiving positive reviews.
Vanessa Carlton signed with Razor & Tie for her next album, "Rabbits on the Run," in 2011. The album had a dreamy, fantastical tone and included singles like "Carousel." Another album, "Liberman," was released in 2015, featuring a trippy and playful sound. Following this, she released several live albums.
In 2017, Carlton teased the song "Love is an Art," indicating it might be part of her next album. She later confirmed she would start work on a new album in 2019. During 2018, she released several covers of songs by artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young, compiling them into a triple vinyl collection.
In 2019, Carlton made her Broadway debut in the musical "Beautiful," playing the lead role for a limited run and receiving positive reviews. She released her sixth album, "Love is an Art," in 2020.
Relationships
In 2010, Carlton publicly came out as bisexual. She began a relationship with musician John McCauley and, despite suffering complications during her pregnancy, they married in 2013. In 2015, the couple welcomed their first child.
Activism
After releasing "Heroes and Thieves," Carlton contributed the song "More than This" to the album "Songs for Tibet," supporting Tibet against human rights violations. She also joined artists on a trip to the Arctic Circle to raise awareness about climate change. Carlton regularly participates in PETA initiatives and, in 2005, completed the New York City Marathon, donating her pledge money to Musicians on Call, a nonprofit organization that brings live music to hospital patients.