Miranda Lambert Explains Why ‘Carousel’ Still Brings Her Tears Ahead Of ACM Awards
Lambert will perform the fan-favorite track during the 2023 ACM Awards.
Miranda Lambert at rehearsals for the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 10, 2023 in Frisco, Texas; Photo by Christopher Polk for PMC, ACM Awards
On Thursday evening, Miranda Lambert will take the stage to perform “Carousel,” during the 2023 ACM Awards. It will be an extra special performance from Lambert as “Carousel” is one of her favorite songs she’s ever written.
The song was written by Lambert with her frequent collaborators Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick. It’s featured as the final track on her latest album, Palomino.
Lambert recently shared the story behind the “bittersweet” song. She says that she and her co-writers added bits and pieces from their personal lives throughout the lyrics.
The Lyrics Feel ‘Very Real’
“I mean, there’s sweet stories in that one too Smith County is the county I grew up in, and Johnny Davis is a road out by where my farm is. And we took some nuggets from our surroundings to make that song feel very real,” she explained. “Because parts of it are real for each of us.”
As they were writing, Lambert said they felt moved by the lyrics and thought, “This is getting somewhere…stuff’s happening.” As she began “feeling things,” the rest of the song fell into place.
The ACM Awards Triple Crown Winner connects with “Carousel” on a deep level. So much so that she said she’ll be thinking about the song for years to come.
“One day…when I’m in my Airstream somewhere at a KOA, half retired, you don’t retire from this business, as we know, half retired, I’ll be like hearing that song. And I’ll go straight to that place. And it’s sort of permission to move to the next phase, and that it’s okay, that the circus leaves town because it does at some point for everybody,” she acknowledged.
A True Connection To The Song
She went on to draw parallels between the song and her life as a touring musician, further demonstrating her connection to the track.
“It’s such a metaphor for what we do, you know, it’s the same. There’s a part of the circus that lives in us, because of what we chose to do when we bring the party to town. And then we pack it up and we take it to another town and it’s very sad,” she added. “Have you ever been to like…I’d stayed on the stage and see after everybody was gone and just see like a sea of like, empty beer bottles and the wind blowing piece of trash across the lawn and amphitheater and you’re like, wow, just like 20 minutes ago. We were all in here doing this huge party together and living this huge dream. And now the diesel’s running and we gotta go. It’s kind of sad and it’s kind of beautiful. You know?”
“Carousel” has become a staple in Lambert’s setlist, and while she sings it often, the song still brings her to tears.
Listen To “Carousel”
“When it becomes her at the end when she says, ‘I miss my Harland,’ it’s like kills me. And even just being a writer on it, like it still kills me. I know what’s gonna happen. We made it up, but it’s still just pierces my heart every time. It’s her. Like, if you write a song that makes your own self cry, I guess we did something right.”
Thursday evening’s ACM Awards performance will mark the small screen debut of “Carousel.” She told Music Connection “It’s a huge moment in the show” in Las Vegas.
“It’s not stripped down, but it’s more dramatic because of lighting and production. Sometimes it’s hard to get through,” she confessed. “Being a writer on it, I’m still so in it and wrapped up in the story every time I sing it. And it’s heartbreaking singing it every night, I want to make sure that I’m getting the story across.”
Five Nominations
Additionally, Miranda Lambert is currently nominated for five awards, including the night’s highest honor, Entertainer Of The Year.
The country superstar also made history as she earned her record-breaking 17th Female Artist Of The Year nomination, surpassing Reba McEntire, who has 16 total Female Artist Of The Year nominations.
ACM Awards Performers
Lambert will take the stage during the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards alongside Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Ed Sheeran, HARDY, Keith Urban, The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman and more.
Additionally, “Country Music’s Party Of The Year” will feature a star-studded list of collaborations and unforgettable moments. Reigning ACM Female Artist Of The Year Carly Pearce will team up with Trisha Yearwood to perform a special medley of in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Yearwood winning Female Artist Of The Year.
Meanwhile, Cole Swindell will join forces with Jo Dee Messina to deliver an epic performance of the “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” remix and Ashley McBryde will take fans to Lindeville with a performance of “Bonfire At Tina’s.”
Gabby Barrett, BRELAND, Brandy Clark, Jordan Davis, Mickey Guyton, Tyler Hubbard, Dustin Lynch, T.J. Osborne, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, MacKenzie Porter, Dak Prescott, Emmitt Smith, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood are scheduled to present during the ceremony.
Garth & Dolly To Host
The two-hour awards show will stream live for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
Co-hosted by country music icons Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, the 2023 ACM Awards will broadcast live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas at 7/6c.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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