TBT: Miranda Lambert

Summary

Dumb Blonde Podcast: TBT – Miranda Lambert

Host: Bunnie XO
Guest: Miranda Lambert
Date: September 25, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this candid, laughter-filled episode, Bunnie XO sits down with Miranda Lambert. They dive deep into Miranda's journey in country music, discuss burnout and self-care, celebrate female empowerment, explore Miranda's childhood with PI parents, dissect the roots and realities of her songwriting, touch on her new album Postcards from Texas, and discuss her heart-driven dog rescue nonprofit, MuttNation. The conversation is rich with relatable moments, honest advice, and the signature humor and authenticity both women are known for.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Life, Burnout, and Recharging [04:03–10:50]

• Miranda's European Vacation: First non-work trip to Europe ("...first time I've ever been to Europe without work." [04:41]) – a two-week reset celebrating her manager’s birthday.
• Learning to Relax: Both agree it takes days to unwind from always being "go, go, go."
  • "I reached a pretty high level of burnout last summer…if you don’t recharge, then you’re only operating at 50% anyway." – Miranda [07:15]
• Embracing Life Changes:
  • Both talk about appreciating life’s little joys more with age.
  • "At 40, you just go, I really just want to go after the good and not deal with any of the other noise." – Miranda [09:55]

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2. Hobbies, Horses, and Antiquing [10:50–13:00]

• Miranda's Hobbies:
  • Horseback riding for mind and spirit.
  • Antiquing at Round Top in Texas, a vast flea market: "It's like the biggest flea market ever in the world." [11:49]
  • Finds joy in things with stories: "I crave it. I’m like, it has stories." [12:38]

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3. Female Empowerment & Industry Mentorship [13:06–18:13]

• Female Solidarity:
  • Miranda supports women authentically: "There’s room for all of us...we can really dig in and kind of join together as a team." [13:30]
  • Her management team is all women; she feels a responsibility to mentor and uplift younger artists.
• Advice from Italy: Quoting a friend:
  • "There’s a difference in wanting to win and wanting to beat everybody." – [15:53]
  • Both discuss how the right kind of ambition and support lifts the whole community.

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4. Roots, Family, and Growing Up with P.I. Parents [18:45–34:06]

• Miranda's Upbringing:

  • Raised in Longview/Lindale, TX, surrounded by strong women (her "Yayas"): "They were wild. But they were so inspiring because they were just who they were." [19:05]
  • Parents were private investigators specializing in divorce and custody; Miranda even assisted as a child!
    • "You had so much material....I had to put my cheerleading uniform on and pretend to sell cookies for the cheerleading squad [as part of a case]." [31:13]
  • Frequently, her parents sheltered domestic abuse victims—deeply influencing both her worldview and songwriting, especially songs like "Gunpowder & Lead."

• Impact on Songwriting:

  • "I saw the ugly up close and personal, you know, in our own home...I really absorbed a lot." [34:08]

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5. Songwriting and Turning Trauma Into Art [29:26–30:31, 40:29–45:29]

• On Revisiting Old Wounds:
  • Some songs take years before she’s ready to sing them: "Some of the songs I cut...one of the toughest songs...was almost 10 years old. It's called 'Run' and it's very raw." [27:40]
  • Realism in writing: "You don't have to go and, like, find the sadness and the pain. Just...if you've been through enough, you can revisit that." [28:24]
• Collaboration with Her Dad:
  • Miranda started writing songs with her dad, who was a musician/cop, from a young age.
• Decision to Go All-In:
  • Her family was instrumental—her dad taught her guitar, her mom was her first booking agent. "My mom started being my booking agent…they were the kind of parents who were like, you can be anything you want to be." [44:24]

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6. Breaking Into the Industry [46:05–53:12]

• Reality TV Breakthrough:
  • At her mom’s insistence, she auditioned for Nashville Star. Initially flunked Dallas auditions, was bluntly told off by her mom:
    • "She just, like, turned and looked at me…that was terrible. You wasted my time." [48:59]
  • Auditioned again in Houston, made it onto the show, placed third, and got a record deal with Sony—avoiding restrictive winner contracts.
• Transition from Texas Bars to Country Stardom:
  • Earned stripes in tough Texas honky-tonks: "That is not a glamorous scene, and it’s not a female empowering scene." [47:23]
  • First tour was with Keith Urban—straight from bars to arenas.

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7. New Album: Postcards from Texas [54:20–59:56]

• Personal Evolution in Music:
  • Describes the record as rooted in Texas honky-tonk but representing "two decades worth of information." [58:33]
  • Features songs from various stages of her life, both fun and heavy.
• Notable Story:
  • Husband Brendan (retired NYPD) co-wrote a track (“Dammit Randy”) after a playful challenge from songwriter Jesse Frasure and a writing session with Miranda and John Randall.
    • "He wrote some of the greatest lines in the song…he had the same emotion in it that I did." [57:24]
  • Album drops September 13th.

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8. Personal Life: Marriage & Mindset [59:59–65:03]

• Love Story with Brendan:
  • Met when Miranda was performing in NYC; her bandmate spotted him as a "hot cop."
  • They became pen pals: "I was like, do you want to be pen pals?" [62:21]
  • Share similar backgrounds despite different states; both families are in law enforcement.
  • Value honesty and not surrounding themselves with "yes people.”
    • "He calls me on my...and I want someone like that in my life, but he’s also super supportive." [63:50]
  • Prioritize communication and actively prevent emotional/physical distance in their relationship.

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9. Breaking Barriers: First Female Broadway Bar Owner [66:10–67:49]

• Casa Rosa: First woman with a branded bar on Broadway in Nashville.
  • "On that row...of all those boys' bars, it was like, all right." [67:25]
  • Recognizes hard work behind "overnight" success: "Overnight successes are 10 year successes." [67:51]

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10. MuttNation: Passion for Animal Rescue [71:46–76:44]

• Origins & Mission:
  • Started with her mom in 2009; now a 15-year-old nonprofit supporting shelter animals, disaster relief, military/service dogs, and more.
  • Vetting shelters is key: "My mom uses her PI background to like vet all these shelters we give money to." [73:47]
• Advice to Listeners:
  • “If you can’t give money or adopt, you can always just go volunteer…Just getting them out of their enclosures and walking them…it just increases their chance of adoption so much.” [75:50]

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11. Miranda's Boot Brand: Idle Wind [77:12–77:44]

• Offers Bunnie boots from her Boot Barn line, laughs about stretchy jeans, and "supporting the cause."

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Burnout:
  "If you don’t recharge, then you’re only operating at 50% anyway." – Miranda [07:47]

• On Female Competition:
  "There’s a difference in wanting to win and wanting to beat everybody." – Miranda quoting Elizabeth [15:53]

• On Mentoring Young Artists:
  "I want to just be an artist for the artist..." – Miranda [22:21]

• On Her Early Family Influence:
  "My parents have been out all night, like, rescuing this mom and their kids or whatever...I saw the ugly up close and personal..." [34:08]

• Turning Pain into Music:
  "I always call it turning trauma into art." – Bunnie [29:23]

• On Relationship Boundaries:
  "You can’t have distance emotionally and physically. That’s not gonna work." – Miranda [65:50]

• On Casa Rosa:
  "Overnight successes are 10 year successes." – Miranda [67:51]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:03] – Miranda's Italian vacation & learning to unplug
• [07:15] – Burnout, self-care & life balance
• [12:38] – Antiquing and finding meaning in old things
• [13:30] – Commitment to female empowerment and mentorship
• [19:05] – Childhood influences: The “Yayas” and early family lessons
• [31:13] – Hilarious PI stories from Miranda’s childhood
• [34:08] – Domestic abuse victims in childhood home influence songwriting
• [40:29] – Songwriting beginnings with her dad
• [48:59] – Tough love from mom on audition etiquette
• [54:20] – Brendan gets a songwriting credit on the new album
• [58:33] – On Postcards from Texas as a snapshot of two decades
• [62:21] – The cop-meets-country-star love story
• [66:10] – Casa Rosa: first female-owned Broadway bar
• [71:46] – MuttNation Foundation: mission, impact, and volunteering tips

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Tone & Style Notes

• The conversation is authentic, funny, and welcoming, marked by open talk about tough industry truths, mental health, women’s solidarity, humble beginnings, and the importance of family and animals.
• Bunnie and Miranda’s chemistry shines through—playful ribbing, real-life stories, and southern warmth.

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, womanhood, and authenticity, peppered with humor, music industry wisdom, and touching stories about love, family, and making a difference—whether it’s on the charts or in a dog’s life. Miranda’s honesty and Bunnie’s candid curiosity make this a must-listen for fans of country music, self-empowerment, or just a good, honest story.

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Miranda’s new album Postcards from Texas drops September 13th. Learn more about her nonprofit at muttation.com.**

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For more, follow Miranda Lambert and Bunnie XO on all socials.

Transcript

[Miranda Lambert]

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[Bunny XO]

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[Miranda Lambert]

Bye.

[Bunny XO]

Bunny Exo.

[Miranda Lambert]

Bunny.

[Bunny XO]

Exo. Podcast.

[Miranda Lambert]

Money.

[Bunny XO]

Is this thing on? Hi, babies. Welcome to another episode of Dumb Blonde. Today we have somebody who I absolutely adore. My sister from another Mr. My feminine rage soul sister over here. I mean, the music she makes is just speaks to your soul. It's Miranda Lambert.

[Miranda Lambert]

How are you doing? Hello.

[Bunny XO]

I'm so happy to have you here.

[Miranda Lambert]

Thanks for having me in your new, pretty studio.

[Bunny XO]

I know. Did it. Did it scare you when it came in here?

[Miranda Lambert]

When you came in here? Awesome. It looks like you.

[Bunny XO]

Ah, I appreciate that so much. What have you been up to? You're like, in and out of Nashville all the time. You guys just got back from Europe, correct?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, we went to Italy. It was awesome. It was like the first time I've ever been to Europe without work. It's like I've never, like, just gone to Europe for fun.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

I mean, which works out. Usually when we're, like, touring over there, you just stay for fun and make it a trip. But my manager, Marion had a big birthday, so we went to celebrate her in Italy and ate all the pasta and took a brain break. It was nice.

[Bunny XO]

That's amazing. I don't know how to take a break without working either. So to be able to disconnect and, like, go to another country and just vibe out is like, I Think to.

[Miranda Lambert]

Go into the other country is the ticket because the time zone is so, like, all of everybody here is asleep till like your five o'. Clock. And then my five o', clock, I'm already drinking wine, so I'm like, well, can't answer you. Sorry.

[Bunny XO]

Like, catch me tomorrow.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, exactly. So it was great. We just got back, but we have a record coming out, so it's like we had a busy year and then just took that two week gap of like, reset before the rest.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, absolutely. Where did you guys go?

[Miranda Lambert]

We went to Lake Como, which I'd never been to. Is beautiful.

[Bunny XO]

And that's in Italy.

[Miranda Lambert]

Correct. Okay. And then it's like an hour from Florence and then went to Florence and then we went to Tuscany. Like in the hills of Tuscany.

[Bunny XO]

That's so romantic.

[Miranda Lambert]

So peaceful. And like, they just do laugh better.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Do they just are. It's just everything slowed down? Like, it's not. We're just chaotic Americans chasing all of our dreams and doing everything fast, you know?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Which. I love that part about home. And I miss it. When I'm like, somewhere really quiet like that. I'm like, it's fun for a few days. I'm like, okay, where's all the action?

[Bunny XO]

Is it hard?

[Miranda Lambert]

The loudness?

[Bunny XO]

Is it hard for you to relax? Because I know, like, whenever my husband and I go on vacation too, like, the first two days we'll be like, oh, this is great. And then the third day, we're like, all right, we'll get back on the phones or we'll like, start posting. It's just so hard to break from that.

[Miranda Lambert]

And I think it takes like three days to really, like, get in to, like, or more sometimes just to calm down, you know what I mean? So two weeks, we were. We kind of took just two weeks off. And so it was like a little panicky. But then once you settle into it, it's like you really need to do it. You just don't know you need to until you get the chance, you know?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. I think that's been my biggest lesson this year, is learning how to relax and not pile on so much. Because I'm. I'm. I think you're a lot like me too. We just go, go, go. We're just like, tr.

[Miranda Lambert]

Go. Yes.

[Bunny XO]

And this year I've been trying to teach myself to just kind of relax a little bit. Do you feel like that's how it's been for you this year or.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, for sure. I mean, I reached a pretty high level of burnout. Last summer. And I didn't realize what it was until I was like, I think this is what they call burnout, like, just from just not taking a break or like a long enough one, you know, just a couple of days at a time just wasn't enough for, like, the amount of burn busyness. And so I. I just feel like we have to learn the balance. It's really hard when you're so driven to, like, relax into doing nothing and. But if you don't recharge, it's like, then you're only operating at 50% anyway.

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, like, the recharging so important. It's just hard to do.

[Bunny XO]

It is. And I mean, you've been in the industry, what, 24 years?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

That's a long time. So for you to just have reached burnout last year. You're a savage. You are an animal.

[Miranda Lambert]

Well, I think it's like. And it wasn't like the, like, burnout, where I'm like, I'm quitting forever. It was just like one of those moments. Right. I've had those over the years. And honestly, a lot of it for musicians, as you know, because you're on tour is August, like, when you're doing summer tours, like I think y' all did last year, we start.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, we started earlier last year.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And so by the time August comes, you're like, have been hot all year. You're playing outside, you're just like, august is usually like the. Everyone's like, I don't want to tour anymore. It's like, yes, you do. It's just August. Right. It's just what we do in August. But. And then you take a break and you're like, okay, I'm ready again. But, yeah, it's. I don't know. I just think I'm starting to learn a better how to balance, like, actually living your life. Because as a creative, if you don't let go live your life, there's nothing to write about. There's nothing to like. There's no fuel. You know what I mean? If you just constantly are going to the next goal, it's like not sitting in the success either of what you've already done, you know?

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely. And I think it. That also comes with age too, because I'm actually four years older than you, and when I hit 40, I. My life was like, I've got to change something. Because I lived in chaos for so long. And I feel like from 40 to like, 44, you kind of like, learn to start stopping and smelling the Roses. And it's like you almost kind of, like, can taste life, if that makes sense. Like, before, it's like you're just kind of going through the motions. And then it's like once you reach a certain age, you kind of get to a point where you're just like, wait, I enjoy doing this. Or I. You know, like, you love doing your dog thing. And, like, you know, stuff like that. Like, you start to, like the little things. You start to enjoy and appreciate a little bit more.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And you sort of sit in it a little more. You just.

[Bunny XO]

That's the word. Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, you. My manager used to. You don't sit in your life. It's like, I didn't know how to do that. And I've learned. I'm learning how to do that. And I agree. At 40, you just go. I really just want to go after the good and not deal with any of the other noise that doesn't really matter in my life. And also spend my time, whether it be personal or professional, on things that really add to my life. Like, I do love what I do for a living. That's why I've done it for so long. But you can't love it all the time. You know what I mean? So it's like taking moments and. And also chasing hobbies and, like, doing other forms of art. Like, I need to just sit down. I don't paint. I'm terrible at it. But I should try. You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

Like, I can't draw a stick figure, so it's okay.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's like, just, you know, I ride horses, and, like, I love that. And it's fun, physical, and it's so good for your mind and spirit. It's like. So taking time to do those things is important.

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely. I want horses so bad. We just finally bought 500 lakers. 500 acres of land, and I'm like. The first thing, I'm like. I'm like, can we get. Can we be like, Noah's ark? I want two of every animal. Like, I just want horses. Yeah, I'm ready and so.

[Miranda Lambert]

Gonna make it harder to leave, though.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, I always tell my husband, I'm like, I love you. I support you, but you chose this life. I don't have to go on every single tour. You. He's like, yes, you do. I'm like, all right, fine. So we'll. We'll discuss that, you know, in another five years. But you had talked about hobbies besides riding horses. What do you do to kind of get Away from all of the chaos and just the lights, camera, action.

[Miranda Lambert]

Besides riding horses, that's pretty much kind of the only one I have time for. Also, go antiquing. Like, I go to this place called Round Top. It's in Texas, and it's twice a year, and it's like, literally miles and miles of just any kind of everything you can think of. It's like the biggest flea market ever in the world.

[Bunny XO]

That sounds like heaven. We need to go.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's fun. It's a girls trip, though, for sure.

[Bunny XO]

Where is this?

[Miranda Lambert]

It's in. It's like, two hours from Austin.

[Bunny XO]

Okay.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's. I'll just. We gotta go.

[Bunny XO]

Okay. No, seriously.

[Miranda Lambert]

My friends, Junk Gypsies, they have. They're like a lifestyle brand, and they sort of are the staple of this whole vibe. And they have a bed and breakfast. It's beautiful. And it's called the Wonder Inn. It's so cute. And so it's a girls thing. We, like, go and ride around golf carts and drink wine and buy old.

[Bunny XO]

Oh, my God. No, I just got into antiquing. Like, we've started doing that. We actually did a lot. A lot of the stuff that's in the studio. We went to an antique store and got. And I'm obsessed. My. My stepmom used to do it when I was younger, and I was just like, why. Why do you want old stuff all the time? And now I'm like, I crave it.

[Miranda Lambert]

I'm like, it has stories.

[Bunny XO]

Yes. Yeah, it does. It. It definitely does. And I don't know, something about going to an antique store and just browsing through people's old things is, like, so meaningful because you're like, where was this piece at? Or, like, who. This was in somebody's home at one time, and it actually meant the world to them. Or, like, maybe it was a centerpiece that brought them together at dinner every night. Or, you know, like, it's just little things like that.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, it's just like, I don't know, just something that simple that you don't have to think. You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, absolutely. Couldn't agree more. I love the fact that you and your manager are so close, because that's the same with my manager and I. And one thing that I admire about you, too, is you are so girl power. I'm the same way. And I don't think a lot of people get to see that side of you in the public eye. But behind the scenes, like, everybody knows that Miranda is just female empowerment. Where does that Come from. Where do you think that stems from?

[Miranda Lambert]

Well, thank you for saying that. It is. I just think it's like, there's room for all of us, and we don't have to be best friends or fake friends. We can just sometimes lift each other up from afar, or sometimes we can really dig in and kind of join together as a team. I mean, it's hard for women in a lot of ways to do a lot of the things we're doing, but we're doing it, and we're being great at it. And I, you know, my manager, my whole management office is women, and I feel like it's our job. Especially when you get. When you've been in something a long time and you've kind of honed in on your craft. I feel like it's our duty to, like, help the next generation and, like, be there to mentor them and to learn from them, too. Like, to stay in the know of, like, the new ways to do things. Yeah. In the music business, I mean, it's changing every single day. Like, how music is consumed, how the business works, how the fans are consuming the music. Like, every single part of it is so different from when I first started, and it's changing every day. So I'm trying to learn of, like, you know, how everything works and to stay in it and to keep growing and to be inspired. But I can't do that alone. You know what I mean? I feel like it's important for us to, like, support each other and respect people that are really being their authentic self. Like, that's my favorite thing about any human, is when someone's authentically themselves and really chasing after goals and being who they are, but also lifting up others, which you're great at, too. You are really about lifting up other women. And we figured that out right when we first met and had dinner. And I was like, you can feel it from people.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

And we were in Italy. We were celebrating Marion's birthday, and she has a friend named Elizabeth who's very, very like, I want to be her when I grow up. Parts. Parts of her. She's just this most classy, beautiful woman and super smart. And we were talking about this exact thing with women of all ages at the table, just talking about, you know, the competition between women and how it can get really ugly. And not so much in Nashville, but just in life. You know, in Nashville, we're lucky because the country music community is pretty supportive and lovely, especially the women. And. But she was saying, you know, there's a difference in Wanting to win and wanting to beat everybody.

[Bunny XO]

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[Miranda Lambert]

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[Bunny XO]

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[Miranda Lambert]

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[Bunny XO]

Like that let's put it online and see what happens.

[Miranda Lambert]

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[Bunny XO]

You're all set that count it up and ship it around the globe Stage.

[Miranda Lambert]

This one's going to Thailand and that.

[Bunny XO]

Wait did we just hit a million orders?

[Miranda Lambert]

Stage Whatever your stage Businesses that grow grow with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 a month [e-mail] listen that really struck me. I thought, I'm gonna take that with me because, you know, we can all win. We can all win. We're not all trying to get the same trophy anyway. We're all in our lanes, doing our thing. But try. It's when you start to go, I want to beat that person, that it.

[Bunny XO]

Becomes a different game, that becomes an inner competition. So, yeah, that makes. That's actually beautifully said. And thank you for giving me my flowers. I really appreciate that. That's one thing that I've always just loved about you. I remember the first night that we met, I told. I went home and told Jay. I was like, I love her.

[Miranda Lambert]

He's like, you just had a great dinner, and you're just so down to earth and obviously really smart and, you know who you are, and I just appreciate that about. About anyone, especially someone successful that. That brings other people along, you know? Yeah, it's really important.

[Bunny XO]

No, I love that. Do you think that stems. We're gonna swing back. We're gonna go travel back in time to Longview. You that. What was the name of the city that you grew up in?

[Miranda Lambert]

Longview, Texas.

[Bunny XO]

Longview, Texas.

[Miranda Lambert]

But there's barely a city.

[Bunny XO]

But isn't there, like, a little one that I cannot. I can.

[Miranda Lambert]

Lindale is Lindale. Yes.

[Bunny XO]

Okay. The Yayas. That's your grant, your memaw. Can you take me on that journey?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. I got on a tangent, and I didn't actually answer your question.

[Bunny XO]

No, you're fine. You're really fine.

[Miranda Lambert]

It. So to answer your question, I think the lifting up of other women comes from there. That's where. That's where it all started, was the y'. All. Y' alls were my mom's mom, Wanda Coker. She was my nani. She had this group of girlfriends, and they were, like, drinking, smoking, gambling, like Yayas, like. But they were so strong, and they raised me. I mean, they were just constantly lifting each other up and being there for each other's families and fun and so many stories and so many recipes, and it just. But it was like, they're not like, the. The boring kind of like, grandma hang. It was like they were wild. But they were so inspiring because they were just who they were. And they would come to my shows and stand in the pit, like, at the front, like, the first ones on the back rack.

[Bunny XO]

That's gonna be us. That'll be all of us.

[Miranda Lambert]

It'll be us. Yeah. And I'm like, I just. That was the first generation of the women that I grew up around. And then my mom and her best friends who are basically my aunts. I have a very small family, so we have chosen family. And that was the second generation of just all very successful and very driven and very strong. And then now I have my own circle of really great gal pals that are all following their own passions and their own dreams, but are there for each other. And so, you know, since I don't have children of my own, I want to use that like, part of what I've learned for, you know, younger generation, especially of artists. Because nobody tells you how this goes. Like, nobody sits there and gives you a handbook of, like, well, when you make it to this level, this is what's going to happen. And then you're going to have your first breakdown on week four of this tour. Like, no one tells you, like, those.

[Bunny XO]

Store breakdowns are ruthless.

[Miranda Lambert]

They're real. And no, no one tells you, like, what also what to do. Like, yeah, if you've made it or.

[Bunny XO]

Like, yeah, like, it's. It's a crazy world that you can literally go from one minute, nobody knowing who you are, to being thrust into the spotlight. And like, you know, nobody sees the years of work it took for you to get thrust into the spotlight, though, and nobody tells you how to handle that or what to say or, you know, we don't all have marions in our corners. So.

[Miranda Lambert]

Right. So I. We started. So I'm part of a label, a founder of a label called Big Loud Texas. It's a branch of Big Loud, which I love working with Big Loud in Nashville. They're just amazing team. And they approached John Randall, who's one of my best friends and, you know, co writer and just we've worked together for 20 years and about sort of keeping that outlaw movement from Texas going. I mean, so much of the music that influenced all music is Willie and Waylon and the boys. I mean, think about how. How much music came out of Texas that has influenced music over the years. And absolutely, it's so important to keep that going. And so I'm really excited about it for so many reasons, but mostly because I've been through so much in this industry and, and personally in my life, and I feel like I can be there for the 2am call or I can be there for the. Hey, I met with this new manager. What do you think? Or just. I want to just be an artist for the artist. You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

That's amazing though, because not so not many people and many females in your position, especially your position of power are willing to give back to the. To the new generation like that. And I think that you're setting an example and actually setting creating a standard for the OGs and the country music to, you know, be there and kind of be like a. I don't want to say coach, but like a mentor.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And like a sounding board, too. And. And also seeing, you know, we. We only have one artist signed so far because we're brand new, but his name is Dylan Gossett. He's from Austin, and he's out there killing it. But, like, just seeing the fire in the eyes of, like, someone just starting, it reignites your fire, you know, it's like, oh, man, I remember the day of, like, it's all right. It's all in front of you at this point. And, like, the world is waiting for you to just come and come into the world and fly. And I feel like being around that kind of energy reminds me of that I need to still have that energy when I. So when I do reach a level of burnout or I'm exhausted or, you know, when you do something for a really long time, you can't love it every day, like we said. But I think being around that new fire and young people that are so hungry and so inspired is. Is like, I want some of that, you know, and I want to give them some of the. The wisdom and some of the reminders of enjoy the ride. Because there's a lot of things that I don't remember because I was just going so fast, you know, and you have to stop sometimes. And like. Like you said, like, we're just now going, oh, I could just look around and absorb what it. And, like, live in what I'm doing right now. It's a big moment or a small moment, whatever it is. But I want to just be there for anybody that just needs a sounding board of, like, because I've been there.

[Bunny XO]

You know, I think whoever you bring under their wing, under your wing, is going to fly because, I mean, who better to have guide them through this industry than you? Because you have been through everything that you could possibly think of in this industry. Your life has played out in the public. Your music is just beautiful. And, like, no matter what, everything you touch turns to gold. Like, you are just. You're an artist that every other artist should strive to be, like, because it's like you pour your heart and soul on these pages, and it resonates with everybody. It doesn't matter if they're a country fan, pop fan, like, all genres. Everybody knows who Miranda Lambert is. So I think that for you to have the attitude that you do and want to help these people that are coming up, they're just so lucky to have you.

[Miranda Lambert]

That's so sweet of you to say. I appreciate that. And I know, because I know you and your husband, I know you see all that goes into the. The art part of it. Everything else is the business, like.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

But the art part of it is where it starts and ends, and that takes almost everything out of you if you're doing it right, you know, and then the work begins.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

So it's like. Yeah. You know what I mean? And so I know you see it day in and day out with. With Jason and, like, just everything y' all having to do. And I. You know, I don't. I don't think people understand that the. The pouring out of the heart and the living, like, a lot of the stuff we write, that's the songs that resonate with you, especially the sad, like, the sad heartbreak ones. We had to live through that to get that on the page, like. And so, you know, sometimes I don't think people realize, like, this became a song because it was a laugh moment.

[Bunny XO]

Is it hard for you to relive those life moments time and time again? Like, if you've had to write a song about heartbreak or something that you've gone through, you know, when you're going through it, I know that it take the. From pillar to post. Like, it takes some time, months before, sometimes years before songs come out. Do they still affect you the same way they did when you wrote them?

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, I think it's interesting, like, on this new record, it's called Postcards from Texas, and it's. I went home to make this record because I just felt like I needed to go back to the root of it all, because I was. I just left a label that I'd been on for 20 years and signed with Republic and with Big Loud and Republic New York. And so I felt this, like, new energy of, like, a whole new team that was so excited about the art and. And, you know, after 20 years in the business, they're, like, more excited than anyone's ever been that I've worked with. So it reignited my fire. But I really wanted to go back to, like, the root of what. Where I started and what, like, the honky tonks in Texas are how I got my grit. It's where I've learned my chops, you know what I mean? So I wanted to, like, go Back and start there for this new. Start there again, I guess, for this new chapter of my life and career. But I have learned, like, some of the songs I cut, like, one of the toughest songs on the record that. That I was almost 10 years old. It's called Run, and it's very raw, and it was a moment in my life. And it's a solo, right? So with a solo, right? You can't hide anywhere. Everybody knows it's you. You know what I mean? You can't be like, what was my co writer story? Or whatever.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, you can't blame it all.

[Miranda Lambert]

You can't.

[Bunny XO]

Gaslight.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly. So, like, you know, that part is like, I felt like it. That song, it's just an example, but it's one that I wasn't ready to sing before. But I also know that you don't have to live every song you write. I feel like once you get to a certain point, I take that back. Every sad song, like, I. I think I've been sad enough that I can revisit, like, if that makes any sense. I don't think it's healthy to try to stay tortured so you can be good. No, you know what I mean? I think at the beginning, you think that in your 20s, you're, like, tortured artists. And there is an element to that that that is true. And also, when you're young, you have to, like, live out some stuff to be able to write about it.

[Bunny XO]

Right.

[Miranda Lambert]

And really sell it.

[Bunny XO]

Life lessons.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, you have to be able to. When I hear your stories, I know that you live them. Like, yeah, it's. You can you tell it with your truth. And so. But I did learn, like, in the last, I don't know, probably decade that, like, okay, you don't have to go and, like, find the sadness and the pain. Just you have your art. Like, if you've been through enough, you can revisit that. And it's interesting to me, too, because sometimes I'm reminded as I'm singing in the studio, which is hard for me sometimes, like when you're going. When you're tracking in the studio and, like, you're in the moment, and then two months later, you got to go back and stand in a vocal booth and, like, revisit that emotion, whatever song it was. You know what I mean? So you have to go back there. But then I'm reminded that's why they call it a recording artist, because you gotta get in character of whatever that song is funny or sad or burn their house down or whatever. You're doing, you gotta kind of sell it in that moment.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. I always call it turning trauma into art.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

Because literally that's what you guys are doing. And I think that's what any creator, whether it's music, online, influencer, which I hate that freaking word. But I think anybody who pours themselves out on any sort of platform, you're turning whatever trauma you've gone through, big or small, into some sort of art.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, I agree with that. And I think it's important because it makes people feel not alone.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Whatever they're going through, like, it makes everybody be on the kind of the same playing field. You know, it's like everybody has a life. Everybody has horrible stuff that's happened, have broken relationships. They also have a lot of highs that we can talk about. Absolutely. And, you know, I think we learned that too, is it's really good to sit in the. In the high moments. I don't think I sat in any of it for a while. I just didn't. I didn't take time to really, you know, like, spend enough time in the pain or spend enough time in the joy.

[Bunny XO]

Right.

[Miranda Lambert]

And I'm learning to do that a lot better now.

[Bunny XO]

Isn't it crazy how we do that as women? Being a woman is such an evolving journey.

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, yeah.

[Bunny XO]

It's wild. Like, I. If I could give any advice to 25 year olds, it's just stop, stop, soak it all in. Like, just enjoy every freaking moment of it. Because it goes by in such a blink of an eye. Can we go back to your parents? Because I heard a really cute story that your parents took you on a stakeout when you were like 3 years old.

[Miranda Lambert]

My parents were private investigators.

[Bunny XO]

Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

My dad was a police officer and my mom was a PI and my dad. My mom talked my dad into being her partner. So they were Lambert and Lambert. I'm like, real clever guys, like, do better. I'm a songwriter. That's not acceptable.

[Bunny XO]

It's like Alpha and omega.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly. They were so. They had a PI for my whole childhood and they mostly did divorce and child custody, which is where I think I got a lot of my early songs because I'm like 17. Writing divorce songs. It's like.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

You had so much, you know, products.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

Material.

[Miranda Lambert]

So. But yeah. My mom took me on my first job. Her. She had a job that was like going to. I think it was Padre island, which is like. Yeah, yeah. And she needed. She would. Had to be. Make friends with this, like, lady and her three year old. So she was like, well, perfect. I have a three year old. And so she's like, brings me on as my first plane ride. And like, I guess we got the. I guess the person they were working for won the case because I became best friends with this three year old. And my mom, like, knew all the dirt on this lady. So it was, I mean, all my whole life. One time I was. I think I was in high school. I had to be in high school. And I was a cheerleader and my mom took me on a job where I had to put my cheerleading uniform on and pretend to sell cookies for the cheerleading squad.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

And she was like, when you get in their house, ask to use their bathroom when they're getting their money out. And then when you get in there, see if there's any liquor because they're not supposed to be drinking. I'm like, I'm 15.

[Bunny XO]

Like, you're like, mom, I know.

[Miranda Lambert]

I'm like, I should be at cheer practice right now. She's like, no, this is what we're doing. So, like, it just was normal for us.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

And when I tell people all that, they're like, it's so interesting because it was. But she would pick me and Luke up from school and her like tinted window, shady Suburban.

[Bunny XO]

And like, we would not the shady Suburban.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And she'd be like, here's your coloring books and a snack. We're gonna be staking out for about five hours.

[Bunny XO]

Could you get anything past your parents?

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, absolutely not.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. I would think having PIs as par you, there's nothing you could do.

[Miranda Lambert]

No. I tried to sneak out one time to go to like a bonfire party because we live in BFE Texas. Like, that's what you do.

[Bunny XO]

I went to a pasture party one time.

[Miranda Lambert]

Same thing.

[Bunny XO]

Okay.

[Miranda Lambert]

And my mom was there. What? I was like, well, that's that. There goes that.

[Bunny XO]

Did she know that you were going there? That's why she was there?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And then she was. Yeah, she was like, I mean, there's just no getting away with anything. Which I didn't really try. I was a really good. I grew up in like, Little Baptist Lindell, Texas. Like football, Friday nights, church on Sunday mornings.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, like real all American. Yeah. All American childhood. And although my parents were PIs the whole time, like, that's. That was the difference.

[Bunny XO]

But it's kind of like the. The double life.

[Miranda Lambert]

It really was because my mom would be like on a surveillance all night. And then we'd come home, she'd make us Cookies, like, after school, you know what I mean? So it seemed normal, even though the dinner conversations were like, literally all about child custody and divorce, and it was all these high powered, like, attorneys in Dallas and all this stuff. But at the time, Luke and I were like, we don't really. It's just our parents job, literally.

[Bunny XO]

So it's like you just grew up with it.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

It just didn't even phase you as an adult, though.

[Miranda Lambert]

People were like. They were what? They were proud of us, you know, so it was interesting. And I do think I got a lot of. A lot of material we. We also took in. When I was about 14, my parents started taking in abused women and children that were, you know, victims of domestic violence situations, because with my dad's law enforcement background, it just kind of made sense. And so from like 14 until out of high school, I've shared my room with moms and daughters of whoever was in need at the time. And I really think that I learned a lot about life. I mean, because I was kind of sheltered in a way. And I had this, like, really sweet small town childhood. I saw the ugly up close and personal, you know, in our own home. Like my parents. I would wake up in the morning. My parents have been out all night, like, rescuing this mom and their kids or whatever. And so I feel like my early music, Gunpowder and Lead, specifically, I really absorbed a lot. Like, I was old enough then to, like, really understand, like, oh, man, this. This world can be a really, really bad place. And, you know, see women that were just really at the bottom of their barrel and still have the strength to, like, get out and try to pick themselves up and get back on their feet. And so I think a lot of the early songwriting stuff I had came from the stories and the experiences that I had with those families.

[Bunny XO]

You've done it so wonderfully, though. I feel like you have embodied when I said, when I was introducing you, you know, queen of, like, feminine rage. But it's like you make rage so hot. Like, it's crazy.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's like, you know, serious. I'm gonna use that. That needs to be on a T shirt.

[Bunny XO]

No, literally, you do. And it's like, you know, because you have this sweet, like, just sugary voice, but you're packing a powerful message. And I remember the first time I heard Gunpowder and Lead.

[Miranda Lambert]

What?

[Bunny XO]

I was just like this. I hadn't even gone through a domestic violence relationship at that time. I think Gunpowder and Lead dropped when, like, 2006. Seven, maybe.

[Miranda Lambert]

Seven, I think.

[Bunny XO]

Seven. Okay. Yeah. So I hadn't even gone through that, but I know when I went through my domestic violence relationship, that was my anthem, dude. I was like, I'm going to burn this motherfucker down, Pookie. It used to get me hype all the time.

[Miranda Lambert]

I love that, and I'm glad. And I think that also the ones I saw, like, and we. You know, this is a whole situation. But that go back, I think that's where my fire started, because I was like, I literally am going to go burn your husband's house down for you. Like, the stories I would hear would be so awful, and then they would try to give it another chance. And I know that's such a. Such an issue and such a case by case situation, but at 16, I couldn't understand then, like, why. Why we. You got out, like, can't. We want to keep you here? And so I think my, like, as you say, my rage started when I was like, well, then I'll just go burn the house down there. She can't go back. You know what I mean? It's like, I think, like, I didn't know. I didn't know how to process all of that, but living with those women and their. Their daughters that were just like, like I said, just in the most horrible situation. And, like, it also made me really thankful for a family that. That was fine with Luke and I being exposed to that. Like, you know, my mom didn't try to shelter us to the point where we couldn't handle that. And it taught us both a lot.

[Bunny XO]

I think it's beautiful because, you know, some people might have looked at that and been like, you know, some kids don't know how to deal with so much emotion coming into their own home. But for you to be able to look at it and use it kind of like, as your muse for music is actually a testament of how big your heart is. To be able to see that are suffering that your parents brought in and to be able to just kind of, like, make an anthem and music and just paint a picture of a life that you hadn't lived, but you got to witness.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And I actually wrote Gunpowder and led with a good friend of mine, Heather Little, and she had been in a domestic violence relationship. And so that was. I actually wrote down the. The idea when I was taking my concealed handgun class when I was 18. My dad's a. A gun safety instructor, police officer and all that, so he was like, you're gonna get your concealed, or he was teaching the class and all the things I Love that. Yeah. And so. And so. But we were, you know, and they teach you all the parts of the gun. We were out in the middle of having those families at our house, and I had started writing songs with this girl named Heather Little. And she. She was amazing. She is amazing. And she, you know, had two babies and she was like, just living in a little farmhouse. But she was an amazing songwriter. And I met her at a songwriting competition, and I was like, can we make music together? Like, especially when you're little small towns and you don't really know what you're doing yet, you know? And we. I was taking my concealed class, and they were like, talking about the parts of the gun, and I was like, gunpowder and lead, not sugar and spice. That's what we're gonna write.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know what I mean? And so it was really. It was really special to get to write that with her because it was her story. And I had seen it so quickly close with other families.

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[Miranda Lambert]

Text fees may apply.

[Bunny XO]

Writing music has been a huge part of your life because you write. You've been writing songs with your dad since you were little, correct?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yep.

[Bunny XO]

You guys, I think I read something where, like, he would take out the guitar and you would literally fall asleep in between him and the guitar. When did you know that you were gonna take this serious and, like, college wasn't your thing? When did you know that you were just gonna be a Star that you wanted to be a star or did you ever set out to be a star?

[Miranda Lambert]

Well, dad was. Dad is a singer songwriter. He's really good. He had a. He had a band when he was a cop. They were all cops in the band and they called it contraband, which is ridiculous. They were narcotics officers.

[Bunny XO]

I love that.

[Miranda Lambert]

So it was like, pretty freaking clever.

[Bunny XO]

We gotta Google this.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

Is there anything on Google with that?

[Miranda Lambert]

I don't know, way back in the day? Probably not.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, we'll look and see if there is.

[Miranda Lambert]

And so he. So I really think. I mean, I got my. Kind of grew up with just thinking, like, I thought all this hag songs dad would sing were his songs. You know what I mean? But he's a great singer songwriter and. And I guess I just. I wasn't very good in school. Like, I wasn't. I barely made it on grades. I didn't like it. I'd learned differently. I'm a creative, like now, looking back, like, I needed Adderall or something.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

But my mom's like, don't put her on medication. Let her be creative. Like.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Back then it was like we didn't know what all that was. You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

I know. And I. I appreciate parents like that not saying anything to parents who do put their kids medication, but I'm one of those parents now too. I just don't believe that. You know, let your kid be creative and see how their brain develops and then if, you know, once they're old enough, then let them decide that on their own, you know?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. Well, I'm thankful my mom, because now I know I'm just like over here doing this. You know what I mean? But I just was like starting to think, like, what am I gonna do? Like, live in this small little town and I don't want to go to college. I'm not going to be good at college for sure. And I entered this contest called the. It was called the True Value Country Showdown. And it was in Longview. It's this club called the Rio Palm Aisle. And I'd just heard an ad for it on the radio when I was working in the garden. And my mom. I went inside and was like. I was 16 and I was like, I wanna. I wanna enter this contest. And I. I'd always just been like, they always try to get me to sing and needed to be my idea because I was a teenage girl. So anything their idea. I was like, no, absolutely not. You know, and so I just decided to do this contest and People were like, she's really good. Like. Like, she has something. And it was the first thing that ever came naturally to me. Like. Like, really good. I say that lightly. I was 16, but I had something, you know what I mean? Especially for, like, the small town, little competition. It was like, oh, people were paying attention to it. So it wasn't just like, mom and dad going, you can sing, girl. You know what I mean? And I think that's what just started it. I was like, what if I could do this? Like. So I started playing guitar. My dad taught me three chords. It's all you need. Country music.

[Bunny XO]

I've heard that, too. I think Jay's told me that, too.

[Miranda Lambert]

And I wrote my first song, and it was like. It was like my end of my junior year, and I just went to my parents and was like, I. I really want to chase this. Like, I don't. I don't want to go to college. And Dad's like, well, if I use the money that I saved for college for you, that's all there is. And there's no plan B. So, like, you're gonna have to make this work, because if not, you're on your own. Like, we'll put that money we set aside towards this career that you want to chase, but then it runs out. That's it. So you got to make this, like, if you're serious, you know? And I was. And so my mom started being my booking agent.

[Bunny XO]

See how supportive they were, though?

[Miranda Lambert]

They were. They were the kind of parents who were like, you can be anything you want to be. Oh, and I'm so thankful, because my brother is, like, brilliant, and he is a techie, and he went to ut and he's valedictorian. Like, we love that. Yeah, exactly. And I'm over here, like, I'm gonna play some country tunes.

[Bunny XO]

Like, yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

But I started playing bars in Texas. Anywhere that would let me play. My dad would pay people to let me play. I would play during set changes. I mean, my mom drove me around in an expedition. Like, have you ever seen Coal Miner's Daughter? The movie?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. I haven't seen it, but I do know.

[Miranda Lambert]

Okay, well, it's Loretta's Story, and they're, like, driving around in a car, and she's going to radio stations. That's exactly what it was. Like, baloney sandwiches. Like, just trying to. Trying to figure something out. And. And then, you know, so my dad saw that I was serious, and it was like, okay, we're all doing this as a family. Oh, and my little brother was 14. He built me my first website. He still runs our website today. So it was. It was really like, I don't know how people. I don't know how people without supportive families do it. It's got to be that 10 times harder. And I'm so thankful that I had a family that was behind me.

[Bunny XO]

You know, that's where your loyalty comes from.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. Like, you have such. You're such a loyal woman, and I think it stems from just your family just rallying and just being there for each other. So take me on this journey. When did you decide to come to Nashville? Because, you know, I know you're a Texas girl. I'm a Texas girl, too. I was born in Houston. But, you know, we all eventually leave, but we always come back. When did you make that big decision? I mean, you're. You're driving around with mom shopping songs, I'm assuming to radio stations. When does that click that you're like, you know what? I think I'm gonna go to Nashville.

[Miranda Lambert]

I got auditioned for. Well, American Idol was happening at the time. It was the first season, so it was Kelly Clarkson. She had just one, and she's a Texas girl. And mom's like, you could do that. You can. You gotta go try out for Idol. And I wasn't interested in it because I wasn't a pop singer. And back in those days of Idol, it was, like, pretty pop driven, and they didn't let you do originals. And I was writing songs, and I'd been playing the bar scene for almost three years and had a little independent album called Miranda Lambert.

[Bunny XO]

I love that.

[Miranda Lambert]

That I made in Dallas.

[Bunny XO]

Lambert and Lambert.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And it was like 10. It was 10 songs, and we made it in Dallas. It was just a little. I was selling my back of my mom's car. We printed 3,000.

[Bunny XO]

Like, let's not brush over the fact that you're playing in Texas bars, okay? Like, the Texas bar scene was rowdy back then.

[Miranda Lambert]

They don't. They weren't letting girls play at all. Yeah, that's why I was playing during set changes or, like, until I started being like, that's how I learned my chops, though. Like, I learned immediately how to deal with a drunk and immediately how to sing way louder over clanking beer bottles. Like, I'm gonna have to quit doing ballads. I'm gonna have to do some rocke, you know? So I learned a lot in those days of, like, honky Tonkin, because that is not a glamorous scene, and it's not A female empowering scene.

[Bunny XO]

It's way different than Nashville Honky Tonks. I feel like Nashville Honky Tonks are a little bit glamorous, and the ones in Texas are a little bit more. A lot more seedy.

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, yeah.

[Bunny XO]

I don't know if you ever watched I Rode the Bullet Gillies. That's kind of like what it reminds me of.

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, yeah. I'm wearing a gilly shirt on the COVID of my record.

[Bunny XO]

I grew up wearing one. Not. I wrote not the movie. What is it called? It's Urban Cowboy with John Travolta and. Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, yeah.

[Bunny XO]

That was my. That I grew. That was my love story growing up. You know, like, people.

[Miranda Lambert]

Girl. Little girls.

[Bunny XO]

Grew up watching, like, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I grew up watching Urban Cowboy.

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, yeah. Same, same. But it was. That was glamorous to me, though. That's the funny part. You know what I mean?

[Bunny XO]

Me too.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. So I. I knew a little show popped up called Nashville Star and I auditioned. My mom was like, I think you should audition. And I was like, I don't know. Because, like, those things are rigged. And will I be like some little. I don't know. I just wasn't sure of, like, what in contest. All the contests that I had ever done were, like, weird and shady, and I was just like, I don't really. I can do this. It's just going to take me a really long time. I can do this. I can grind this out. And my mom's like, well, what if, though? What if you could get seen by, like, the person you're supposed to be seen by to get you further in your career? Because I'm playing for like 200 a night. You know what I mean? And so I auditioned in Houston. I did not track. I had a terrible attitude, and I just did the wrong song and it showed up with a shitty attitude. And my mom was like, we got. And I didn't make the top 30. Actually, that was Dallas. I tried out in Dallas. I didn't make the top 30.

[Bunny XO]

And why did you have an attitude?

[Miranda Lambert]

You just didn't want to be there?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

No. And we got in the car and my mom, like, didn't start the car. She just, like, turned and looked at me, you know, like, when that. No one wants their mom to do that ever. She, like, turned and looked at me, and it's like silent in the car, and we're like this close. She's like, that was terrible. You wasted my time. I drove all the way to Dallas for you to audition, and you Wasted everybody in their time. You wasted your time. You wasted God's time and my time, and we're not doing that. She goes, and I know you don't want to do this, but I also don't want to drive you around in this expedition for the next 10 years. So, like, so you're going to go to Houston and you're going to give it your go. And. And if you give 100%, I'll never mention it again. And I was like, okay. So we drove to Houston and I had a attitude adjustment, and I sang an Emmy Lou Harris song, and I ended up winning the whole thing for Houston and got on National Star. And so that was like, college. Like, I was almost 20 and. Or I was 19 and like, my mom dropped me off at DFW. I'd never flown by myself, like, ever. And so I was like, crying and I had, like, my comforter, like I was going to some dorm somewhere.

[Bunny XO]

Emotional support.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes. Because I was, like, moving to Nashville pretty much. You know what I mean? And so.

[Bunny XO]

So when you won that. And that meant you had to move to Nashville.

[Miranda Lambert]

When. When I won for Houston, I went on to regionals, which were in Nashville, and got the top 10 for the contestants. So I got on the show, and we all lived in a house. It was a reality show. We all lived in a house together. And I'm, like, 19 from Lindale, Texas. I. I was the youngest by 10 years. I was like, I don't even know what I'm getting into.

[Bunny XO]

But they just thrust you into the spotlight.

[Miranda Lambert]

Kind of did. And I'd never been on TV before. And so that was my, like, intro. And I got third in the competition, which was better because the contracts for those things aren't the best.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

So, like, getting first, you're, like, locked in. So third was good. But I got a record deal out of it with Sony that I was on for 20 years.

[Bunny XO]

So that's amazing. I never knew the reality story part, but.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, well, it. The show didn't last. And it's not, you know, it was really didn't. All it did for me was exactly what I wanted it to do, which was Tracy Gershon was working at Sony, and she was like, this girl has something. This is authentic. And, you know, that's my favorite hard about anyone is authenticity. And so I was just my true self on that show. And it really got me exactly where I needed to be. And then it was through another three years before I had a record deal or any. I had a record out or anything.

[Bunny XO]

But when did your first album drop? 2005.

[Miranda Lambert]

2005.

[Bunny XO]

And that was Kerosene.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

You came out the gate swinging.

[Miranda Lambert]

You did your homework, girl.

[Bunny XO]

Oh, listen, baby, I. You know, you're one of my favorite humans. I wanted to learn about you. So kerosene drops. I mean, you are literally just pretty much thrown into country music. And it takes off from there. How are you feeling? Like, is dad happy, first of all?

[Miranda Lambert]

Oh, my parents are, like, still. I mean, they're so proud. They're all. They're proud. But it was. Man, it was a ride. It was a journey. Like, it was scary because we didn't really know what we were doing. I mean, you know what I mean? It's like Texas has its own scene, and we kind of knew what to do there. But, like, this was make. We're doing it. And, yeah, kerosene did really well. I mean, it sold a million copies, and it kind of launched me into it. And then I just went on the road forever. Forever. As soon as that happened, I went on tour with Keith Urban in 2005.

[Bunny XO]

We love Keith. It was so funny because we saw Keith at one of the award shows, and I was like, I don't get the appeal of Keith. And then I saw him on stage, and I was like, I get it. I get it now.

[Miranda Lambert]

With that guitar in his hand, girl.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, no, totally get it.

[Miranda Lambert]

That's a whole different ball game.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, I totally get it.

[Miranda Lambert]

He taught me, like, we came straight out of, like, the bars in Texas to Keith Urban tour, and their show is incredible. Like, he's an incredible artist.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. And a shower. Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes. And I was, like, the first show, I called my whole band. Like, we had a band meeting, and I don't even think we had, like, this broke down bus. And I was like, meeting on the broke down bus right now. We have to watch his show every night because this isn't just, like, dive bars in Texas anymore. This is, like, the big guns.

[Bunny XO]

Was it arenas?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes.

[Bunny XO]

So you went straight from bars in Texas to arenas?

[Miranda Lambert]

That was my first tour. And I was like, oh, this is how it's done.

[Bunny XO]

Goodness.

[Miranda Lambert]

And so we watched Keith every night. Like, we had to. We just had to, really. I literally found my band at a guitar center, like, in Greenville, Texas. Like, we came out of nowhere. So, like, it was like, oh, we have to. This is the big stage. This is it. And so. And then I went on tour with George straight and back p. I mean, I just was on the road, literally. Well, still am.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. No Literally.

[Miranda Lambert]

I mean, that's. But that's what launched it. And I literally just did it like old school. Like, we just. We opened. Opened. You know, we had 15 minutes, and then we'd get in the middle slot and then finally became a headliner. But, I mean, it's just been the road since then.

[Bunny XO]

It's been amazing. It's been beautiful to watch, because I've been around watching your career since it started. So I just. I just think it's amazing. Can we talk a little bit about your new album, Postcards from Texas? Damn it, Randy. Somebody made a special contribution to this, to the lyrics on the album.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes, they did. Somebody. My husband got his first cut on this. On a record. First cut on any record ever.

[Bunny XO]

Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

And disclaimer. My husband is a retired police officer, not a songwriter.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. And we're gonna get into how you guys met in a second, but I just. I want to hear this story, literally.

[Miranda Lambert]

Well, so during 2020, we, like, obviously everybody's at homeboard, and I'm a songwriter, so I'm like, let's write songs, like. And so he was like, I don't know how to write songs. I was like, yeah, you can. You can do it. You know? So we start. I get the guitar out, we start rotten. And he's actually really good. Like, he. He has some really good lines. I mean, being a New York police officer, he's lived enough laugh to, like, have some good lines in there.

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely.

[Miranda Lambert]

And so we would write a little bit. We probably wrote like four or five just little tunes during COVID And then. And then, like, one day, he was just talking. And our friend Jesse Frazier. Who is your friend too.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, they come on tour with us.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, I know.

[Bunny XO]

Those are the writers that he's up with.

[Miranda Lambert]

Jesse Jo. Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

I love Jesse Jo.

[Miranda Lambert]

And Jesse Alexander.

[Bunny XO]

Yes. All the Jesse's.

[Miranda Lambert]

All the Jesses.

[Bunny XO]

We love all the Jesses.

[Miranda Lambert]

He was talking to Jesse Frazier, and just like, you know, he was like, riding's not that hard. It's easy. Jesse was like, oh, okay.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

So he made Brendan come in and do a literal ride with me and Jesse and Brendan. Like. Like, he had tracks pulled up and he made Brendan sit there. He came from the golf course. He was in his golf outfit, and he was like, we were there for like, four and a half hours. Right. I mean, it's. It's a lot. And he was like, oh, it is really hard.

[Bunny XO]

No, it's work.

[Miranda Lambert]

We taught him a lesson.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. When you sit in a ride or like, when my husband does those writers camp? Like, I'm like, how does your brain. My brain would explode.

[Miranda Lambert]

It does. Sometimes I. Exhausting.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. I wouldn't be able to put two words together by the end of the day.

[Miranda Lambert]

Like, you can't.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, exactly.

[Miranda Lambert]

I mean, I can't. I'm just like. But anyway, so that happened and we got a great song out of it. So now he's just like, I'm a songwriter. Okay, whatever.

[Bunny XO]

But we love that for Brendan.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly. He's one of those people that's down for anything. And he also is good at everything, which is annoying. And so getting ready for this record, John Randall and I were co producing it, and we were sitting there doing, like, pre production, which we were drinking tequila, talking about the music really is what we were doing. And he got the guitar out. Every time that happens, we're gonna write a song. It's just how our chemistry is. And we kind of started talking about, like, you know, leaving Sony and signing with a new record label and really just like, talking about having a situation that doesn't serve you anymore and moving on from that and what a fire it lights under you. And, like, how you know when you need to close the door on something. And John Randall's my buddy, but his name's actually Randy. And so we always say, damn it, Randy to him.

[Bunny XO]

That's a great merch too, by the way.

[Miranda Lambert]

And so we started writing this song and Brendan kept popping in while he was watching football. And I was like, are we doing this or like, in or out? You're turn the game off. Like, you pick a side, pick a side. And so he.

[Bunny XO]

You're a songwriter now, dude.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly, you're a songwriter. So get your pin out.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

So he. We started writing it together and he wrote some of the greatest lines in the song. I mean, he really. And Junior was looking at me like, dang, he's killing it. Like. And so it was. It was really special, actually, because also the situation I wrote this song about. Brendan is my husband, so he's had to hear me bitch about it for so long that he kind of knew the story better than I did. Right. You know, so he had the same emotion in it that I did. And so I'm real proud of him. And he's super excited about it, too. Like, when we cut it in the studio, he didn't. He wasn't there all day, and he came in in the afternoon, and I was like, I want to play you something. And so the whole band, like, knew he'd written it. So we're all just staring at him. Push play. We push play. He's like, he won't say it, but he got a little misty eyed. He was like, you got my song. Like, it was awesome. So it's. And it's one of my favorites on the record.

[Bunny XO]

I love that. What can we expect from Postcards From Texas? Is there anything different? Are we going to get, you know, the spicy Miranda? Are we going to get the lover girl Miranda? Because your ballads are just as beautiful as the spicy stuff. Like what, what is. What does this embody on this album?

[Miranda Lambert]

You know what, it's in country especially, like, we kind of do like every two or three year album cycles. So I feel like every record I've ever made has been like kind of a. A snapshot of like where I was in those two or three years, sort of like as life progressed. But this record feels like two decades worth of information. A little bit. That's why I called it Postcards from Texas, because number one, it felt like home. It sounds like home. It's very honky tonk. It's like back to the root of everything I've ever loved. And that has influenced me. But it's also, there's all of it. Like I put Dammit Randy and Wranglers in my set the last couple of weekends and it feels like right up next to Kerosene or Gunpowder or Mama's Broken Heart, it feels like those songs could have been on any record I ever made. So I feel like there's something from every kind of period of my life in a way. And some of the songs are old, you know, I've written about a decade ago. And they just needed to find their home now because I'm ready to sing them now. Summer songs my friends wrote. And, you know, I think there's an emotion for every or there's a song for every emotion on this record. There's fun, there's nostalgic, there's heartbreak, there's burn your house down. There's excited frustration with Randy. Like there's just.

[Bunny XO]

Damn it.

[Miranda Lambert]

Everybody's got a Randy in their life.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm excited. And it drops September 13th, correct? Yeah. So everybody listening to this podcast, go get that album. I wanted to circle back to you and Brendan. How did you guys meet? Take me on this journey with your love story. Because I know the world is so curious about you guys and I've got to see you guys in person and I think it's adorable. I feel like you guys are like yin and yang. And just kind of like balance each other.

[Miranda Lambert]

We really are. We're really. We're really best friends, honestly. And it's, you know, a girl from Lindale, Texas, and a guy from Staten Island, New York. Like, just happenstance that we even crossed paths. We met in the city. Brennan was a cop, and I was doing Good Morning America, and we kind of crossed paths and we met up at. After our show. I was there with Pistol Annie's. Oh, I love it. My gal band, I love the Pistol Annie. And we were doing a song called I got my name changed back from Love it when I had to change my name back from when I got divorced, which takes a very long time. And so we wrote a song about it, and we were doing it on the show and on the ongoing America, and we just crossed paths. And he came to the show.

[Bunny XO]

And when you guys crossed paths, did. Did you check him out?

[Miranda Lambert]

Like, well, my friend Angelina, my bandmate, she was eight months pregnant, and she was wearing giant heels. She was towering over everyone. And she was, like, standing there, like, frustrated because she's like. And he was pregnant on the street in New York, and she was looking around. She was like, oh, there's a cop over there. And he's hot. Hot cop, everyone. Hot cop. Like. Like tapping us on the shoulders. And we're like, yeah, he's cute, but it's 8 in the morning. We've been up doing glam since 3:30.

[Bunny XO]

I can't be bothered.

[Miranda Lambert]

All I care about is my look in the back of my eyelids right now. Because we had a show that night, and my security invited him. They kind of knew some of the same people. So my security team invited him to the show, and we gave him one ticket. No plus one.

[Bunny XO]

I love that. And he still came.

[Miranda Lambert]

He came by himself. And we met up after the show. I didn't even see him before the show. We met up after and just kind of hung out and talked. And I didn't really know there wasn't like, an agenda, really. It was just like, hey, nice to meet you. I was wearing, like, a Waylon Jennings T shirt. He's like in his.

[Bunny XO]

You look hot.

[Miranda Lambert]

Gold cross. Like, I'm like, this is gonna be weird. But he was super cool, and we talked and then we just kept in touch and we wrote each other literal letters, like. Like, old school. And that's sweet. It is.

[Bunny XO]

It's like, that's actually really romantic.

[Miranda Lambert]

I was like, do you want to be pen pals? He was like, like, rat letters with a pen. And I was like, yeah, he's eight years younger, so that was, like, really mind blowing.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. Jay's five years younger than me.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. Sometimes people actually write things down on paper and put them in an envelope and send them.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

So all texting. And so we just hit it off. Like, we're just very. We're very different, but we come from the same background. Like, it's from law enforcement and first responder family. All his family's cops and firemen, and so is mine. And so that just felt like homey. Like, that felt like we came from the same. Cut from the same cloth.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Even though we're from, like, New York and Texas.

[Bunny XO]

Yankee and Southerner.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly. Exactly. But also, I feel like we have the same mentality from both of those places. Like, super sweet, but, like, don't mess with us. And if you don't like us, we really don't care.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, and so our attitude sort of like, they aligned. And he's someone in my life that is not a yes person. I don't believe in surrounding yourself with yes people at all. And I don't do that. I mean, my friends and family and my management team and everyone in my life is like truth tellers. And they don't. I don't. I don't think it's healthy mentally.

[Bunny XO]

It keeps you honest.

[Miranda Lambert]

It sure does. I don't like that. That, you know, I just don't think it's healthy for people to surround themselves with people that are disagreeable or not in it for the right reasons or something.

[Bunny XO]

You know, I wouldn't want that anyways. I want somebody to be like, no, you're up right now. Or, you could do this better. Or, you know, 100.

[Miranda Lambert]

I think it's important. And Brendan's just very honest. I mean, he's a harsh New Yorker. And I like that because he just tells it like it is. He doesn't sugarcoat. He doesn't. He calls me on my. And I want someone like that in my life, but he's also super supportive.

[Bunny XO]

It's also essential to growth. You know, you're never going to grow if somebody's just letting you do something.

[Miranda Lambert]

No. And you and Jay seem that way. Like you really balance each other. Like, when I've been around y' all together and just even seeing from afar, I just feel like it's really. It's genuine and it's honest.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know?

[Bunny XO]

Well, it's like you said, we're best friends. Him and I have been through so much, and it's like Half of it's not pretty. And, you know, I talk about it on my podcast all the time. Like, we've been through some, and there's nothing that that man could do that I would ever. Just never, you know, want to work through with him.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

Like, I just love him. That's my person. And I feel like that's how you and Brendan are too.

[Miranda Lambert]

It is. I told him, like, I'm. I'm. I'm an injustice for you. Like, I will fight through anything with you, and I feel like that's so important. And I think, you know, going through other relationships, you learn through those things and you learn what's important and you learn about communication.

[Bunny XO]

Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

And what you did do and what you didn't do. And so I think, you know, I came into this marriage with such a strong sense of, like, what I want and what I want to be for someone, and a partner that I want to be and the partner that I need him to be, and, you know, voicing that, number one and communicating all of the things right away. Not. Not harboring resentment or not telling them right away is like, something that's so important to us.

[Bunny XO]

It's important in any relationship because too many relationships harbor resentment, and then that just creates distance. And when you have distance in a relationship, that's when people drift apart.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, for sure. And also when you have distance physically, like, Brennan's back in New York a lot, and I'm on the road, and it's like, you. You can't have distance emotionally and physically. That's not gonna work.

[Bunny XO]

No. Jay and I have a two week rule where, like, we don't go more than two weeks without seeing each other. We've been. We've had that rule since we first got together, and we've stuck by it. There's been a couple times where I've had to, like, go over two and a half weeks because our schedules have been busy. But as soon as, you know, I can. I get straight to him. And I think it's important.

[Miranda Lambert]

It is. To really reconnect, you know?

[Bunny XO]

It is. I just want to bring up the fact that you were the first female that had a Broadway bar open.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes, ma'.

[Bunny XO]

Am. I mean, come on, girl.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes, girl. Yeah, we.

[Bunny XO]

That's.

[Miranda Lambert]

I'm very proud of that. I really am.

[Bunny XO]

That you should be. That is something to celebrate, because in a world full of men, it's like, here's Miranda Lambert.

[Miranda Lambert]

It was really cool to have to get to open Casa Rosa because it was like, all the guys and I love the, the guys in country music are always so supportive of the women. They really are. Like, I know that conversation always happens about just the, you know, the, the harder time we have and the uphill climb that it is, but we have. The country music community is always super supportive. So.

[Bunny XO]

And I love that I preach that on this podcast because, you know, coming from the, the arena that my husband was in, like the country rap or whatever it was that he was in, it was so, so drama filled, whatever he was. Yeah. Like, I don't know. I don't really, because I just always felt like my husband was more than that, you know, and I don't ever want to put him in a box. But coming into the country scene, it, it has blown our mind. How so sweet and supportive and loving and like, we did not think it was going to be so accepting as it has been. So it is to know that the men support you too, and they're just out there like, hey, yes, over the bar, girl.

[Miranda Lambert]

And I appreciate that, but I, I was really proud to like, on that row on, on Broadway of all those boys bars, it was like, all right. But I mean, you know, it. Like you said earlier, I meant to bring this up, but you said, you know, people don't see what it took to get there. Everybody, anyone that's really found their success and like, really hit their Stride probably spent 10 years getting there.

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely.

[Miranda Lambert]

Pretty much.

[Bunny XO]

Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

Like, overnight successes are 10 year successes.

[Bunny XO]

Yes, absolutely.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's, it's, it's worth the work. But I just think sometimes people this day and age, because of all the platforms and socials and everything that we have, that's like, so everything's right now. You know, I still think on either side of that, you got to put in the work.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Miranda Lambert]

So even if you blow up on a social media platform or whatever, that's awesome. But get ready for 10 years of work because, like, that's what it takes to really sustain.

[Bunny XO]

Absolutely. I've been doing my podcast six years.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

And it's. I'm in season eight and it's just now getting the notoriety the past two seasons that I've been praying for and manifesting, you know, so, yeah, no, it's definitely a work in progress. Let's talk about your Vegas residency. You were just in my city. We got to go out there and see you perform. The show was amazing.

[Miranda Lambert]

Thank you.

[Bunny XO]

I took so many notes from your show that I wanted for, like, our set and for like the opening of my, my podcast and stuff. Like the lights Just like, everything. I was just like, I want that. I want this. I want that.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, it's fun in Vegas because there's no such thing as too much of anything.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

And so, like, you. Which can be a really bad thing, but it also can be a good thing when you're talking about fringe and rhinestones.

[Bunny XO]

Yes. I mean, you can never have enough fringe and rhinestones.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

So give me all the Fringies.

[Miranda Lambert]

Exactly. So that was really fun to get to put that together. We. It was two years. We wrapped it in March.

[Bunny XO]

That's a long residence.

[Miranda Lambert]

It was long. You know that. It's. It's like everyone was like, how was it? I'm like, it was amazing. But it's. It's a different kind of hard than the road because you're still away from home, but you're in one spot, and the party comes to you instead of you taking the party to them. So that's. It was a good break from the road. And it really. Like, when I got back on Elvira, you know, my bus, which you met her.

[Bunny XO]

Yes.

[Miranda Lambert]

It was like, I missed this, and I didn't ever think I would say, yeah. You know, so, you know, like, at the end of a tour, you're like, I don't want to see this bus again.

[Bunny XO]

No, we're. We're clamoring to get back on tour. We can't wait to get back on the bus.

[Miranda Lambert]

But you have to have to. It's good to miss it. And Vegas helped me do that. And it also just was so fun with, like, the production stuff, because you could just take it to a whole nother level because you're not putting it in trucks every night, you know, so I'm really thankful for it. And I got to love your city. I mean, the Strip isn't Vegas. Like.

[Bunny XO]

No, it's not.

[Miranda Lambert]

You know, and that's all I knew of it from going to the ACMs for 18 years in a row. But I really learned to love, like, the outskirts. We stayed in the burbs, and, like, you know, I walked my dog every day and made eggs and, like, had a real life there. And. And I love the desert. And just. I really. I really. I went to a nights game. I loved it. It was my first hockey game to ever go. It was really fun. So I just. I found, like, the things of Vegas.

[Bunny XO]

That aren't, like, you know, how beautiful are the sunsets?

[Miranda Lambert]

The sunsets are incredible. The weather in December is amazing. Yes.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah. And the food scenes. Amazing. Even off the Strip. So, like, I just really. I grew to really love, like, the locals, too. Like, I made friends with a lot of people that. That I've seen there for work, but they, like, live there. So we go to their house for dinner and it felt like, oh, this is just a really great community. Not that I don't love the Strip, but for two days and you're good, you know?

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, yeah. No, I had never. Whenever. Because we're selling our house out there now, but whenever I would go out there, people like, do you live on the Strip? And I'm like, absolutely not.

[Miranda Lambert]

No one.

[Bunny XO]

I will not go to the Strip unless there is a reason, like, my husband has to be having a show or I'm going to see you, or, like, I'm never going to step foot on that strip unless I have to.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah.

[Bunny XO]

The House that Built Me, by the way, when my dad passed away in May was the only song that got me through. I think I cried my eyes out for like a month straight with the House that Built Me playing in the background.

[Miranda Lambert]

So that song's such a blessing. Like, it's just one of those songs I'm so thankful to have.

[Bunny XO]

It is beautiful. Like, if you listen to the words, just. You literally paint a visual in this song and, like, you just walk people through just a moment in your life, a snapshot in your life. And thank you for that. Lastly, can we talk about Mutt Nation?

[Miranda Lambert]

Yes, I.

[Bunny XO]

Tell me.

[Miranda Lambert]

I wish your pup was here.

[Bunny XO]

I know. Me too. I'm so upset you didn't get to meet Chachi, but you diva.

[Miranda Lambert]

He's getting groomed today.

[Bunny XO]

Well, he got sprayed by a skunk two months ago and he still smells like.

[Miranda Lambert]

It lasts. It stays forever.

[Bunny XO]

Nobody told me that you're not supposed to put water immediately on a dog when they get stuck. Sprayed by a skunk or else it locks the. The stuff in.

[Miranda Lambert]

I've done that.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah, it's been a nightmare. I use douche, I've used marinara, I've used everything on this dog, and he still smells like Miranda. I cannot.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's the worst.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

My dog snout. Like, when I kiss him on the nose, I swear it was like six months.

[Bunny XO]

Oh, don't tell me.

[Miranda Lambert]

I know. I'm sorry. But good luck.

[Bunny XO]

The tour bus is going to smell like skunk. Oh, man, it's rough. So tell me about Mutt Nation.

[Miranda Lambert]

Mutt Nation is my heart and soul and passion. Like, music and muds are my passion. And luckily I get to mix them a lot. Yeah, but we're actually doing a show in Nashville on October 5th. You'll be on tour but. Or at a send for. For the. To raise money for my nation. But we started it in 2009, just me and my mom. Honestly, like, it was a little mom and pop operation because I've just grown up with like rescuing dogs. I guess that's what our family does.

[Bunny XO]

You guys rescued humans and dogs.

[Miranda Lambert]

Whoever's like three legged, one eyed, come on in, like. And so, you know, when I was like finally getting somewhere in my career, my manager Marian was like, now is the time for you, like, pick your platform. You know that you can. You can use your platform for something great. What. What are you thinking? And I'm like, for sure. Dogs. Like. And my mom and I had been involved in rescue and stuff. And so we started Mut Nation. And it'll be 15 years. It's 15 year anniversary this year. And we raised over $10 million to. We're not a shelter. We. We work with shelters. That's kind of what we do. With mom's PI background felt like it was kind of perfect because she could vet all these organizations that we're able to give to. And when, you know, when I was just starting out, like in 2009, I was like, I'm asking my fans to give to something. I want them to know where their dollars are going.

[Bunny XO]

Yeah.

[Miranda Lambert]

Not just like, we're saving dogs. Like, what does that mean? So I wanted it to be very personal and like for me and mom to kind of have our hands in everything that we gave everybody we gave money to. And so my mom uses her PI background to like vet all these shelters and all that we still do. We give 50.

[Bunny XO]

Mom gets shit done.

[Miranda Lambert]

She also told me to tell you hello. She really wants to know you. And she said. I said, right before I came over here, I called her because it was her birthday yesterday.

[Bunny XO]

Oh, happy birthday, Mom.

[Miranda Lambert]

And she said, will you tell Bunny to keep Bunny in? I like her.

[Bunny XO]

Oh, my goodness. I love her. I can't wait to meet her.

[Miranda Lambert]

She's awesome. But she. Anyway, we, my nation is basically, we. We kind of support shelters. We really. We do disaster relief when there's natural disaster. We send funds and resources to help the animals in crisis. We work with US War dogs to pay for medication for the retired US Military dogs.

[Bunny XO]

I'm in. Who do I give my money to?

[Miranda Lambert]

We. We do so much. We do a prison programs where we. With the prisoner and the pets where they can rehabilitate each other. And then the dogs are up for adoption and so much more. There's so much. But I now, like, I don't have enough time to tell you all of.

[Bunny XO]

It, but you're fine.

[Miranda Lambert]

It's. You can look it up mutnation.com and we have it all on there. But it's a really amazing. I'm so proud of it. And that's another thing I'm trying to learn is the more time I could have room in my life, the more time I can spend on that. And it. You know, there's one thing to talk about it in interviews and do a show for it, but I really like to be boots on the ground. I really like to go to the shelters. I'd go to a lot in Nashville and just love on the dogs and try to post about anybody that's been there a long time. I'm like, show me your longest resident. So if you ever want to come with me when it's not so hot, I would love to come walk dogs. And, you know, that's another thing I encourage people to do is if you can't give money and you can't adopt a dog, you can always just go volunteer. Even an hour of your time. Just getting them out of their enclosures and walking them in human interaction, it just increases their chance of adoption so much.

[Bunny XO]

So I would love to get Bailey involved in that. That's probably something that she would love.

[Miranda Lambert]

To do, and it would be great. There's so many great shelters in Nashville that we work with. Metro was one of them, and Nashville Humane and also Williamson county here in Franklin. So we got to get together on that because I know that you love animals.

[Bunny XO]

No, for sure. And I'm definitely going to donate because I didn't know. I knew, but I didn't know, like, everything that you had involved with.

[Miranda Lambert]

Yeah, it's a. It's a. It's really personal for me. And it's really. We have a director named Nina who's, you know, updates us weekly on there's tiny things that we do to where it's just a little. A beagle needs a wheelchair.

[Bunny XO]

You know, we want to be a.

[Miranda Lambert]

Wheelchair, or we'll give, like, thousands of dollars to, like, Hurricane Harvey relief, where I actually went and was part of that whole rescue. So it's just. It's. We do. We run the gamut, but we get to pick everything. And so we. When we ask people to give money, they know exactly where it's going.

[Bunny XO]

I love that. And maybe when. When we do start building on this land, maybe There's. We can start helping with the dogs or something. I would love that. That would be like just a life goal. I just love dog knows, you know, like any dog knows. I just want to kiss is good, too. What is it?

[Miranda Lambert]

Horse nose? I.

[Bunny XO]

Listen, I am going to get some horses soon. I promise you. I'm going to talk daddy into it. But, Miranda, it has been so fun sitting here with you and thank you so much for coming. Is there anything you. Besides the album that you want to plug before you. We sign off?

[Miranda Lambert]

I think that was it. We talked about my nation and the album and. Yeah, I think we did. Oh, one more thing. I will. I was gonna. Because I was gonna tell you I have a brand called Idle Wind and it's in boot barn, and I want to give you some boots.

[Bunny XO]

Let's do it. I need some. I need some for tour.

[Miranda Lambert]

Get you. So that's what I was gonna say. I thought you could have boots for tours.

[Bunny XO]

That would be amazing.

[Miranda Lambert]

I would love to get your size and. Or you can go on there and pick out whatever you want.

[Bunny XO]

Okay.

[Miranda Lambert]

I'll. I'll get some jeans. They're stretchy.

[Bunny XO]

I'll hook you up. Yes, I need that. Because these hips, let me tell you. I'll hook you up with Mimi and she'll get that over to you. But I. I don't mind paying for it either. Like, I would love to.

[Miranda Lambert]

I.

[Bunny XO]

Listen, I support the cause, sister.

[Miranda Lambert]

All right. Thank you.

[Bunny XO]

Thank you so much. And you guys know where to find Miranda. If you don't just Google Miranda Lambert and you can find all of her socials. She's on TikTok Instagram. I think you're pretty much everywhere.

[Miranda Lambert]

All the things.

[Bunny XO]

All the things, baby. And I cannot wait to have you. Promise me you're going to come back and see me.

[Miranda Lambert]

I will. I will come back.

[Bunny XO]

Yay. Thank you guys so much for tuning in to another episode of Dumb Blonde. I will see you guys next week. Bye.