Miranda Lambert: Longview’s Country Voice

Today is the birthday of Miranda Lambert. She is 43 today.

Miranda Leigh Lambert was born in Longview, Texas on November 10, 1983. East Texas — the pine forests, the small cities with big church cultures and complicated histories — built her directness. Her parents were private investigators who ran a women’s shelter. Miranda grew up knowing the difference between what people said and what was actually happening. She put that knowledge in her songs from the beginning. She competed on Nashville Star in 2003 and finished third. Epic Records signed her anyway.

Country Songs With Teeth

“Kerosene” — her debut album opener — was a statement of intent: country music could be angry, specifically, rightfully angry. Lambert won the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year seven consecutive times from 2010 to 2016. She won Album of the Year for Revolution in 2009 and again for Platinum in 2014. She formed the Pistol Annies with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley — a trio that makes country music sound like it was invented by women, which in many ways it was. She never forgot Longview. East Texas never forgot her. Find her place items on Texas Music Map.