How Miranda Lambert Is Helping Other Women Kick Ass
It's the rare celebrity who's eager to share the spotlight, especially these days, when staying on brand is as vital to keeping fans' attention as writing hits. But Miranda Lambert has never been a typical celebrity. In a world of pop star feuds, Miranda is about cooperation and empowerment. She's become a leading voice in the fight to get more women's records played on country radio, where the number of spins still determines if a song will be a success. "I tell them at the stations, 'Just play one of us; it doesn't have to be me. Then we all win,'" she says. So when the singer suggested that we sit down with her and longtime cowriter-slash-BFF Natalie Hemby- who contributed to 10 songs on Miranda's latest album, The Weight of These Wings, and recently released her own debut album, Puxico-it wasn't surprising that Miranda wanted to use her fame to shine a light on a friend. "I hope Puxico has started a fire in Natalie and that there's more to come, because it's beautiful," she says.
The chat I had with the friends one sunny Tennessee morning covered all of those emotions and then some. Hearing them talk about music, life, and each other is a lesson in how to be a better friend to yourself, the ladies you love, and all women.
On the disparity between male and female country singers on the radio:
"It's B.S., straight up! Carrie Underwood still struggles, and that just blows my mind because she's got a million hits and she's Carrie Freakin' Underwood. I tell them at the radio stations, 'Just play one of us; it doesn't have to be me. Then we all win.' I'll fight for it until I can't no more."
On the three "M's" in her life:
"Music and mutts-pretty much all I live for are those two things. Men used to be on that list, but I cut that one out. Just kidding! It was the three M's, and now it's two. No, it is three: The last one is Miranda."
On being in the music industry:
"I'm not actually a very good famous person at all. I hate cameras. I don't love the spotlight. It was a big shocker to me that the music business is 80% business and 20% music. I was like, 'I didn't know I signed up for all this other stuff.'"
On her favorite way to spend a night:
"Shark Tank and yoga pants, and I'm the happiest person. I watch Tiny House Nation on a Friday night, and I'm like, 'This is it! Frozen pizza. Woo!'"
For more from Miranda, pick up the November issue of REDBOOK on newsstands October 24.
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