By Kelly Kazek
kelly@athensnews-courier.com
—
Miranda Lambert is not just another pretty blonde with a Southern twang who rode the tide of the reality TV craze to stardom.
Instead, the once Nashville Star contestant is her own woman, a country music artist who insists that her music reflect her personality and feelings.
Three of her albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts, an amazing feat. She was named Top New Female Vocalist of the Year and was awarded Album of the Year in 2009 by the Academy of Country Music, in addition to her other honors.
Yet Lambert comes across as a humble Texas girl who sings because she loves to, and because she loves to please her audience.
Lambert will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as part of the Army Concert Tour. She will be joined by her fiancé, country artist Blake Shelton.
Tickets are $30 and are available at ticket master.com and other outlets.
Recently, Lambert agreed to answer a few questions:
KK: How do you feel reality shows such as “Nashville Star” and “American Idol” help young hopefuls in the music industry?
ML: In my case, I started pursuing music in my home state of Texas in my teenage years by playing honkytonks and I traveled all around the state with my mom visiting radio stations and seeing if they would play my music. Then I auditioned and was picked to be on Nashville Star, which gave me the opportunity to get my music in front of a much bigger audience.
Nashville Star was a great opportunity for me. It gave me a good starting platform and made the public aware of who I was and what kind of singer/songwriter I was.
I had a great experience and it worked!
KK: My 17-year-old daughter loves “Gunpowder & Lead.” Do you think this song is empowering for young women? What kind of reaction have you had to this song? What made you want to record it?
ML: I like to think so. I love strong, empowered women and come from a family of them. My mom Bev and my grandma Nonna are terrific ladies and great role models.
I love singing about real life and it’s also where I draw my inspiration. Sometimes its something that happened in my past or something a friend or family member experienced. Sometimes its something I see and one thing leads to another, and other times it’s a story I hear that turns into a song. This song is always fun to play live and it gets everyone revved up.
KK: You seem to have wide appeal. What are your audiences like?
ML: My fans are great! I hope I bring 110 percent every time I step on stage. I love when the fans come to party and sing along to my songs.
The more the crowd gets into it, the more fun we have on stage. A great crowd reaction is infectious and nothing is more exhilarating. My live show is about leaving your worries at the door and just escaping for a few hours. I hope I help deliver that.
KK: I’ve read it was important to you to have retain control over your music and recordings. Why?
ML: I want my music to reflect me, who I am, what I think about and what I want to do. Authenticity is a vital part of my musical being. I can’t sing a song well if I don’t believe the words. I’ve been lucky that I’ve gotten to pour my heart out on my records and my fans have accepted my music. It’s very freeing in one sense and very revealing in another. My fans are great and so far they have really responded well.
KK: Most actors/musicians say they don’t work for the awards but some of your many honors must have impacted you. How did it feel to be named Top New Female Vocalist of the Year and have the Album of the Year in 2009?
ML: It’s always gratifying to be recognized by your peers and hopefully it’s for my songwriting skills as well as my delivery of my songs. Yes, awards are meaningful and being nominated means a lot, too.
It’s a way for our industry to let us know that they like what we are doing. Album of the Year is something that I’ll always hope for. But Female Vocalist of the Year is something I never even really dreamed about winning. I never considered myself up there with Reba and Martina and Carrie. That one really broke me.
KK: You’ve had three albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts. How did this honor impact you?
ML: It was pretty wonderful to debut at No. 1 for my first album. When it happened, I was excited but I think I didn’t realize what that actually meant at the time. Now that all three of my records debuted at No. 1, it’s pretty unbelievable, especially since I get to write and record the music that I love.
KK: Do you have a favorite song or song that you have written?
ML: I love all of them and each have their time and place. It’s like they are all my babies and I love them equally.
KK: What about favorites by other artists? Who has influenced you most?
ML: My dad was my mentor; he was the one teaching me to play guitar. I absolutely love classic country and it’s no secret that Merle Haggard has been a huge inspiration. I really love Jack Ingram’s music, and Alison Moorer, as well.
But in addition to country my family used to listen to southern rock like CCR and Lynyrd Skynyrd, so I think you can hear those influences in my music as well. I also absolutely love Beyoncé; she is the ultimate performer for me, she sings, dances and gives the audience a phenomenal show with all the bells and whistles. I have seen her live in concert several times and I am always completely blown away. I watch her live DVDs often before I go on stage for inspiration.
KK: So, Blake Shelton? What are your plans and what do you see for your future together? Is it difficult having a two-career relationship?
ML: We are just enjoying being engaged at the moment and looking forward to being married. Both of us perform shows usually on Thursday nights and weekends but we spend a lot of time together when we are off the road and make sure we get some real couple time in.
At home we’re just like any other normal couple, he’s out on the tractor and I’m playing with my dogs and planting flowers. It’s really just about scheduling and so far we have done a good job.
