State of the Heart (1989) includes Never Had It So Good, How Do, Quittin' Time and Read My Lips, while Shooting Straight In The Dark (1990) has only one major composition, but it ranks among her best: Down At The Twist And Shout.

Carpenter became a country star with Come On Come On (1992), thanks to the catchy and sexy I Feel Lucky, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, The Hard Way, and the serious I Am A Town. Stones In The Road (1994) sold even more copies, as did the single Shut Up and Kiss Me, but Carpenter's music had largely become stereotyped. A Place In the World (1996) attempted new stylistic directions.

Party Doll And Other Favorites (1997) is an anthology with live material.

Abandoning the stereotypes and limelight of Nashville's country music, Time Sex Love (2001) was a very personal confession, and perhaps her best album, while Between Here And Gone (Sony, 2004) was a public meditation on America after the terrorist attacks of September 11, a mood captured in ballads such as Grand Central Station, Elysium, Luna's Gone, Goodnight America, My Heaven.

The Calling (zoe, 2007) was another literate and pensive collection. The 13 originals ranged from sophisticated to virulent, with the latter stealing the show (It Must Have Happened, The Calling and We're All Right).

However, she forgot to add music to her tasteful lyrics, and The Age of Miracles (2010) began to sound a bit too low-key.