Miranda Lambert Makes Adversities & Heartbreak Her “Champion”

Reviews 42 Comments

Some of the best Miranda Lambert moments and songs can be found on the stuff she does outside of her regular album cycles. Not to imply there isn’t good stuff to be found on her studio records too. But if you really want to drill down to the best of Ran Ran, you really should check out her other material, beyond the big releases where she’s trying to seed radio with singles, and keep a constituency happy, along with getting her shots in when and where she can.

You can start with Miranda’s work with The Pistol Annies, especially 2018’s Interstate Gospel. This is where some of her best songs can be found. One of the reasons 2016’s The Weight Of These Wings is considered one of Miranda’s best records is because she was afforded the opportunity to stretch her wings since it was a double album, and include songs she otherwise may not find the space to release.

But one of Miranda’s best songs in the last half dozen years was a song that didn’t appear on any record at all. Called “Roots and Wings,” it was first presented as part of a Ram Trucks commercial of all things. We first heard a snippet of the song in the truck spot, and then they finally released the whole thing months later after fans rose a stink and wanted to hear it in full.

Another song that just dropped called “Champion” with Scarlett Burke is also a gem not to be overlooked. Similar to “Roots and Wings,” it’s everything you want from a Miranda Lambert song, backed by banjo and steel guitar, really accentuating what makes Miranda a great country singer instead of hiding it behind pallid, safe production.

A song about how it’s often our adversities, heartbreak, and failures that lead to the insight and inspiration that becomes our greatest triumphs, “Champion” is a song of perseverance, believing in yourself, sticking to your guns, and being thankful for not just your successes, but your disappointments too, because they become your fuel.

“Every time you did me wrong just put more country in these songs … a broken heart is always my champion,” Miranda sings, speaking to the place many of the greatest country music songs come from.

Written by Nicolle Galyon, Jared Gutstadt, Scarlett Burke, and Jeff Peters, “Champion” was released as part of the soundtrack to the scripted podcast rendered in musical form called Make It Up As We Go that was created by Jared Gutstadt and Scarlett Burke, and released October 9th. Miranda Lambert, as well as other country personalities appear during the eight episode run.

“Champion” may not find its way to radio, and won’t be found on a proper Miranda Lambert record. But it’s another worthy entry into the Miranda Lambert canon.

© 2025 Saving Country Music

, , ,