Miranda Lambert Shares Career Update After Leaving Longtime Record Label

Lambert is now a “free agent” and she has some “cool collabs” on the way.

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

April 18, 2023

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2:47 pm

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Miranda Lambert; Photo by Tyler Conrad

Miranda Lambert is opening up about what’s next for her following her surprise departure from her longtime label, Sony Music Nashville. 

During an interview with ABC Audio, the current ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee reflected on her career and how the industry has changed since she released her debut single in 2004.   

“I am, for the first time in 20 years, a free agent,” Lambert said. “I don’t have a label and I feel pretty great about it. I mean, I have Vanner Records, which was my imprint that now I have.”

Miranda Lambert; Photo by ABC
Miranda Lambert; Photo by ABC

“And it feels very inspiring to get to go see what’s out there and what options [there are],” she added. “And, you know, it’s definitely a very different landscape than the first time I signed my first record deal at 19 years old.”

Vanner is the imprint Lambert launched in a joint effort with Sony in 2016 when she released The Weight Of These Wings

As Lambert prepares to embark on the next chapter of her career, she promises to keep an open mind while seeking out her next venture as she knows the music industry is forever changing.

“Everything has changed in the business,” the chart-topping songstress admitted, “and I’m excited to learn about it and hopefully be part of a new wave of whatever’s going on, because it changes so quickly.”

Miranda Lambert; Photo by Robert Ascroft for foureleven.agency
Miranda Lambert; Photo by Robert Ascroft for foureleven.agency

“But I do have a home,” she added, “and it’s Nashville and this community. So I’m excited to see what comes to the table. And in the meantime, I’m just working on stuff and like getting inspired and seeing what’s fueling my creative vibes.”

In the meantime, Miranda reveals she’s been “writing a ton” and also has “a few cool collabs up [her] sleeve right now.” 

Lambert announced her departure from the label in March via social media. 

“Since I was 19-years-old, Sony has been my home in Nashville,” her post began. “Over the last 20 years together we have released albums that allowed me to share my story with the world, and we’ve reached heights I’d never even dreamed were possible.” 

Lambert went on to thank the team at Sony for allowing her to chase her dreams for so many years. 

“I’m so thankful for our time together and everything they made possible for me, yet I wouldn’t be true to myself if I wasn’t constantly looking for the next challenge and a new way to stretch my creativity,” she continued. “With that in mind, I’ve decided to say goodbye to my Sony family. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds.”

During her time at Sony, Miranda Lambert rose to the top of the game and earned seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, and more than 70 prestigious awards. She is a three-time GRAMMY winner and is the most-awarded artist in the history of the Academy of Country Music with a total of 37 career ACM Awards. She is also a 14-time CMA Award winner.

Miranda Lambert; Photo by John Shearer for Getty Images for Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert; Photo by John Shearer for Getty Images for Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert is currently celebrating nearly two decades as a country music superstar with a career-spanning set list in Sin City with her Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas Residency. 

The 39-year-old hitmaker recently told Garden & Gun that she has been enjoying her time in Las Vegas as it’s giving her a break from the grueling day-to-day tour life.

“After twenty years of touring, it gets exhausting sometimes. That is one reason I’m so thankful for the Velvet Rodeo shows,” she shared with Garden & Gun. “It is a break from the road, but I still get to do what I love and connect with the fans. This show was so fun to put together because we can bring in some production elements [like pyrotechnics] we haven’t ever had on the road. I won’t be touring much while I’m doing the residency except for a few festivals here and there, so y’all gotta come to Sin City!”

Lambert’s show is a 90-minute celebration of her artistry that features tunes from her entire discography from her debut album, Kerosene, to her current project, Palomino.

The “If I Was A Cowboy” singer’s residency kicked off on September 23, 2022, and is currently set to run through December of this year.

Miranda Lambert; Photo by Robert Ascroft
Miranda Lambert; Photo by Robert Ascroft

See A Full List Of Lambert’s Upcoming Las Vegas Residency Dates Below.

April 2023: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9

July 2023: 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22

November 2023: 30

December 2023: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16

Lambert, Live Nation Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment are donating $1 of every ticket purchased to “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo The Las Vegas Residency” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that has raised over $6 million since its inception in 2009. 

The Foundation’s mission is to promote the adoption of rescue pets, support animal shelters across the country, advance spay & neuter and assist with the transport of animals during times of natural disaster.

Miranda Lambert; Photo via Facebook
Miranda Lambert; Photo via Facebook

In addition to her Las Vegas concerts, Lambert is set to release her first book, Y’ALL EAT YET? Welcome to The Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen, this spring. The book will offer fans a look into the ACM Triple Crown honoree’s life at home and on the road. Readers will also learn more about her Texas roots and how the strong women in her family influenced her life and career.

“Watching my mom and her friends, I saw the way pitching in, working together, loving music and being there for each other is the greatest gift you can have in life. I think my mom inherited that gift from her mom, because they both attracted the most awesome group of girlfriends,” she previously shared.

Y’ALL EAT YET? will also include 50 recipes from her personal kitchen such as Nonny’s Banana Pudding, Paw Paw’s Bar-B-Que Sauce, and Whiskey Cupcakes. The book will be released on April 25, 2023.

Additionally, Miranda Lambert recently earned five nominations at the upcoming 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards, which takes place on May 11 and airs live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas via Prime Video at 8/7c. 

The Texas native received her record-breaking 17th Female Artist Of The Year nomination, as well as four other nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and Album of the Year for her project, Palomino.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.