Mary Chapin Carpenter discography

The discography of American singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter consists of 16 studio albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, 41 singles, 15 music videos, and 88 album appearances. After recording a demo tape, she was signed to Columbia Records in 1987 and released her debut studio album Hometown Girl (1987). In June 1989, Carpenter's second studio album State of the Heart was issued, which transitioned more towards country music. Among its four singles, both "Never Had It So Good" and "Quittin' Time" became top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart.

Carpenter entered the 1990s with her third album, Shooting Straight in the Dark, which was released in October 1990 and certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its third single "Down at the Twist and Shout" won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1992 and became a top 10 hit. In June 1992, Carpenter released Come On Come On, which became her best-selling record. From seven singles issued, the songs "I Feel Lucky", "Passionate Kisses", and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" became top 10 hits on the Billboard country chart. Her fifth album Stones in the Road (1994) debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single "Shut Up and Kiss Me" topped the Billboard country chart in 1994. Her sixth studio release entitled A Place in the World (1996) certified gold in sales in the United States. Party Doll and Other Favorites (1998) was Carpenter's first compilation album, also certifying gold in sales from the RIAA.

Carpenter entered the 2000s with her seventh studio album Time* Sex* Love* (2001), debuting at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The release was nominated by the Grammy Awards in 2002 for Best-Engineered Album. Her second compilation album, The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter, was released in 2003. Her eighth studio album, Between Here and Gone was released in 2004. The record was co-produced by Carpenter and pianist Matt Rollings. She returned in 2007 with her ninth studio album The Calling on Zoë Records. The project debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and sold 100,000 copies within its first few weeks. Carpenter's first holiday album, Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas, was released in 2008.

Carpenter entered the 2010s with her 11th studio album, The Age of Miracles, released in April 2010. Among other entries, The Age or Miracles debuted within the top 10 of the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. She followed with her 13th studio album Ashes and Roses (2012). Carpenter then collaborated with arranger Vince Mendoza to issue Songs from the Movie (2014), an album of orchestral music. In May 2016, The Things That We Are Made Of marked a return to traditional roots music and debuted at No. 8 on the Top Country Albums chart. Carpenter's 15th studio album Sometimes Just the Sky (2018) contained new versions of previously-recorded material and debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard folk albums chart. Carpenter's 16th studio album, The Dirt and the Stars, was released in 2020.