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.
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.”
“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.”
“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 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.
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.
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.
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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