Miranda Lambert: Champion of Cool Songwriters
When you think of the modern country music landscape, you think of a clear delineation line between the independent and mainstream, with songwriters and performers who don’t receive major radio play being slotted into Americana or Texas Country, and songwriters and performers who are played on the radio being considered exclusively mainstream. In previous eras, this wasn’t the case. Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Shel Silverstein, and others received great respect and support from the mainstream for their songs, despite not being mainstream names themselves, whereas today it’s often the usual cast of professional characters working off of Music Row who seem to suck up all the opportunity and attention for mainstream songwriting.
However the songwriting credits for Miranda Lambert are the one clear exception. Looking through her list of collaborators, it’s pretty incredible to see the artists and songs she’s chosen to champion throughout her career, and not just names from the past with established legacies, but sometimes the downright obscure. Beyond the support these artists have received from being the beneficiary of a Miranda Lambert liner notes credit, running through the songwriting credits of Miranda Lambert songs is simply a good way to discover some cool artists.
Here are some of them:
Steve Earle
“Kerosene” was the first major hit for Miranda Lambert, and ignited her career when it was released in 2005. It became her first Top 15 hit, eventually was Certified Platinum, and set Miranda up as that “badass” woman of mainstream country. And it was co-written by alt-country Godfather Steve Earle. It was also the title track off of Lambert’s major label debut. From the very start, Miranda Lambert established that she would work with songwriters not just outside the Music Row purview, but artists who sometimes represent the polar opposite.
John Prine
John Prine is arguably the greatest living legacy Americana songwriter left after the recent passing of Guy Clark, and arguably his most well-known song is “That’s The Way The World Goes ‘Round.” But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t new to millions of mainstream fans when she chose to put her version on her album Revolution that eventually went on to sell over 1.7 million copies.
David Rawlings and Gillian Welch
Not once, but twice has Miranda Lambert championed this stalwart songwriting duo of Americana, first by covering the song “Dry Town” on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and then covering “Look At Miss Ohio” on Four The Record, with the latter becoming a favorite track for many Miranda fans.
Patty Griffin
Similar to Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin built her career upon being covered by bigger mainstream artists—names such as Emmylou Harris and The Dixie Chicks. But of course by the time the career of Miranda Lambert had come along, most of those opportunities had dried up for Americana songwriters and performers. But that didn’t stop Miranda from plucking Griffin’s song “Getting Ready” out of general obscurity and putting it on her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend record.
Fred Eaglesmith
If there’s any name that helps illustrate just how deep Miranda Lambert is willing to go to find a cool song, and how she is willing to feature anybody regardless of their stature in music, it would be Fred Eaglesmith. Not that Eaglesmith is super obscure and living under a bridge somewhere, but the Canadian songwriter is the kind of guy core songwriting nerds salivate over, but the mainstream world is completely ignorant of. Covering Eaglesmith’s “Time to Get A Gun” gives Lambert some serious street cred, and gave Eaglesmith a healthy dole of royalty money.
Tom T. Hall
How many modern-day mainstream country music stars are covering Tom. T. Hall songs? Miranda Lambert is. Her 2014 record Platinum is probably seen as her least rootsy effort from her discography, but even then she took the time to cover “All That’s Left,” co-written by Tom T. Hall with his wife Dixie Hall. Miranda also had The Time Jumpers play on the track. So even when Miranda was at her most contemporary, she made sure to pay homage to the roots of the music.
Adam Hood
Miranda’s support of Adam Hood goes beyond the songwriting credits. Early in Miranda’s career as she was blowing up, Lambert regularly booked Hood as her opener, and the opportunity landed him a publishing deal with Carnival Music. But even today Miranda’s support for Hood remains. A song he co-wrote with Brent Cobb, “Good ‘Ol Days,” was recorded by Miranda for The Weight of These Wings.
Natalie Hemby
Natalie Hemby has some 15 songwriting credits with Miranda Lambert as one of her primary collaborators, and as folks up and down Music Row will attest, Hemby is one of the good guys and survivors of the Music Row system that has pushed so many songwriters of substance out of the business over the last few years. Hemby’s album Puxico received widespread critical acclaim in 2017, and many knew to seek it out after seeing her name on so many Lambert songs.
Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley
Probably the most obvious example of taking her opportunities and using them to help promote others, Miranda Lambert formed the supergroup The Pistol Annies with this set of struggling performer/songwriters, shining a bigger light on both of their efforts, and taking time to tour with them to promote the releases as well—something virtually unheard of from a major mainstream performer. Miranda has also cut multiple songs from Monroe and Presley on her solo records.
Chris Stapleton
Before covering Chris Stapleton was cool (and few knew about him), Miranda was one of the people who championed the Kentucky songwriter before anyone else, cutting his song “Nobody’s Fool” on Four The Record. Also remember at the 2015 CMA Awards when Stapleton was stealing the night, Miranda Lambert switched from a dress to wearing a Stapleton T-shirt?
Jack Ingram – The Texas music stalwart has seen multiple cuts by Miranda, including her current single “Tim Man,” which was also nominated for multiple Grammys.
Waylon Payne – The son of long-time Willie Nelson lead guitarist Jody Payne received two songwriting credits on The Weight of These Wings.
Shake Russell – The legendary Texas-based songwriter was not well-known outside the Lone Star State, but that changed when Lambert covered his song “You Wouldn’t Know Me” for The Weight of These Wings.
Carlene Carter & Susanna Clark – “Easy From Now On” was written by the pair appeared on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Brandy Clark – It was artists like Miranda recording Brady Clark songs that allowed Clark to step out of the shadows and become a solo performer.
Allison Moorer – The sister to Shelby Lynne who was signed to a major label in the late 90’s saw a boost when Miranda recorded “Oklahoma Sky” for Four The Record.
Julie Miller – Long-time performer and songwriter—also known as the other half of Americana stalwart Buddy Miller—Julie Miller had her song “Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go” featured on Miranda’s album Revolution.
Audra Mae – Was the songwriter and first performer of Miranda’s “Little Red Wagon.”
Priscilla Renea – Co-wrote Miranda’s duet with Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad.” You may not like that song (and you wouldn’t be alone), but remember that name . . . .
Travis Howard – Los Angeles-based songwriter who’s received multiple songwriting credits over the years on Miranda cuts.
Anderson East – Current partner of Miranda who co-wrote the song “Getaway Driver” with Lambert and Natalie Hemby.
….and others. Don’t jump my butt if I missed someone. There’s a lot of ’em!
February 19, 2018 @ 10:25 am
Didn’t she add Steve Earle as a songwriter after the fact because “Kerosene” sounded a lot like “Feel Alright”?
February 19, 2018 @ 10:42 am
I believe that’s correct. That’s what I was going to post, but you beat me to it. I believe that she recognized the similarities between the songs early on and contacted Earle to let him know and give him credit. There is a brief discussion of this in the most recent Steve Earle episode of the Walking the Floor podcast.
February 19, 2018 @ 4:56 pm
Kind of like Stapleton needs to do for Etta James.
February 19, 2018 @ 5:33 pm
trigg I red this ole artickle off yurs about jason alldeen n zack brown n was wonderin if ole jason cawt up to zack brown down the rode n gave the beetin his ole man shuda gave em a long time a go?
“The war of words concerning the state of country music continues, with Jason Aldean being the latest to enter the fray. Responding to comments by Zac Brown in a recent radio interview, Jason Aldean took to his Instagram account to call out Zac Brown for calling Luke Bryan’s current #1 hit “That’s My Kind Of Night” the “worst song ever.”
I hear some other artist are bashing my boy @lukebryan new song, sayin its the worst song they have ever heard…….. To those people runnin their mouths, trust me when i tell u that nobody gives a shit what u think. Its a big ol hit so apparently the fans love it which is what matters. Keep doin ur thing LB!!!
jason-aldean-zac-brown-luke-bryan-defense
In an interview on 93.7 JR FM in Vancouver, Canada last week with Barbara Beam, Zac Brown said in part:
I love Luke Bryan and he’s had some great songs, but this new song is the worst song I’ve ever heard. I know Luke, he’s a friend. ‘My Kind Of Night’ is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. I see it being commercially successful, in what is called country music these days, but I also feel like that the people deserve something better than that. Country fans and country listeners deserve to have something better than that, a song that really has something to say, something that makes you feel something. Good music makes you feel something. When songs make me wanna throw up, it makes me ashamed to even be in the same genre as those songs.
Zac Brown also went on to say, “If I hear one more tailgate in the moonlight, daisy duke song, I’m gonna throw up.”
READ: I Give A Shit, Jason Aldean. I do. (A Rant)
Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean both hail from Georgia, and both appear together on the recent single “The Only Way I Know” that also includes Eric Church. Aldean’s backlash continues a war of words, with many mainstream artists coming out against the current direction of country music. Alan Jackson last week said there was “No country stuff left” on country radio. Gary Allan in an interview with Larry King recently said, “We’ve lost our genre.” And Kacey Musgraves, who was just nominated for 6 CMA Awards, has spoken out numerous times recently, saying in late August that she was tired of Affliction T Shirts and truck songs.
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UPDATE (9-19-13 1:20 PM CDT): One of the songwriters for Luke Bryan’s “That’s My Kind Of Night” has come out in defense of Luke and his song. Professional songwriter Dallas Davidson, also responsible for such hits as “Honky Tonk Badonka Donk” and Luke’s other big hit “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” telling Roughstock in part:
When Luke called and told me about it, the first thing I did was sit there and soak it in. A comment like that will hurt your feelings because when you write a song, it’s kind of like one of your babies. To hear a successful artist say it was the worst song he’s heard and it makes him want to throw up, that’s just not cool. I’m sure a lot of stuff like that has been said behind closed doors, and everybody has their right to their opinion, but to come out publicity and dog on other artists and dog on a song and the songwriters, to me, is just unacceptable and it’s not nice.
Zac Brown also specifically called out the songwriters in his initial comments, saying, “You can look and see some of the same songwriters on every one of the songs. There’s been like 10 number one songs in the last two or three years that were written by the same people and it’s the exact same words, just arranged different ways.”
Dallas Davidson continues:
We write songs for a living. We write about what we know about. What I know about is sitting on a tailgate drinking a beer. Hell I live on the river. When Luke called me to tell me about what happened, I was literally smoking Boston butts on my homemade cooker at my 800 square foot river house with about four of my buddies with their trucks backed up, sitting on a tailgate. And they want to know why we talk about tailgates in songs ”¦ well that’s because we’re sitting on them. We did that 25 years ago, and we’re still doing it. I can’t write about things I don’t know about. Fortunately, there’s a lot of people in this country who do what I do. To say that that kind of song doesn’t fit in our genre is mind boggling because it absolutely does…..My mom always told me if you don’t have nothing nice to say, then don’t say it at all.
Texas country star Jack Ingram has also chimed in. Last night Luke Bryan performed “That’s My Kind Of Night” on the TV show America’s Got Talent. Ingram took to his Twitter and Instagram feed to first ask if Luke Bryan was singing a Lady Gaga song, and later said, “It’s not the words, it’s that melody..Whoa ah whoa ah oh ah from the Gaga song…is the same as “cook up catfash dinna” etc!”
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UPDATE (9-20-13 12:45 PM CDT): For those wondering why Jason Aldean came to the defense of Luke Bryan and “That’s My Kind Of Night,” it might be because Jason Aldean wanted to cut the song himself. In an interview with Country Countdown USA‘s Lon Helton, Aldean says, “I thought it was great. I wanted it. I wanted to cut it. I’ve figured that out over my career. When we put out ‘Dirt Road Anthem,’ there’s gonna be people that are gonna bash you for it. ‘Rap has no place in country,’ whatever. People either like it or they don’t. Hopefully there’s a market for it. So I think [‘That’s My Kinda Night’ is] a hit, and I was hoping Luke wouldn’t cut it so I could have it.”
Also Justin Moore has spoken out about the feud, telling Nashville Gab in part, “Everybody has their own opinions, and I don’t have a problem with people having their own opinions, but where I do have a problem with it is when you call out somebody in your fraternity.”
UPDATE (9-21-13 5:50 PM CDT): A few more country personalities have chimed in.
Will Hoge through Twitter: “Millionaires arguing about who is ‘more country’ cracks me up. Trust me, farm hands and factory workers are countrier than both y’all. Shhh!”
Blake Shelton through Twitter: “So happy there’s a shit storm going on with some artists in country music and for once I’m NOT in the middle of it.. This calls for a drink!”
UPDATE (9-26-13 7:45 CDT): Jason Aldean has spoken once again on the feud, telling The Province:
Look, as an artist you’re not going to like everything every other artist does. There’s certain artists I really like what they do and certain artists I’m not that big of a fan. But I’m not publicly going to go out and trash ’em. “I know Zac, I don’t have anything against the guy, he’s always been cool to me, but I didn’t like that. And of course Luke’s one of my best friends and it rubbed me wrong. You don’t have to go out and say those things. I don’t agree with any artist bashing another artist. Also songwriter Adam Hood took to his Twitter page to say, “Thank you zac brown for speaking up and giving “the rest of us” a voice.
February 20, 2018 @ 12:11 am
A fite bee tween zac Brown and jay son al deen wud be about as gud as too middle skool girls fightin over a boy. Both of them loosers wud surely embarrass themselves beeond beeleef. What is your point, Liddle Del?
February 20, 2018 @ 3:57 am
alldeen was a all state line backer in gorgia in hi skool even recruted by the grate Nick Saban n hes still a big hoss Id be willin to bet hed whip yur ass fur brakefest n zack browns fur lunch
February 20, 2018 @ 5:08 pm
hop hee wuz a bedder lyin backer than a singr
February 19, 2018 @ 10:43 am
From what I understand, Miranda Lambert wrote the song and unconsciously included a lot of the melody of “Feel Alright” in it, and when she was alerted to it, added Earle’s name to the songwriting credits. If there was any litigation or drama about it, I can’t find a record of it. Lambert recorded a duet with Earl on his last record “So You Wannabe An Outlaw,” so the two clearly remain close.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:16 am
I think that’s exactly right.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:05 pm
Also, I don’t think it in any way changes the premise here, which is the fact that you have a mainstream star who is giving songwriting credits to other artists, boosting their name recognition and the revenue they’re able to make through their music. Steve Earle was arguably the biggest beneficiary of this. If Miranda was out to rip Steve Earle off, she did a bad job of it, and it would fly in the face of all the other efforts she’s put out to promote other songwriters throughout her career.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:14 pm
I would agree.
February 19, 2018 @ 2:19 pm
No. The premise was she and Steve Earle wrote the song together. They did not
February 19, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
I don’t think any of us are saying she ripped him off—that implies intent. And nobody was threatening litigation. She was just alerted to the similarities and gave him credit cause she agreed that they were very similar. Having said that….. I agree with Harriett. To say that she “co-wrote” it with Steve Earle as if she consciously made the effort to write a song with him, is false. Great article nonetheless. Didn’t realize she had so many connections to these great artists. Only found out recently that she recorded Dry Town early on.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:19 am
I always thought Lambert issued that writing credit to Earle to get so street cred.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:58 am
When I first heard “Kerosene” my first response was, “Oh my GOD, she ripped off several Steve Earle songs at once…the audacity!” My second response was, “Damn, that really sounds GOOD!” Later I heard that she was forced to give him cowriting credit but I do not have any sources to describe how that legally came about. I still love her, but at first was a bit miffed.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
As a fan of both songs, I never made the connection until I read about it on SCM a few years ago. Everything I read, she wasn’t “forced” or was “in trouble.” She self-reported it and issued the credit.
February 19, 2018 @ 10:35 am
Always love her co writer choices although it should be noted that she did not in fact write with Steve Earle on Kerosene, he received song writing credit do to how similar the song sounded to his “Feel Alright” http://www.keymusicnews.com/feature/the-story-behind-the-song-kerosene/
February 19, 2018 @ 10:41 am
A couple of things to note-
1) Steve Earle was added as a co-write because she got in trouble for “unconsciously plagiarizing” “Kerosene” and it sounding too much like “Feel Alright” so he was given credit to avoid further lawsuits.
2) Patty Griffin didn’t care for Miranda’s cover of her song (just pointing out that it was an issue when the song was released although it well critically)
3) Allison Moorer and Miranda are friends and Miranda says on the record commentary that “Oklahoma Sky” was written by Allison specifically for Miranda when she was with Blake
4) As many times as I have seen Miranda play “Mama’s Broken Heart” live (which is quite a few) she only ever mentions Brandy writing it but has never once mentioned that Kacey is a co-writer as well. Kacey on the other hand introduces the song as a song she wrote when she performs it at her shows but never mentions that Miranda cut it, just “sing it if you know it”. I don’t think it’s a coincidence Kacey makes sure people knows that she helped write it and Miranda doesn’t ever give her credit, especially when Miranda is such an advocate for fellow females on country radio. I think there is more to that story.
In the 10+ years I have seen Miranda play live, she always has a cover or two at her concerts as well, generally a classic rock or country song even when her set could be entirely full of her own content. I appreciate her homage to the people and music that influenced her.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
Good Lord always has to be one. Rachel yes she also sings classic rock. Steve Earle just had Miranda co-write & sing on his latest album. She talked about Musgraves being at her rehearsal dinner & thanking her for the song. Miranda has had Brandy on tour so yes she will draw attention to her especially on those dates. Allison Moorer is the main reason she started writing in high school & always includes her as a favorite.
For over a decade Miranda has drawn a light on music that inspires her & I’m glad she continues to do so.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:17 pm
I don’t know what you mean by “The always has to be one.” I was just adding to what Trigger said. I wasn’t criticizing Miranda for singing classic rock covers. I enjoy them and was simply saying that she could leave those out because she has plenty of her own material but she includes them which goes to show that cares about showcasing her influences. I wouldn’t go to her shows so often if I didn’t like them or her. I also didn’t say that Steve Earle and Miranda don’t get along or didn’t work together in the future, just that they didn’t write Kerosene together as his article implied. I know her version of how she got the song from Kacey, I’m saying this has been going on longer than Brandy has been on tour with her. I know that Allison was a big influence on Miranda, again, I was just adding that Allison literally wrote that song for Miranda, Miranda didn’t seek it out from her. The only thing we disagree on is the song credit for Kacey/Brandy.
February 19, 2018 @ 1:22 pm
I think being on different labels and going for same market has a lot to do with Miranda and Kacey never talking about each other.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:31 am
Poor Kasey was basically forced to give Miranda Mama’s Broken heart. A song that Kasey wrote. Miranda stole the song from her and never gave her the credit . Just like Miranda never gave her ex Blake Shelton the credit he deserved for helping her career at all those awards shows. Miranda is all for Miranda. Not a nice person. Support Ashley McBryde as that girl is talented. . So Maren Morris gets criticized by SCM but overrated Miranda doesn’t for her known behaviors? Seems very unfair to me.
February 20, 2018 @ 6:50 am
So, I’m guessing you’re not a big fan?
February 20, 2018 @ 3:31 pm
Ms. Lambert may very well be a shitty person, but shitty people are capable of making good music. I’ve got nothing against Maren Morris, but so far, she hasn’t measured up to Miranda (and I’m really not even a big fan of Lambert) in terms of her musical output or supporting smaller songwriters. And that’s not a knock on Maren. with only one album released, she hasn’t had nearly the opportunity to grow that Lambert has had.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:04 pm
Gwen? Is that you?
February 19, 2018 @ 10:59 am
I thought “Nobody’s Fool” was a Cinderella song?
February 19, 2018 @ 11:32 am
Didn’t she cover a Chris Knight and John Moreland song or was she just a big fan of both? I know I’ve seen them together before.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:00 pm
She’s championed both on social media, and attended John Moreland shows. Like Sarah pointed out below, she’s also booked many songwriters as openers. I’m planning a similar article highlighting all the stuff Miranda Lambert has done in the live space. There’s so much stuff she’s done, one article can’t contain it.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:49 am
What about writing an article about female country artists that have new music coming out? Ashley Monroe, Kasey Musgraves, Ashley McBryde. Enough about Miranda. There are other more talented female country singer/songwriters in Nashville that deserve and could use the support.
February 20, 2018 @ 9:00 am
I did.
Announcement on Ashley McBryde’s new album:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/ashley-mcbryde-to-release-major-label-debut-girl-goin-nowhere/
Announcement on Kacey Musgraves’ new album:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/new-kacey-musgraves-album-golden-hour-on-the-way/
I also might do another for Kacey once we officially get the release date, track list, album art, etc. I know some have already published this, but it is the Euro release, and hasn’t been confirmed by her label yet. Also, I am sure I will be doing an album announcement for Ashley Monroe when she officially announces.
And while on this topic, I continue to be stupefied by the folks who criticize this site, including most recently labeling it “sexist” for NOT doing certain things that it has done, will do, and has a long, ten-year history of doing, all of which can be confirmed by a simple search using the site’s “search” bar. It is really hurtful to make accusations of sexism or bias, and diminishes the effectiveness of such words, especially when the accusations behind them are unfounded. I know you did not use these words specifically, but many others have and are. I do a lot to support women in country music—more than most, if not any other outlet, and as a one-person operation. But unfortunately many people don’t just simply check before implying that I don’t.
February 20, 2018 @ 9:52 am
OK ,Trigger. Sounds good. Thanks for the reply.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:48 am
Trigger-Stapleton also sang background vocals on Time to get a Gun from her Revolution album.
PS currently bringing Brent Cobb, Lucie Silvas, Sunny Sweeney, Turnpike Troubadours, Ashley McBryde, The Steel Woods, & Charlie Worsham on tour so continuing to spotlight solid singer songwriters.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:51 am
Heather Little is a frequent collaborator as well, primarily on the first few albums – excellent East Texas singer/songwriter.
February 19, 2018 @ 12:40 pm
This doesn’t make her music any more Country overall, nor does it endear her anymore to me.
When she’s good (To Know Her), she’s good. When she’s not (almost everything else with a few exceptions), she’s not.
February 19, 2018 @ 5:32 pm
Pardon me. I meant to say “To Learn Her”.
February 19, 2018 @ 6:01 pm
Whoa….There’s a compliment in there Honky, however backhanded it may be. You’re getting soft Hoss.
February 19, 2018 @ 1:23 pm
Lots of jack Ingram cuts also including the last album
February 19, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
Ashley Monroe is a total badass. One of, if not the best singer/songwriters in not only mainstream country, but in country music overall.
I personally think Miranda is a bit overrated, honestly, but I do enjoy her music. To Learn Her and Tin Man are fantastic.
February 19, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
She had “Oil Patch Town” by Chris Knight on her pre show playlist last time I saw her
February 19, 2018 @ 4:24 pm
I learned a whole crapload from this article and the comments. TY
We just saw her about a month ago. Great show. I like her more now. She must be good because Lord Honky actually likes two of her songs. 😀
February 19, 2018 @ 5:03 pm
I’m not sure how many of you have heard the song “old shit” by Brent Cobb, but Miranda covered that on her Platinum Record. It’s an awesome song and speaks to anyone who likes or collects antiques.
February 19, 2018 @ 5:58 pm
I concur, that’s one hell of a song.
February 19, 2018 @ 5:26 pm
Don Henry- all kinds of kinds. Don co were Where you been, I think thst song won a Grammy and Cma song of the year .
February 19, 2018 @ 5:39 pm
So the next time folks get all upset that Miranda won another country award , it may be good to understand that there’s a lot that goes into making her the ARTIST that she is . She’s NOT just another amazing voice with character and passion built into it , she’s not just a COUNTRY singer who can do it as well as anyone and better than most , she’s not just a writer of songs of substance and champions others cut from the same cloth, she’s not just a great entertainer live , she’s not just another straw-grasping trend chaser who FORGOT her roots ( looking at you Carrie ) …she IS her roots in every respect when it comes to her artistry . Sure , she’s released a couple of shitty things ….but releasing shitty things chasing radio is NOT her motus operandi . She’s more than proven that and I’ll forgive her for the the Little Red Wagon thing and the Carrie duet in a hurry when I look at everything else she does as ” Keeper Of The Flame ” . She deserves all of the accolades she’s garnered thus far .
Good , informative article Trigger .
February 19, 2018 @ 8:34 pm
Miranda is totally overrated both as a country singer and a songwriter. She didn’t even write her biggest hit song. Over You was written with Blake Shelton about Blake’s brother that died. The House That Built Me was a song she didn’t write and that Blake actually gave to her. That song was given to Blake to record and he gave it to Miranda. That song was written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin. She hasn’t a hit #1 hit single in years. Since 2011. Miranda owes her popularity to Blake and without him she will become irrelevant to many. I mean she would have had a career like Kasey Musgraves which isn’t bad but just not as popular as she became due to her relationship with her ex. Also it appears that she and Anderson have split. Anderson no longer follows Miranda or her friends and family on Instagram. Just a friendly reminder that not everyone cares about Miranda.
February 20, 2018 @ 7:04 am
Did she steal your boyfriend, or something?
February 20, 2018 @ 7:14 am
I count five “Blakes.”
February 20, 2018 @ 7:17 am
Also it appears that she and Anderson have split. Anderson no longer follows Miranda or her friends and family on Instagram.
Good work.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:39 am
Someone’s a Blake Shelton fan.
February 20, 2018 @ 4:55 pm
I will give Miranda credit for one thing. She has an amazing and aggressive PR team. Miranda and her music label must pay her PR team a small fortune to make her look good but they are worth every penny. Her fans also helped to cover for Miranda on SM post divorce . Of course not everyone bought it.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:33 am
Oh, and without The Voice, Blake would be irrelevant too. Your opinion of her doesn’t change her merit as an artist. It just makes you sound like that person that announces they’re a vegan everywhere they go. She’s been doing fine before Blake (“Gunpowder and Lead” is still a very popular song) and she’ll fare just fine after him. After their divorce, what has Blake done but release two forgettable albums, neither of which received the accolades that The Weight of These Wings has.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
Gwen? Is that you?
February 24, 2018 @ 12:01 am
No Dot. It’s Anderson.
February 24, 2018 @ 10:53 am
MS, love it!!
February 19, 2018 @ 8:38 pm
I think she uses great songwriters to giver herself cred. She just seems like such a dumb ass chick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah_6ZG3a768
February 19, 2018 @ 10:02 pm
I think it’s awesome she killed a gator I love her even more now! ThAnks for sharing that video
February 19, 2018 @ 9:16 pm
Not a fan of Miranda at all. Never have been and never will be. She only has 2 songs that were really popular years ago. The House That Built Me was written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin. Over You was written with Blake about his brother that died.
February 20, 2018 @ 7:15 am
Not a fan of Miranda at all. Never have been and never will be.
No shit?
February 20, 2018 @ 11:36 am
“Tin Man” has been extremely popular in spite of the lack of support from radio. Another Blake superfan, I see.
February 19, 2018 @ 10:01 pm
Two who didn’t make the list, but are definitely worth checking out: Heather Little and Mando Saenz.
February 19, 2018 @ 10:38 pm
I knew I had heard the name Priscilla Renea before, so I looked her up. Good God has she written (or co-written) some stinkers… worst among the bunch is probably “Worth It” by “girl group” Fifth Harmony, from whence came current pop “it girl” Camila Cabello. Interestingly another of her credits is Pitbull and Kesha’s “Timber,” which is arguably more country than the 1985 Loverboy ripoff that is “Somethin’ Bad.”
February 19, 2018 @ 11:34 pm
Good article, Trigger. I completely agree with Albert. I have read many comments from these songwriters about their love, respect and appreciation of Miranda. I wish more mainstream artists could be like Miranda.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:38 am
I don’t recall any positive comment from Kasey Musgrave when Miranda forced her to give her a song she wrote. Many in Nashville don’t like her. Miranda fans are known to be like Miranda. Bunch of mean and spiteful fans.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:42 am
Two words:
– pot
– kettle
Discuss.
February 19, 2018 @ 11:51 pm
The anti-Miranda Lambert crowd arrived later than usual.
February 20, 2018 @ 7:12 am
But, they’re here, bless their hearts.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:33 am
It seems that most of the ” anti-Miranda ” stuff is aimed at Miranda personally .
Are we not here to support SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC ? Is Miranda not doing that by writing , recording and performing it while giving opportunities to REAL writers more often and more passionately than many ?
February 20, 2018 @ 3:39 am
For you prople who say that she did not write Over You check it out before you start blasting her. She co-wrote it with Blake. Look it up and get your facts straight. And also how do you figure shes over rateed when mainstream radio wont even pmay her songs. Get a life and stop hating on Miranda. Shes a hard worker and has earned her due.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:37 am
I consider The House That Built Me to be Miranda s most successful and popular song. She didn’t write that song. In my comment I did state that Miranda wrote Over You with Blake. I think the other comment did too. Also Vice off her current album was written with 2 other writers. Shane McAnally being one. That song to me was honest and explained her vices and why her marriage ended. Other than that 1 song Shane helped write the album to me was a snooze fest. Of course it’s just my opinion.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:52 am
Also how do you even justify that Miranda has won awards for literally years that other hard working female country music artists deserved. That does not seem fair. Miranda is very lucky to get everything she has cause she’s not all that.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:31 am
Great list….may I add one more.
Kendell Marvel.
Have enjoyed your articles for years.
February 20, 2018 @ 9:15 am
I marvel at all this banter as I wait for new Sarah Shook album to come out.
I also wonder where Miranda would be if she wasn’t a pretty Blonde.
Doubt she’d be inspiring me like Brandy Clark does.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:13 am
So she has good taste. Still makes mostly crappy music. And her “crazy badass chick” schtick is tired. Sucks.
February 20, 2018 @ 10:27 am
Famous in a Small Town is about my favorite of hers. Travis Howard song, I see.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:57 am
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Keith Urban once gave his opinion of Miranda, “there are many good artists but few originals and Miranda is an original artist with a unique easily recognizable voice.” My opinion is that she is a hard working artist with the ability to touch hearts with her angelic voice with songs she wrote or others wrote. If others don’t win awards, it’s not her fault. This article was about her showcasing other songwriters. Jealousy never sounds good.
February 20, 2018 @ 1:29 pm
So this explains why not all of her songs suck.
February 20, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
So the article is about how many varied songwriters’ songs she has recorded, so a reader comes on here and starts banging on her for not writing songs. Awesome.
Because not everyone can come up with:
Chew tobacco
Chew tobacco
Chew tobacco
Spit
February 20, 2018 @ 5:09 pm
Chris Gantry has been writing and teaching young folks how to write traditional music since the ’60s. He has just released an album “Chris Gantry at the House of Cash” that had been lost for 45 years, recently found by John Carter Cash. It was psychedelic and way ahead of it’s time, but he has always been a groundbreaker, too. Friends with Cash, Kristofferson, and Silverstein, he wrote “Dreams of the Everyday Housewife” for the late Glen Campbell. This young-hearted 75-year-old deserves another look. He’s Nashville’s best hidden treasure from the original bunch.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:13 pm
She has a long list of really good writers she picks and chooses from. It is kinda funny that the biggest song off her current album is written by SCM favorite whipping boy Shane McAnaly although I guess that relationship is over now.
February 20, 2018 @ 5:16 pm
Speaking of Ashley Monroe I see she’s got a new single coming out on Friday. Looking forward to it. From the snippet it sounds like she went in another direction. Sounds pretty cool.
February 20, 2018 @ 8:11 pm
We all know a Miranda. It doesn’t matter she doesn’t write her material: Randy Travis didn’t write his big hits either. She sounds real, and she acts real. That’s more than you can say for many. Anderson East sounds like a studiously coiffed bounder. Fratboy Blake has always been a money grubbing buffoon. Others trade on their politics and ideology. Until Miranda is proved a soulless bitch, I’m a fan.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:40 pm
My vote is that Miranda is definitely a soulless bitch. I bet the “fratboy/ buffoon” and “studiously coiffed bounder” would agree and could tell you some stories to prove it. That’s if they were allowed to tell the truth about her. But the truth always comes out in the end.
February 21, 2018 @ 9:27 am
Everybody knows Miranda is as monogamous as an alley cat but the constant screeching about her makes you no better than her crazed fans who still can’t get over the fact Blake dumped her 3 years ago.
You people are equally embarrassing.
February 21, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
One of my favourites is one she wrote herself “dear diamond” I love its simplicity, it comes from a point of a storyteller. Her music makes you feel something for sure its the honesty the listener connects with, I love that about her music, that’s something rare on the music scene today. I’m new to country thanks to her, she makes you fall in love with this genre once more. Ms. Lambert has paid her dues, those who think otherwise y’all get a life!
February 22, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
I am constantly amazed that with all the artists and things going on with marriages and divorces in country music, that this woman’s personal life is constantly taking a savage beating from gossips and people who claim to know everything. She must be one strong woman with thick skin to read all of this pontificating, holier-than-thou bullshit all of the time. If you don’t like her music, fine, but have the decency to at least leave her personal life alone in the way you do every other artist. it gets so old. Stick to the music.