Transcript of E537 Miranda Lambert

I have some new tour dates to tell you about this week. I'll be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Green Bay, Wisconsin. And Moline, Illinois. Colorado Springs. Casper, Wyoming. Billings, Montana Missoula, Montana. Bloomington, Indiana Columbus, Ohio Champaign. Grand Rapids. Lafayette, Louisiana and Beaumont, Texas. All tickets through theovon.com tour. And thank you for your support. Today's guest is a Grammy award winning country musician. She has a new album called postcards from Texas. And you know her songs, the house that built me drunk. January heart. The list goes on. Red wagon. I'm really grateful today to get to spend time with one of the queens of the country music industry, Miss Miranda Lambert.

Shine that light on me I'll sit and tell you my story shine on me and I will find a song.

I will sing now nice to see you today. Miranda Lambert.

Hello. Hello.

It's an honor.

Thanks for having me.

Yeah.

Cozy little place.

It's a pleasure. Yeah, yeah, we. Yeah, we try to keep it cozy. It's nice. Kind of get to, you know, just catch up with folks and see what's going on. I've met your husband a couple times.

Yeah. He said that y'all randomly on, like two or three planes together.

Yeah, we've been. We're like kind of, I guess, air buddies or whatever. I don't know if there's a term for it or whatever.

I love that.

Yeah. He said, oh, I appreciate it.

He's golfing. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, he's just dang handsome, too. That's a thing. I see that. God, I'm like, God, I gotta get some conditioner. Whatever.

Yes, he is. He's a pretty one.

God, he is. He's like a. And he used to be a cop, right?

Yep. He's a retired NYPD officer.

And did you. You guys ever play cops and robbers or anything like that?

No, but. What? Last year or two years ago for Halloween, I got. I wore his uniform and I made him be a donuth. And it was awesome. He. Because he's super fit and doesn't even eat donuts. And I was like, I'm gonna be a cop, and you're gonna be a donut. And he was like, that's just cliche. That's stupid. I was like, no, it's awesome. He was counting the whole time. He's like, I don't want to be.

A donut, dude, everybody wants to be a donut. I couldn't even imagine not wanting to be a donut. Yeah. I think everybody's always just wanted to sit in a box with eleven of their buddies, you know?

Well, it's funny because that whole, like, cliche or whatever, but I was like, oh, yeah. And I was worried I wouldn't fit in his uniform, but I did.

Yeah.

We have bigger issues. Like, it's gonna be a problem.

Yeah.

It was fun. My dad's. My whole family is first responders and so is his family, so we had that in common right away.

Oh, sweet.

Yep.

Yeah. Did you guys ever. Has he ever, like, tased or anything like that? Or is that a quake? Crazy.

No. No. And he has handcuffs and I'm like, that. That would be the one time that the key was gone.

Yeah.

Like, we're not ever doing that. Never. It's not. It's not gonna happen.

Yeah, we got tased one time. Oh. If you're ever in Shreveport or whatever and you're, I guess, have some free time or whatever, they will. They'll tase you there. The officers there.

They fun?

Yeah. For. Yeah. For. There's not a lot to do there, I guess, and. But, yeah, they'll do it.

I grew up, like, right. Like an hour from Shreveport.

Oh, you did?

Yeah, I used to play over there in little bars and casinos. Coming up. I actually had my 21st birthday in Shreveport. No, that's pretty red.

Where'd you guys go? Casino.

Yeah, we were at Sam's town. I think my grandma was a vip there. Cause she spends a lot of money on the slots, so she got the limo and all that. And I went with my grandma and her friends for my 21st birthday and her friends, her friends. They're wild, though. Yeah, they were wild.

Oh, yeah. A lot of these seniors now you can't. Well, you see them in the pools and everything, and they have those weights and they're just doing it all. Every time I see seniors, they're just getting crazier and crazier. Do they have a senior citizen dating website, I wonder.

I don't know. But my grandma's. My granddad would just give her, like, allowance, like, stay out of my hair money, and so she would just go blow it at the casino. It's the best.

Was she one of those grandmas that, like, at the end of the year, they buy all the Christmas?

Oh, yeah.

And they all say, like, sam's town or whatever on the back.

And she would always, like, buy and then wrap them and forget that she did it.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? And she would be like, we'd open the present. She'd be like, I don't. I don't know when I bought that or what it is?

Oh, yeah, dude. Yeah. They used to tase us over there, man. They would.

It was real weird.

Yeah, it was kind of crazy. But I think you can get a taser now. Like, you can even get one on Teemu. That also, like, beats eggs and stuff. Like, there's everything. Just have everything now, you know?

I don't think I want to be tased.

You know? I'll say this honestly. It wasn't. It was way easier than I thought.

Well, I'm glad you took one for the table. I'm glad that's over with. Settled.

So your 21st birthday, you guys went over there. Was that, like, the biggest city close to you guys?

Um, we're at between Dallas and Freeport, so, like, I 20. My little hometown, Lindale, Texas, is, like, the halfway point where you, like, stop it for gas and burger King. You know what I mean?

Oh, yeah.

So I. I was there a lot, and Dallas was. Dallas was our, like, city.

Oh, yeah. What was your first job over there?

I worked at Bell's. Oh, my first singing gig.

No, your first, like, human job.

My first big girl job. Well, I start. I worked at this little department store called Bells for, like, the Christmas season. They hired me to wrap presents, which I'm terrible at.

Oh.

So then they were like, these presents are terrible. So they put me in the back room to, like, sort things, and I only lasted two weeks. I was like. I just started singing and playing. I was 17, but I needed, like, I was not making any money. I was, like, starving musician. And so I tried for that, like, you know, that, like, holiday season, extra money, and realized quickly, like, I've got to make the music business work because this is not for me.

Because that's not it.

No, it was just not. I wasn't good at anything else. So I was like, yeah, if they.

Put you in the back to sort. That's not even.

I know. I couldn't even use it well, because I. Some lady asked me, like, does this look good on me? And I told her my truth. I was like, not really. They're like, that's not how it works. You kind of have to lie. I'm like, oh.

Um. Yeah, I'm trying to think if I. Well, I used to work at a pizza parlor for a while, and we got late with. There were cutbacks there or whatever, and I don't know how there could be cut back. It's like there was four of us working there, but I guess they had, like, cutbacks or whatever. So a couple of us got laid off. But, um, I wonder if I ever worked at a department store.

Couldn't work around pizza. I just. I love it too much.

Yeah. Yeah.

We had the pizza in.

In your town.

Yep. And had the salad bar and had little corn dogs on it. And I was really happy about that.

They put corn dogs on the salad bar.

I love a salad bar.

That's unprecedented. Oh, I love a salad bar. Pizza. Used to have a great one. You remember?

It was like Pizza hut, but, like, small town brand pizza.

Oh, yeah, pizza. Did they throw the pizza in the air or not?

No, no. Nobody knows how to do that. Oh, now I know. I've actually seen it in real time now because my husband. It's from New York City.

Yeah.

So I've had, like, legit pizza now. Not pizza in.

Oh, we had a place. I'm trying to think of what it was called, and. But they had a big window there and some dude, I think he was a magician, but they gave him, like, daytime work, throwing those pizzas in the air. Cause I think it just fit in people's heads. Like, oh, that's magic. And so that's hard. Oh, he was. I think he really got the hang of it. And it was awesome. People would come from miles around to watch him. You know, you'd see kids just out there just licking lollipops, just staring at him, looking at this Doe wizard.

Small town entertainment is pretty simple. It's easy to come up with.

Oh, yeah. When the fair came to town, that was always exciting. We could go to the fair a day before, and for $0.50, you could. You were kind of a guinea pig. They didn't tell you that, but it was like, come on over and you can do a ride for $0.50. So we lived right down the street from the fairground. So we'd walk down there, dude, and you would just get rattled. Electrocuted.

Yeah, I don't. I don't trust small town fair rides.

Yeah.

I just don't.

And I think that's probably a wise choice for, you know.

Yeah. How you seem like a thrill tracer. Cause you got tased and you ride the 50 cent ride like you're just going for it.

I've been in some bad relationships. Yeah. Maybe I'm a thrill chaser, you know, I think. Yeah. If you stack all those things up, how does a guy. This is news. So how does. Cause your husband was just like a regular police officer, right? How does a regular police officer meet a celebrity comfortably? Do you. Is that a weird thing to ask. Kind of.

No, I mean, honestly, like, we're kind of from the same fabric. So it was. The weirdest part of it all is the language barrier at first, honestly, because he's New York accent, and you hear mine. So it was like, any of my southern phrases, any of the, like, redneck stuff I say. He's like, what? I don't understand what you're saying. So. But we just met. We met by chance, literally on the street. And, like. And six years later, it worked out.

But was there moments where he was like, you know, this is like. Cause I feel like if I'm a regular guy, say, if I met, you know, Julia Roberts or trying to think of somebody else, Queen Elizabeth or something, and I'm trying to date him, I would. I wonder if there would be moments in my head where I'm like, how do I do this? Like, you know, do I put on a special cologne? Like, what do. How do I just become.

Does wear the polo, like the old school one?

Oh, he does. Oh, yeah, that green bottle with the.

Little gold red one.

I don't know if I've seen that one. That might be the sport.

Yeah.

Sport came out.

Yeah.

Oh, ever.

Did you ever wear cool water?

Oh, no, I didn't. But you did know some. Some of the fancier kids kind of did. Guys that had, like, game with women wore it.

That's why I was like, did you. Are you lying? Did you wear the corner? Say it.

I didn't have gay with women. I was like, I was always the guy who, like, like, would help my buddy open all the Valentines. Like, on Valentine's in school, they would have, like, the key club or whatever would come in, and if somebody bought you a Valentine, they give them all out in the room at the same time. So my buddy would get, like, eleven of them. I wouldn't get any, but he'd let me, like, hold a couple of them on my desk or whatever. Yeah. And it's like, hey, hold.

Wasn't it like the one where you give everybody in the class one so everybody feels loved?

Oh, when we were kids, but when it got in a junior high, it got like, okay. Somebody had to go, yeah, yeah. And you would get him, and he would just have a stack of. He looked like the damn, you're gonna.

Get so many Valentine's house gonna be weird because you talked about it.

Yeah, Valentine's were nice. My mom wouldn't get us, like, something that she would, like, leave by our, like, bed or something in the morning. Like, that was pretty sweet, though, but, yeah. Was there ever a moment where he was just like. Where it just seemed like nerve. Like, he's like, I'm a regular guy, and you're. You're a regular person. But then there's always, like, a yemenite, I think there's a fear in, like, a regular guy's head of, like, how you would behave around a celebrity, I guess.

I think.

Does that make any sense?

Yeah. And it definitely is an adjustment to, like, just jump into country music world and move to Nashville. I mean, he, like, retired, you know, he was eight years on the department, and he, like, sort of made the choice. We made the choice together of, like, we gotta be together, you know? Yeah.

To trade your gun in for a harmonica or whatever is a big deal, I think.

Well, thank God he didn't sound. If he loves music, he's not necessarily musical. He did write a song on my new record. He's a co writer on a song on my new record. Yeah. I had him writing during 2020. We were all doing anything during 2020. Yeah. Oh, if cops are writing songs, yeah, let's write songs. And so we did, and he was pretty good. And I guess because, I mean, growing up in New York City and, like, being a cop on the street in Times Square, like, you have a lot of life lived, you know? And so this record, he has a co write on my song called damn it, randy. And he had some of the best lines in the song.

Really?

Yeah, so he.

Oh, wait, I've heard that one. Like, in a hurricane.

That was his line.

Nuh uh.

Flying a cotton a hurricane. I was like, dang it.

That is a good line.

It is a good line. But, yeah, you know, I think that, like, all the celebrity part out of it, I don't care about that stuff, you know? So, yeah, it just made it. We're just real and regular and, like. Like I said, both being from first responder families, like, we kind of grew up the same.

There was some glue different places.

Yeah.

Yeah. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to inspire, like, regular men out there to think that they could handle it if they met a celebrity person in that world, that they. Everything could be cool.

They can. And you know what? It's like I'm such a big stickler of, like, don't surround yourself with yes people. And so having a husband that's just a regular guy, like, just being a cop in New York City, and, like, he comes into my world, but he tells me the truth. He, like, calls me all my shit. He tells me the truth. He doesn't sugarcoat. He sees everything for what it is, and I really appreciate that. Like, there's the fact he's not in my industry at all and just really kind of. It's a straight shooter. It's like, it's such a blessing to have in my life, and so I'm glad that I married somebody that just, like, is that way. That is just a regular blue collar guy that sort of comes in and enhances my world and speaks a lot of truth into my life. So y'all go. All y'all regular dudes go. Go get it. We need you.

Yeah, we need you. That's a great call.

He also married, like, a country singer and a horse girl. And so, I mean, he signed up for a lot. Yeah, horse girls were like, we're a different breed.

Like, oh, yeah, dude, I just met. I went to a therapy place for, like, a week, and they had horses out there. And one of the therapists, like, worked with the horses. She was like, the horse therapist lady or whatever, like the.

It's amazing.

Yeah. And so, like, she had me out there hugging this big old horse. I don't think. I don't know what his name was.

I've done that too. The equine therapy. It's amazing.

Like, I thought it was crazy, but it's really neat.

It teaches you so much, like, where they're like, put your hand where you feel. Like the. Put your hand where you feel most drawn to the horse. And, like, immediately put my hand on its heart. Oh, I didn't even know where a horse heart was now that I think about it. Like, I was like, I don't know where it is in that huge shot chest, you know, it's pretty cool.

Oh, I had to take the horse. I was trying to take his pulse, and I had to do with both of my hands like that. Like, horses are crazy. They just got, like, 60 inches of neck on them. But, yeah, it was kind of wild. Cause at first she's like, okay, approach the horse and let it know you're okay. So then I'm, like, 4ft from this horse. I think his name was knuckles or, like, mitten or something. And I'm like, hey, horse, I'm just letting you know I'm here. Like, it was almost like meeting an alien because I just never even been around a horse, like, in that much, like, proximity, like, just being a horse in a panasone and. But by the end, I got to take the horse for a walk and stuff. And I felt like it was cool because at first I was super nervous, and as it went along, it kind of like. Yeah, I kind of like my idol came down.

Yeah. You know, and that. They're so therapeutic just being around them in general, but, like, they're just majestic creatures. And I heard. I think they can hear your heartbeat from, like, 5 miles away or something.

Oh, my God. Pervert.

That's crazy.

Yeah, that's crazy, dude. I mean, that's eavesdropping.

I know, but they could sense everything. It's like they tell you the truth about you before you even know your own truth. You're like, ah, I didn't grow up around horses. I didn't start till I was 30, and I just wanted to do something that scared me a little. And I always wanted to be with that cowgirl. Like, I used to play all the rodeos back in the day and, like, sing the national anthem and small town rodeos.

I love rodeos.

When I was first getting started and all those, like, flag girls and the barrel racers with all the glitter and fringe, I wanted to be that so bad. And I chose country music, and so I was like, at 30, I was like, I'm gonna be a cowgirl, damn it, I'm gonna do this. And so I started riding for the first time at 30, and now I'm really super into it. I love it. But I was. I mean, I'm still, like, I'm green. I don't know what I'm doing. But I just love, like, having a hobby completely outside of what I do that's challenging and physically challenging. And also, it's, like, not up to you. It's up to them, you know?

Oh, yeah, dude. It is like, that's the dang Lord's uber, dude. Being on a horseback.

The Lord's uber, bro.

You get on a horse, it is not. It's, like, kind of up to you because they give you these little strings. You're like, these strings are not going to do anything against this horse.

You know, like that. I just saw that pull up on the screen. My. My horse. Cool. I started mounted shooting.

Oh, his name's cool.

His name's cool. And I started mounted shooting last December.

And what does that mean, mounted shooting?

So, like, shooting a revolver with black powder off the back of the horse at a balloon. It's super fun. It's spectator safe in the horse. Horses wear earplugs, just FYI.

The horses do they.

Do they wear earplugs and the. The gun has black powder in it, and so you do these patterns, and you go, like, 100 miles an hour. I don't yet. I'm trying to get there. And you shoot at balloons. My friend Kenda Lancein, she's, like, the world champion, and she.

Kendall on. Bring her up.

She's. She's a badass. Like, she. She has taken me under her wing and taught me so much about it.

I've never even heard it. So it's called mounted shooting. So you started.

There she is.

Let's. Let's see that. Hey, yeah, I'll let her shoot me, that's for sure.

She probably would really. She probably tase you if you want her to.

Look, she can shoot me in the belt buckle and see if my pants drop. You know what I'm saying, baby? That's where I'm at with her.

She's a buckle shiner.

She's, uh. But she's really great at it. So, wait, explain it to me. I've never even heard of this.

It's so fun. So you have two revolvers.

It's.

And you have five shots in each.

And you're on the horse.

It's a gun belt. You're on the horse, and it's a timed event. So, like, come out of the gate, and, like, she does it in, like, 7.5 seconds, which I'm still learning to ride. Good enough. So I used to quick shot.

I'm in a game.

Yeah, see, so you're shooting. You're shooting at a pattern of balloons, and you're timed on the event, and you do five shots and a gun change. So while you're riding 100 miles an hour, you're having to shoot, aim, switch your gun, go around a barrel, go around a pattern. Like, it's very challenging. Super fun, though. It's like the most adrenaline rush.

It sounds like ADHD meets Yellowstone.

Yeah, it is.

But it sounds beautiful. Wow. It is called mounted shooting.

Yeah.

That's fascinating. And so do you get to try that? So you have your own horse? That was nice to get. Wasn't that?

I bought a horse. I was one of those. Like, I did it once and loved it so much, I was like, I'm gonna winter in Arizona. I'm buying the horse. I'm buying the guns. Like, I fully got into it, but I just, you know, I feel like at 30, I started riding, and then I turned 40 in November, last November. And I was like, all right, now's a new season to keep pushing myself and try something that's a little scary, but new and outside of my wheelhouse.

Well, you look beautiful for 40.

Well, thank you.

Yeah. And yeah, I don't mean that in a flirtatious, complimentary way.

I'll send you a Valentine.

Okay. Please do. Yeah, actually, your husband will get them all. Sit there and hold something. Yeah, like, hold these for me.

Dude, you're gonna get so many. Watch and see. It's gonna be great.

We'll see.

All my friends have a crush on you, by the way.

Really?

Yes. All my Nashville mcal pals.

I'd love to meet any nice gal.

Okay, well, I know some.

I've been trying to be like me. I'm more like Brit. Like kind of like brave about just like dating and stuff, you know, cuz I just get like. I start to get like, turn into a little bit of a homebody sometimes.

My home. So cozy, you know?

It is cozy. Yeah, but they say it's cozier with somebody. But then you're like, who is that person, though?

Because the rot person or you'd rather be by yourself.

Oh, yeah, dude, I don't want somebody just freaking bugging me and bothering me and wanting pancakes or whatever. I.

Can you make pancakes?

No, I can't.

We should learn, cuz they're gonna want pancakes.

Yeah, you're right. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, let me.

The little cute ones, like my mom used to do, like the Mickey Mouse one where she would like, pour the batter in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Oh, beautiful, right?

I don't know. What. Oh, our mom had like one of those things and it would sit on the table and it had a little dial on it and it would heat the skillet like that. And you plugged it in, right?

Yeah, it's like a. What do you call those things? Like a little iron, like a little skillet.

Yeah, it's kind of like a skillet. Yeah, but you don't have to put it on the oven. The oven's built into it. And she. One time she did it, though, on like her wood table and it roasted like a little hole in it and she got. We all got. We got in trouble for it. We didn't do.

How dare y'all want pancakes and make me burn my table.

How dare you want pancakes in my house.

Yeah, well, that's why you went to the horse therapy.

Yeah. And it really is full circle. Today's podcast is sponsored by Boot Barn, America's largest western retailer supporting the cowboy and country lifestyles. Boot Barn opened their first store in 1978, and today they have over 400 stores nationwide, located throughout 48 states, and they open one new store a week across the United States. I picked these Cody James 1978 boots for today's show. These boots are handcrafted by the hands of 90 boot artisans who use centuries old boot making techniques with exotic leather, intricate stitch patterns, leather lining, and a goodyear welt construction. Boot barn. Visit bootbarn.com and use code Theo for 15% off one item through October 30. That's boot barn.com code Theo you got to tour with, and you have a new album out. I know that, and we're going to talk about it. What's one of your favorite songs up for your new album that you like performing? Because, like, with, as a comedian? Like, there's jokes you like telling, and then there's some jokes you're performing, and it feels that. It feels even more vibrant. Is there a song off of it that you really like performing?

I mean, I just started doing some of them because I did. We did a little thing at my bar, casa Rosa, which I think is the first time I met you.

Time I met you there.

Yeah.

Opening.

Yeah, yeah. We did the whole record, which was, like, it's always fun to do. I've only done that once, one other time with my record, revolution, a long time ago. So it was fun to, like, actually learn every song, and, like, I didn't really know him that well. I had lyrics up there. I had a little notebook, like, old school. I was like, it's my first time to play these. You know what I mean? But I think. I don't know. There's one on there called Armadillo. It's the first song on the record. And my friend Aaron Raytier, I don't know if you know him. He's a Nashville songwriter, and y'all should be friends because he's funny as hell. And the funnest and Aaron.

Ray tier.

Ray tier. Rey tier, yeah. And he sent me this song, and it's just funny and quirky, and so I don't know. That one's been fun to do live. I've only done a couple times, but it's fun.

There he is right there.

He's a Kentucky boy.

Aaron, right here. That's a cool name. Um, you got to tour with Toby Keith before I did. Yeah.

Yep.

What was he like? What's Toby Keith like?

That was one of my earliest tours. I was lucky enough, like, I went on so many. Well, there weren't hardly any women touring back then. Like, really well, like, in country. There wasn't that many touring that much. I mean, in the early days, you got to play like 100, 200 shows a year, you know. So I went out with all men for a long time. I learned so much from all of them. Like, keith Urban was my first one, 2005. And then cuz I just played honky tonks until then. And then Dirk Smith, Lee and George. Toby, I think, was like my fourth big black major country tour.

Yeah.

And I learned a lot. I mean, oh, gosh. Old school. Look at that hair. That is like Mandel, Texas hair. Oh, my gosh.

Wow.

Yeah. Little old school. Tease it to Jesus. That's what we say.

Oh, the Lord does my hair while I sleep.

Exactly.

Yeah. Wow, that's cool. What was Toby like? Like, what was he like? I just never got to meet him. I've gotten to meet some different artists that I'm a big fan of. But what was he like as a person?

He was really. He was like. He was himself. You know what I mean? Like, he was his, like, authentically himself. Kind of did everything his own way. An outlaw in his own way, prolific songwriter. And, you know, he was. He was kind of a tough love at first out on the road, but I guess I needed that because I was a baby and didn't know, you know, what was going on yet. I was learning all the ropes of everything, and it was. It was. I learned so much from every tour I was on. Anddez, I would say Toby was just like. Like, his fans taught me a lot, too, because they were really about Toby, only, like, you had to work to get them to care, you know, because they were like, we're here to see Toby, and he's his, like, outlaw kind of I am who I am mentality. They kind of adopted that, and I felt like it made me work for it in a good way. Like, I had to really figure out my set list and figure out, like, there's. I'm just some little gal. They're not here to see me.

And if they're here early, I really need to. And I'm here to gain fans. I gotta work on that.

Capture that.

Yeah.

Did you get to interact with him before he passed away?

I haven't. I did see him at the BMI awards when he got the songwriter legend award a couple years ago. So it was right before he passed away? Yeah.

And could you tell he was sick then? I just. Because it was. I knew people knew he was sick for a long time. He just didn't, like, put much out there about it. It seemed like it was very private, but I guess who would want to, right?

Yeah. Well, and I was. I mean, when he was there, he sounded great, and he looked great. So, I mean, you know, that. That journey is, like, everybody's got to take that journey and however they feel comfortable and their family and all that stuff. But I know that he was even at the end, like, really about the music, you know, because the last big thing I saw, Matt, was the BMI, and it was all about his catalog, and I did not realize how many. He wrote, like, 150 songs a year or something, like, crazy. Like, just prolific. And I also didn't realize how many outside songs he cut, like, or that he had other artists cut of his until that ceremony.

Is there ever a song where you write it and you think it's good, but it's not for you?

A lot.

Oh, really?

Mm hmm. A lot of times, yeah. And I, you know, it's. I'm thankful that some artists are still willing to cut outside songs. I'm one of those artists.

What does that mean, that they're willing to cut outside?

Like. Like, you can't write every. You can't cut every song you ever write, you know? And so, for instance, Aaron sent me armadillo, and I was like, I love this. I'm cutting it. So, you know, I think it's important, if you're a songwriter, to have a balance of. We live in Nashville. Like, there's amazing songs written all day, every day in this town for years, and I think it's cool when artists are not trying to write every song on their records.

Oh, I see what you're saying. Because at a certain point, it almost. You're just able to help out more people by picking up songs that they've written. Really?

Yeah. And, you know, like, for my career, I mean, my biggest songs, I wouldn't have if I would have tried to write everything. I mean, like, how's that built me? Is a staple in my career, and that's. I didn't write that. And momma's broken heart and little red wagon. Like, I have some of the staples drunk. Some of the staples in my set that are my career. Staple songs are not songs I wrote. So I think it's good to keep the door open to, like, you know, look around town, look where we live. This is amazing, right?

Yes. So many people. Yeah. And you can't do things alone, too. That's one thing I realized. Like, kind of, like, as I get older, it's like, I used to want to do everything by myself. It was just like how I was wired and it still is a lot of times, but it's certainly. It started to alleviate some where it's like, I got. I need help. I need people to do and I need people to help me do things and. And I can help people do things, and then it's more fun to do something with somebody sometimes.

Yeah. And it's like when you celebrate the highs with your friends because you all did it together like a co wrote, you know, it's fun. Like, collaborating is great. Nashville, such a good community for that. Like, everybody's. I mean, you know, you live here like, everybody's. So country music community is very collaborative, and we lift each other up. We kind of stick together, you know.

You don't think that's true?

I do think it's true. For me. It has been for 20 years. And not that you have to love every single person you ever work with or in the business, but. Oh, yeah, I feel like everybody's kind of in it for the same reason. And there's a mutual respect there most times.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess. But it's also competitive, right?

Yeah. But I think that's also good. You gotta, like, compete. But I think there's a difference. In my manager, we've been together 21 years, and I just recently went on a birthday trip with her and one of her really good friends who's born and raised in Belle Mead. Her name's Elizabeth. And she said there's a difference in wanting to win and wanting to beat everybody. And I thought that was really poignant. I was like, that it. Because that's a different mindset. Like, it's okay to want to win and. And, like, compete and be on top, but I don't. I don't think you have to want to go into it going, I'm gonna beat everybody.

Right?

I'm just gonna win at my race.

Yeah. Cuz that's almost. It's almost vindic. It's not vindicated, but it's almost, um. Yeah, I'm trying to think of the word really almost as a negative edge to it.

It does.

And I don't feel I want somebody to lose then.

Right, right. We can all win. We just gotta run our own race.

Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. Thanks for thinking about that kind of stuff with me. Yeah. Cuz I love songwriting. Oh. In Nashville, anything can happen you like, you'll drop a tomato at Trader Joe's and somebody will come up and have half a stanza written about it.

You know, it's like, great.

Yeah. You get in a car accident and the guy gets out of the vehicle, and he's already written a couple bars about the accident, and he's like, what do you think of these? And I'm like, what do you think about giving me your insurance papers? You know?

Well, that's a title. Insurance papers.

Yeah, but it really is what's in your glove box.

That's a good song title.

Yeah. What's in your glove box, dude, it better just be gloves, buddy.

Yeah. That's weird. Why is it called a glove box? Because now that we talked about it, it's even weirder if there's gloves.

It is weirder now, isn't it?

And it started off only supposed to be your insurance.

People used to put, the name is drive from the compartments. Original purpose storing driving gloves. Initially, the glove compartment was a box near the driver on the floorboard. Driving gloves are worn to keep hands clean and considered essential equipment in early vehicles.

Driving gloves are important for women now, too, because our hands, they, like, keep you from aging because your hands are on the wheel. And, like, I didn't know that, but, like, driving gloves are a thing.

But why does it keep you from aging?

Because the sun coming through the windshield. You wear, like, gloves while you drive so that the sun's not, like, getting on your hands.

Honey, you're only driving a smyrna. That ain't a lot of sunshine on them.

I don't know. But I ride in gloves now because of that. My horse. I have my little gloves. I'm like, I don't want sun damage.

Oh, I thought you ride.

I ride my horse with gloves on now because I'm like, oh, God, I don't want aging hands. There's so much to think about. It's a full time job.

Oh, yeah. You don't want aging hands, though. No, because you can hide everything else, but you can't just show up to something with mittens on for no reason.

No, but Dolly does wear those sheer gloves with the rhinestones, and I'm kind of, like, really into that. So that's a vibe.

Somebody said she's full body tattoo, but.

Whoever really knows the answer, I don't know.

A couple men have to.

A couple for sure.

I mean, I don't know how many. I mean, I know. Is she still married or not?

Yeah, Carl, somebody knows, and we're gonna have to get to the bottom of this. Does or not somebody tell us.

Somebody's seen that artwork, brother. It ain't me. You know?

I know that even make her, if it's possible for her to be more badass. Yeah, that makes it more badass.

Oh, if she. If they. If she came out with, like in one of those ESPN where they do like, the nude, like they're pushing a baby carriage, like, but they're naked or whatever. If she came out and she was full body tatted, dude, it would be crazy. Like, Kat von D. Just totally. It'd be insane.

Yeah, cats are awesome.

Yeah. You have them?

Yeah, I got tats. I'm not like sleeved or anything. Cuz I don't know about the top. Like, at the top of your arm. Like, as you age, like, does it get weird? I don't know. So I just have them down here where they can't, like, swing at some point in my life, I have on my forearms. I don't want, like, mama tattoo arm. I don't need that.

You get a chair and then years later, it's a swing set. You're like, oh, that's a damn port swing right there.

Exactly. Gotta be strategic.

Is there an artist that passed away that, like, you really missed their music, you missed them? Is that a weird question?

There's a bunch, like one you knew, maybe even haggard. Haggard. Like, he's such a, like, my number one hero. And I was really sad the day he died and, like, it. I guess it was like the first kind of, oh, my God, one of my heroes is gone. You know, feelings. I was lucky enough to get to sing with him and meet him and know his family. And so that was awesome. In fact, I just saw his family this past summer. The play, the state fair and Ben Haggard and the family opened. But I just. I don't know. That was Merle's my, like, number one, you know?

Yeah. Would you admire about him? You think so much?

I think that, you know, he. One of my favorite quotes is from Johnny Cash. And he said, I sing about the things that Merle Haggard actually lived because he literally turned 21 in prison. Like, he told his truth. Like, he didn't have a glamorous childhood or upbringing. And he took his outlaw and sort of the troubled times of his life, turned him into songs and turned it into a beautiful career. And every time I was ever around him, he's one of those heroes that, like, is exactly what you hope he would be. Like, a little mysterious, but super kind, you know? And it's always like, meet your heroes or not. It's scary because what if they're. What if they let you down?

Yeah.

But he never did.

Mmm.

Look, all these pictures are bringing up, like, tease it to Jesus. I mean, look at the hair. That is Texas hair, y'all.

That's definitely a full crop. I mean, they got a lot of rain that summer, I'll say that. That is for sure. What's a song that you put on? Like, say, like, everybody has songs when they want to feel something, right? So, like, you have, like, man, I really want to feel something right now. Like. Or I don't know. I do. I'm kind of an emo kind of dude. So I'll put on, like. Like I used to put on, like, trace Atkins. Every light in the house is on, you know I'm talking about.

Yes.

Is that trace?

I say trace Atkins? Yeah.

Yeah.

You want the big, deep voice.

Yeah.

Feel it. I don't know.

I went through a breakup. Yeah. And I would sit on my porch and just smoke cigarettes. I don't even. I don't even smoke.

You swear everybody smokes when they break up.

Yeah, dude, I would just smoke. And I play that on repeat till my neighbors were like, what, to turn off the light or whatever. We can't handle it anymore, I think.

Nobody in his right mind by George Strait.

I haven't even heard it.

It's so good. It's one of my favorite George Strait songs, but it's just like a heartbreaker. We're like, I don't know. I love country. Like, I truly like, my go to is country. Old country is like, my jam. And George Strait, we call him the king for a reason. So it's a great song.

Nobody in his right mind would have.

Nobody in his right mind would have left her. Even my heart was smart enough to stay behind. Come on.

God. Put my fucking feelings in a wheelbarrow.

We need to go to that horse therapy place immediately.

Yeah. What else would I listen? Oh, Lee Bryce's I drive your truck. That one's hard.

Oh, man. My friend Jesse Alexander wrote that song.

Really?

Yes, she did. And she's amazing. She wrote it. I don't know who she wrote it with, but I know she wrote it.

That's a great song.

She. Yeah. Oh, it's so good. Lisa Lee's delivery is, like, insane. See it. But that's a song that he didn't write. Right, right.

And that's why it takes a group. It's like. But you also. If he doesn't perform it, if somebody else does, who knows if it works the same? It could.

It all has to land in the right basket. Right. Like, the right song finds the right artist at the right time.

Yeah. You know, yet the house that built me to. I had, uh. I saw some that talk. The. The writers of that song, it took them, like, they wrote that song for, like, seven years.

And Tom Douglas. Yes. It. They rewrote it and rewrote it. It's seven years of writing it. But I'm. That is such a lesson. Like, I'm not good at that at all. Like, I'm, like, I'm kind of millennial about my. Like, I know I want to come into this co write today, and then I'm gonna leave with a song. Like. And, you know, 4 hours, you get a song or two out or whatever it is. I. I don't know that I could have stuck with it for seven years.

Yeah.

It's a lesson to all of us to, like, be patient till it's right. Oh, that song is, like, perfectly written.

Yeah. Yeah. They made, like, a real sistine chapel with that one, dude. I remember. It's kind of weird, maybe, but, like, I grew up in, like, a pretty traumatic youth, you know? And, uh. And I heard that song. This is a couple years ago, maybe two years ago. It was, like, christmas time. I was in my town where I grew up, and I went and got it, like, an orchid or whatever from a flower place, and I took it back to the place that I grew up at, and I went, this sounds really bizarre now. I wasn't doing peeping tommen or anything. It was like, I knocked on the door and I gave him that, and.

I was like, I think that's really cool.

Yeah. I said, something nice should grow here. That's what I said. I gave him that.

That's a song. You said that to songwriter. So it was in have to write it down. But honestly, I.

But it's funny that what a song can do to somebody, you know, because that's.

I didn't write that song, but I was like, how did they know my story? Like, yeah, but my guitar player that was with me for forever, since I was 17. We lost him two years ago. But he said, that is. That song hits me because it's what I wish I had.

Yeah.

Sounds like what you're talking about. Like, and I never thought about it from that perspective.

Oh, he wishes him right, but he.

Didn'T have, like, a healthy childhood.

Yeah.

So, you know, but I just. I love a song like that. And the fact that they waited it out and just stayed with it is, like, goals. I gotta work on it. I gotta work on it.

Yeah, that is. Yeah. Yeah. Who knows, like, what things? And that's what's thing. The one thing that's nice about life. It's like you don't know the little things you're doing now, how they'll merge with, like, the things you're doing later on, and how it'll help you form, like, wherever you're supposed to be. Like, sometimes it's so hard to get through just the moment, you know? But you don't realize that the moments are the stairs that are gonna get you to the place you're supposed to stand, you know?

Yeah.

Anyway, sorry, but yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know. And those people must have thought I was bat shit crazy.

No, but it's not like the house I grew up in was an old tobacco farm, and it was a house built in 1905, and it was just a farmhouse. No central heat and air, one bathroom. Like, not like. Like a farmhouse. Like, we didn't have a lot growing up, but people constantly stopped by there, specifically older people, seniors. And we're like, you know, they would cry. They would just be standing on the front porch crying. And I was, like, ten, like, hiding behind my mom going, like, trying to eavesdrop. And, like, what are they saying? You know, that they had so many memories there and those handprints were there. That's why I thought when I heard the song, I was like, have they been eavesdropping on my whole life? Because it was such an old farmhouse that had so many stories in it, and, yeah, it touched so many people's lives, you know?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think that's one thing that's amazing about art, is that it can do that. I mean, I think you could. It's just powerful, you know that the beats and the words, and you put it all together the right way and it unlocks something.

It does. And it's like everybody feels like, okay, I'm not alone in this world. And this is. This whatever's happening to me, good, bad or ugly. I'm not the only one.

Yeah.

That's the beauty of a song. Or any art, really, truly. But especially songs I love. I'm. I'm. I know of songs. I'm a songwriter. I'm a song lover, a music lover, like, especially country ones, because we just sell it, tell the sad truths no matter what. Like, you get in your feels, you know?

Oh, yeah.

So what do you listen to when you're, like, wanting to, like, rage or, like, rock out or.

I mean, I'll put them before. Well, I mean, before I go on stage, I listen to, uh, fgl dirt. It's a little up tempo for me, but it's also kind of. Kind of chill.

Yeah. And, like, down home and grounding.

And then I'll put on a little bit of boostie badass and listen to him. So I'll turn it the other way. You know, I might even go some sexy red or something like that. I don't go anything too crazy. I mean, sometimes I'll put on maybe, like, soundgarden or, like, I've been listening to Stephen Wilson Junior recently obsessed with that record. It's so good.

Golly, it's great. Actually have a rock coming up with him.

You do?

Yeah.

Oh, my God.

I know. It's, like, hard not. I wrote with him and natalie him be recently, and we wrote this song called. Well, the hook is, I don't want to see the movie if the dog dies, like, Oliver sitting there crying. It was just, like, the most magical. Right. And it was Steven's idea, obviously shows up with that.

Yeah.

And my dogs were there, and they're seniors. I was like, oh, God.

And they're scared.

I love it. But also because mine is audio slave. Like, that's my.

Really? Yeah, girl, what do you wear while you listen to me?

People like, what do you. What people be surprised to know about you. I'm like, huge audio slave fan.

Yeah.

She's like, nail in my head. Just get all ragey.

Yeah, yeah.

Female rage is a thing, you know, it's like my bread and butter.

Yeah, no, I definitely notice that some of it's in you, you know, and. Yeah, I've been victim of it for sure. Dude, I've got a couple angry women in my text, in my d. In.

My dang dang DM's, in my ding dang DM's.

Yeah, but, yeah, it is. It's just interesting. A song will get you activated to get you ready for, like, a certain moment or something. Did you ever have to play at a funeral or anything? Do you ever get asked to do something?

Oh, God, I can't. Like, I'm not good at it at all. I just. I get too emotional.

Did you ever have to or not?

Yeah, I had to sing at my grandma's, and I had to sing at a friend that was, like, my age. That was the worst one. Oh, is it the first one you ever went to? It was the first, like, like, reality check. Like, teen years, high school friend, you know what I mean? And her family asked me to sing, and I did. But it was. It was just one of the hardest things I've ever done. I really. I know, I know. So I. But, you know, when you're given a gift of black, what are you gonna say? I'm not gonna use it to celebrate someone. That was amazing. You have to do it.

Hey, get on up there. Miranda.

Yeah.

Good God. Yeah, man.

Oh.

One time I was at a funeral and some. The person that sang it was a girl, and she was so nervous, she started singing the star spangled Banner on accident.

Yeah, well, you shouldn't sing that.

Somebody had to go and grab and kind of grab.

Hardly anyone should sing that. Hardly. Let's just talk about it. It's time.

Especially if Kenny's right there in the casket and she's just like. People were like, we can't even be here right now.

Honestly. Like, there's like, four people on earth that should sing that song. And that's it.

And she made it to like that. And people wait. And some people started going like this.

I was like, no.

Yeah. Because part of it is I just.

Feel so uncomfortable right now. I'm gonna go down those spiral stairs and leave forever. Those only go thinking about it. Oh. And they only go up.

A lot of us were like, what? I thought. What happened? He wasn't even in the service.

No.

The whole thing got really confusing. Man. I've been at some weird funerals. My dad was 70 when I was born. He was an older man, and so he had to get me a suit for a funeral one time, right? And it was around Halloween, he got me a beetlejuice costume, like, the pinstripe and, like, a costume version, though. Like, not even it. What? I don't even know if it was real, Ted.

They just think you were, like, stylish.

I don't know if it was real textiles or whatever, but anyway, I. So I go to this little dude in a dang beetlejuice costume, bro. And I guess it was kind of you. I was probably eleven or twelve, so.

Like, already awkward years. So that didn't help.

It was horrible.

Yeah.

But, you know, I guess that's what happens when you send a senior citizen to the. It wasn't rite Aid back then. It was called. KMB was a store they had that had them a couple of costumes over there, but. God, it was. Yeah, that was too much. But, yeah. Anyway, funerals are a lot. So sorry I brought that up.

I was like, I don't have any to say to that. I'm sorry about that. It seems terrible.

I heard a rumor that you got to meet Gypsy Rose when she was a make a wish kid, is that true?

I met her several times.

Do you remember it?

Yep. There's a lot. There's. Look at that hair, that crunchy hair. I got that Aussie scrunch spray going in my hair.

The hair is coming along. These photos go full.

I've met her several times. Super, super sweet girl.

And what was her mother like?

Like, I believed her.

Yeah.

I mean, I did. Like, when all that came out, I was freaking out.

That's what I was wondering. How did you feel? Was somebody just tell you, oh, my God. Do you see what just happened?

Yeah. Like, somebody text me and was like, have you seen this documentary? I'm like, what? What's happening? And I'm. Now. I've been down all the rabbit holes of it. I'm, like, in it. I'm 100% now. She's pregnant. I watched all the things. She seems to be thriving.

So, yeah, I mean, she's had a crazy child.

Thing was crazy.

That's what I'm just saying. I can't even imagine how crazy it was. Like, if something like that would. Because you have these moments in your life, you're being supportive of somebody. They're dealing with a disease, a syndrome. And then it was real to her.

I mean.

Oh, totally.

So she was a child, you know, she was a baby child, but didn't.

Then suddenly it'd be like a national thing. You're like, what is going on?

I can't believe I was part of that. But I'm, you know. You don't know. At the time. Neither did she, so, yeah, it was just like, you know her. I mean, her mom worked the system, and it worked because we have all met her, like, the whole country music community. Like, ask any of us. Oh, so she was part of it. She was in it.

Yeah, she was hobnobbing.

Mm hmm.

Oh, that's interesting.

Yeah, a lot of us.

That gets kind of crazy, too, sometimes, you know? But if that's what the child loves or something.

She did. And Gypsy was very genuine. Yeah. Truly.

That's just such a cry. Heard that. I was like, this can't be true. It's just so crazy.

Yeah.

Yeah. Did, um. Has she. Have you reached out? Have you guys. Has she reached out to you since.

No, I mean, that was so long ago. She might just put all that behind her, which I would if I were her. You know, the whole thing. I don't know.

Some of y'all songs are so good. I don't know how you could put it all behind you.

Well, we'll see if she comes to a show, dude.

Um, yeah, that's just a crazy thing that I heard. So I was like, is this the truth or not?

It's on Google. It's got to be true.

Well, now, you know, chat GPT is kind of getting better than Google because there's not advertising on it.

Oh, yeah. My brother's, like, super smart, like, really a techie, and he's telling me all about this stuff. When we first said, I was like, who's Chad? He kept talking about chat, and I was like, who's Chad? And then he asked it to write a song at Father's day. We had Father's day in New York with my husband's family. We're sitting around, you know, with, like, forced family fun. You have to, like, think of things to do.

Yeah.

And so my brother's like, I'm gonna ask chat to write a Miranda Lambert song. And I was like, okay. And it did. And it didn't have a melody, but it just the lyrics, and it was called whiskey and wildflowers. It was kind of good. I was like, oh, God. Oh, God. My career is over. It's happening. Do I get a royalty? Will it go on tour? Tell me all the answers, Chad.

G b t there it is. That's definitely the. The redneck version of Chad. GBT is Chad.

Who's Chad? He was like, yeah, I'm saying chat. Oh.

And it's like, how do you get to New York City? You put in there. It's like, how much gas money you got?

I know. Like, it has a different voice. Like, it has, like, a. Like a hick voice. Yeah, funny.

That'd be great having chad. GPT. Hey, Chad, how do I fix this two stroke motor, bub? That'd be so good. Dude, we have. Somebody has to come up with that. Yeah. Whiskey and wildfire sitting on the porch sun sinking low memories of you like a river flow your laugh still lingers in the evening air but loves a.

Wild ride why does it talk about drinking when it's my song and I'm holding? They're judgy. Chad's judgy.

And then the pre chorus. Got a bottle in my hand and.

A heart full of scars that sounds like Trace Atkinson.

Well, it also sounds like you're a pirate, so that's the crazy part.

It's so stressful.

But this is also, like, Chad GPT is a newborn. You have to think in a few years if it starts to really get, like, the ability to do some stuff. But I don't know if it would ever take over, like, the human ability to feel and stuff and actually create music that's based on real feelings, I don't think.

And that's the. You know, it's all weird. Whatever. I'm trying to say hip and cool, but it's weird.

I'm not gonna be that hip and cool.

That's weird.

Why don't you have feelings anymore?

Right?

Like, you have to go to a museum to see feelings. Like somebody's smiling behind a piece of glass. You're like, oh, remember that?

Remember that? Oh, there's a tear.

Yeah.

This is a fossilized tear.

Yeah. Oh, wow. We don't have those anymore. Yeah, I'm on the pill that mixes. You can't cry. People had those. But that could be a real thing one day.

I know, but maybe it'll be. We'll be long gone and doing something else by then, hopefully.

I hope I'm in. The dang stars are definitely just. I don't know. I hope something happens to me. I hope I'm in a dang time capsule. Well, you live in Nashville and Texas for a bit. What was Nashville? How is it? How has Nashville changed over the years to you?

It's popular now. Like, everybody. Everybody wants to come here. It's city, which is awesome. I think, like, the fact that country music is thriving right now and our town is a destination. I love that because these honky tonks have been here for ages and kind of, like, it's the music of our lives, you know? My life. And so people are wanting to get a little glimpse of it. I love that.

Yeah.

I don't love that. The roads aren't really made for all these people yet, but we'll get there.

Yeah. Some of these roads are damn homemade, too. I'm like, what is somebody. I. You see, somebody felt just put a damn cake batter in a pothole out there, you know?

Yeah.

It just. People are filling with anything. I drove through something the other day. Oh, I drove. Yeah. People are using anything to fill them now. There's so many potholes, especially in January around that time. Yeah, I drove through something the other day and had damn devil's food all over my tires. I was like, shit's getting weird out here.

Was it Dolly's brownie mix? Good. The Duncan Hines brownie mix? Everything. And I bought them. Of course I bought them. And I was like, there it is. Of course I bought them.

Oh.

Because they don't have, like, oil in them. You know how the box brownies have all note, she has milk and eggs and butter. Like, real ingredients. They're delicious.

I love that, dude. I used to love was whenever our mom would make something, dude. And she would let us lick those things that were in the raw egg.

She let you lick the beaters?

Lick them. Beaters, boy.

Beaters. Now they're called kitchen mixers. But my mom had, like, the Walmart brand beaters.

Yeah. Kitchen mixers is a little bisexual for me. Okay. Yeah.

My husband has the kitchenaid and he obsessed with it. He does all of the thing. He makes homemade pasta. He has all the. The every accessory you can have for a kitchenaid. He's, like, in it.

He's in there.

He's not doing, like, old school beaters. No, we don't have those.

Put them beaters on there, honey.

And I was like, your mom's like, don't eat too much of it, cuz it's raw eggs. Yeah.

And we'd be like, bro. And the crazy thing was, some of the. Whatever was in it. I mean, we eat them.

It's like that grainy stuff, Daniels.

It had a little bit. Like. It had, like. I don't know what it was. Okay. But the crazy part was, some of it, if you started licking the beater at the top, then some of the stuff would flow down in your hand. So you get all that. Then you're just licking your own hand with that. Still holding on to that beater.

And then somebody would, like, accidentally put soapy dishwater in the bowl and you're like, no.

Because, dude, if you could get even part of your head in that dang bowl, you know, I just wanted to grow. I just wanted to grow longer. I would pray to God I make my tongue longer at night.

Well, that's a whole different episode. Okay.

Yeah. Sorry, sorry.

That's where. No, that's where. The trace Atkins.

Lots of you, Rod Lee. Yeah, you're right. Things have changed. What's a place that you miss in Nashville that's not here anymore?

I kind of miss old losers. Like, old losers was like, I love losers still. But, like, midtown, it was like just one little shitty dive bar with, like, darts in the back and smoke and, like, a good, great jukebox in popcorn, you know?

Mmm.

And now it's like three stories and the rooftop and all the things, but it's so great. But I kind of Miss, like, the little, like, the divier the better, you know?

Yeah. Yeah. Now they sell the back porch over there. You can go kick it at some deck.

I have a little sign up there it says Marine Lambert way. Yeah.

Do you.

Have you been on the vip deck?

Yeah, a couple times exactly, ma'am.

I put it.

Yes, I put in out there waiting for an ambulance.

Put in a lot of late nighters to get that signo's out of a shitty plastic cup to get your sign up there. And I have one, so.

And at least it says way, it could have ended up being Miranda Limerick. Cul de sac.

Oh, no, that wouldn't be as cool.

No.

But at least halfway road I can deal with. Not cul de sac.

Yeah. Cold. I remember when somebody put a damn cul de sac. First time I ever saw one, I was like, what is this shit? What do you mean? You can't keep going. Just fucking hurt my feelings, boy. I said, we'll see about that. I'm gonna call the damn sheriff. We'll see about this.

I have one on my phone.

Um. What else was I thinking about? Oh, if you. If you had to travel back in time, right? If you had a time warper and it could have a hemi on it or whatever, I don't know how you like to travel, but if you had a time warper, what time back in your life would you go to, do you think?

Right now, I think I just stay. Right now I feel like I've done done it, but I'm still learning. Somebody asked me that the other day, like, what's your most fun era? And I was like, right now, like, still young, but, like, not dumb, you know? I mean, yeah. You know that. That whole vibe where you learn a lot. Early thirties were weird. Late thirties were fine. But, like, now I'm like, we're doing right now.

You're like, we're here.

We're here. Everybody's just like, forties is the best decade. I'm like, let's roll.

Yeah, we'll see.

Yeah, I believe it. Yeah. Here we go.

Yeah. Tell me something else that you think about. Oh, you're the one. The new song is, damn it, randy on your new album. Who's it about, man?

Well, it's about Randy. Everybody has a randy in their life, okay? Everybody has one. And it's about just a time where I was like, this is nothing good. It's not serving me anymore. This is. I gotta move on.

And it. Was it a real, like, was it serious, or was it just somebody that didn't install y'all's cable? Well, or something like it, you know?

Well, it depends on the person. Everybody's got a randy.

Damn it. Randy.

Right? And I wrote it with John Randall, who's one of my besties, and his real name is Randy, so I always say that to him anyway, so it's kind of funny. And that's the one that Brendan's a rider on.

Oh, yeah. I was flying a kite in the middle of her.

There it is, that little songwriter.

What else was I thinking about? What drives you at this point in your career? I know this is kind of a general question, but, like, you've gotten to have notoriety. You've had number ones. You've won Grammys, you've won. You're a household name. You can afford to pay your rent. It's like, what goals are there still for you? Or do things evolve from goals into, like, just wanting to still do the job? I'm just curious. And it's stuff I go through in my own life, too with comedy. You know, I'm just. I'm just curious. What do you think about that?

You know, I am lucky enough to have reached a lot of the goals that I set when I started this journey. I mean, I was 17 when I was chasing music, so I'm doing. Yeah.

And people are like, fuck you. You'll be at a dairy queen in two months.

Okay, see y'all next time.

Like, I'll be singing in the drive through, Danny.

Exactly. I don't know. I feel like now I'm just, like, open. I'm trying to be open to, you know, I don't. I'm not walking around saying, I'm gonna do this and this this. I'm just, like, absorbing what's around me and being open to new opportunities and meeting new people and, like, also saying no to the. Saying no to the right things. Like, I think that's a big part of it, because you can save your energy for the right things if you just say no to the things that are not right for you. Like, that's kind of where I'm headed and where I've been living in the past couple years, because I realized, like, if you put all your energy into the wrong people and the wrong things, then you don't have any openness or any time or energy left for the right things, and then it's too late, you know? So I think I'm just in this space right now where I'm like, what's next? What? I mean, this is new. I've just started doing podcasts. Like, I've never done that before until this year.

You've done a good job. I've watched some of them.

Well, I'm new to it, and I'm not great at talking like I'm a singer. Like, I'm in front of people. I'm actually an introverted extrovert. I'm an extroverted job with an introvert personality. And so I'm trying to. I'm branching in that way. You know, I always. I'm fine to say my truths and songs. It's just harder to do just, you know, saying it out there. But I think it's important either way. So I don't know. My goals are, like, what's next? Let's do something that scares us. Let's do something that's, you know, makes you grow and makes you learn.

Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Huh. Yeah. So it's so weird. I feel like when you're involved in some part of the arts, kind of, you know, people call them, and some people just call them music and comedy and painting or whatever, but it's weird to also kind of evolve because it's like, you age, right? We age, and, and you're like, well, if I. Some songs, I can't even really sing anymore. Some jokes, I can't even really, I could tell them still, but is it really going to be true to where I'm at? You know, I find that that's interesting about art itself, is you have to. And then you're. But then you're like, but if I change, will I still have the people who like this thing?

Yeah. It's like, how do you keep the common thread and keep reinventing? It's a tiny, little fine line you have to watch.

Yeah.

And it's scary because what we do is very public and, like, what we signed up for and what we started saying or the jokes we told at 20 or the songs we wrote at 20 are not the same. We're not in, like, the same life space, and we're not in the same lane anymore, you know? So it's like figuring out how to do that gracefully but still keep that common thread of, like, where. Where you've been and where you're going, but kind of walk this line of staying authentic.

Yeah.

To the. To the true you that started this whole journey. And comedy is the hardest thing in the world. Like, I do not, I think that would be the literal hardest part of the arts of any art. I really do.

Really?

Yeah. I just respect it because it's the most vulnerable. Like, standing up there in front of people and just telling jokes and hoping they re like, that. It lands, you know? And there's no band. There's. It's just you.

Yeah. Oh, God, I wish somebody would pull up with a drum, some.

Start playing a drum solo immediately. If you're like, no, this one didn't.

Happen, take it away, Henry.

You know, like, lean on yours up there by yourself, like, emotionally naked. Oh.

In the beginning, it's so scary. I think, God, I can't even believe sometimes you think back, and I don't mean it. Like, I'm not trying to fill my own ego, but. But when you think back, like, I don't know if I go do it now, but, yeah, you get up there that first time, and you're just like, this is gonna. This is gonna be good. You know, you don't even believe yourself. You just screaming that to yourself in a car, like, you know, in a forward tour, like, in your best.

Chris Cornell. Yeah. Beefing yourself up. I don't. I don't. The fact that you said you don't know if you do it now. Like, I think about. I knew, like, three.

Nervous.

I know. I just got anxiety. I think about, like, I knew three chords, and I was, like, walking in these bars, like, can I play at the set change? Like, I just. I gotta get some experience. And, you know, it's that thing of, like, how do I get experience if you don't let me play? And then. But then you say, I can't play because I don't have any experience. Just put me on set change then, and I'll play my three songs that I just learned yesterday. Like, not good, but just being brave anyway. I don't know. We did it.

That's a good point. Yeah, I know the ones that hurt, too. Do you ever show, you remember that really just kind of burned you when you're just like, God, this is hard.

Oh, yeah.

Like a birthday or anything. Like, you ever get played one of those arab birthdays or something?

You're like, parties. I'm so thankful for it. I love them. I would love to play your private party, but some of them can be hard.

Yeah.

You know where it's like, I did. I played a. I played a sweet 16 one time, and this thing was the most extravagant party I've ever seen in my life. It was a bunch of 16 year olds, and they only wanted me to do four songs. Michelle branch was part of it, Leanne Rhymes and me, and we each did four songs. And, like, this thing was, like, legit was in Washington, DC, and these kids were dressed to the nines. They all had on, like, everything designer and I was like, I was working at bells when I turned 16.

Oh, I don't rob those bastards. We were dressed to the threes, honey. Okay, exactly. We was dressed, the three of us combined. We was in.

I mean, that was a. That was one that sticks out my mind. I'm like, oh, lord, this is. This is Bougie.

Oh, yeah. We remember I had hand me downs from damn women. And I was like, we don't. I won't have an older sister. I was wearing shit. I was like, who? Shit. Is this just, you know, stuff that.

Whatever was around my mom. My mom was like, a big, big thrifter. So big. I'm like, I found. But this is awesome. So, like, it was in the Doc Martin, like, heyday, and we couldn't afford those. Those very.

Those were very nice.

They were very nice.

God mother Hubbard lived in one of those. I heard they were fancy.

He went to goodwill a lot. And, like, I found a pair of Doc Martens for $7. And they were like, new. And I went to school and my mom's like, just tell everybody. Got them at GW's and say, it's like a nice door in Dallas. So I forever was like, these are my Doc Martens. I got Gw's. It's a nice door in Dallas. Just flat out live. And I was like, $7. Dog martins, like, sets a score.

That's 350 a foot, honey. Let's party.

That's the rest of the threes.

That's like putting damn. Each foot into a damning sheraton. That's really nice.

Sheratons have very good beds.

You know what I do notice after touring and going to hotels and stuff, I get. One thing that bugs me now is if the mattress is too soft. And I don't mean it in a negative way, but it's like your back starts to fall apart and you start to realize how many bones you have in your body as you get older. And you're like, this is not a bad. This is holding anybody up.

You figure out, like, what? Like. But is your continental, like, breakfast, like, just fruit loops, or is it like, hot breakfast? Oh, no, those things you start to, like, really appreciate on the road. Like, do y'all have real eggs? Are they powdered eggs? Because you can't say hot breakfast if it's powdered eggs. That's. Doesn't count.

That's fair.

Doesn't count.

Yeah, that's more mres. Like, it's like mres, but with a television that's on ESPN, you know, they'll have that set up.

Yep.

Yeah. God, I think. Yes, I remember we used to go to the continental breakfast and we would pretend like the people there were waiters or whatever. We weren't even supposed to be there. We weren't staying there at the Holiday Inn. And we would go up there and eat up there. My stepdad would take us up there.

But you're not staying there.

Huh? And we go in that bitch and dine, honey.

And when they have happy hour and it's in a box, but I'll take it. It's fine. Box wine sounds great. Let's do it.

Do you have a favorite party, like, birthday party that you ever had so far? I know you just 40, you said.

I think it was this one.

Was it?

Yeah.

Y'all go back to the casino?

No, we went to Billy Bob's on a Monday. Billy Bob's like, oh, in Texas. Fort Worth. Yeah, in the stockyards. My friend Gwen, she sings with me in my band for 13 years. And she was like, where do you. Cuz I was like, I don't know what to do. There's so much pressure on that birthday.

Yeah.

You know, like the big. Those hero ones. You're like, I don't. I just would rather do nothing. Like, I shut down. And she was. We were getting our hair done, and she was like, it was typical getting your hair done in the foil. So she's like, where do you want to turn 40? And I was like. She was like, I feel like you want to turn 40 at home in Texas. Go back to the root. Full circle. And I was like, I do. I think. And so Billy Bob's gave me the bar on a Monday because they're closed. And we had barbecue and a bunch of my Texas friends, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. Adam Hood played. And it was just a big old honky tonk night. And it was like. It felt like, man, this is like, why I loved why I started this in the first place. Like, I just. I've been playing Billy Bob's for so long and going there to see shows, and so I think that was my favorite birthday so far.

That's perfect. Well, that's the most recent one. You know. What else was I thinking about? Anything in the news that we could think of? Let me pull it. We'll get you out of here soon, too. Miranda. I know you guys have a show. You have a show tonight?

No, I don't.

Tomorrow night?

Yeah. Oh, tomorrow night? Yep. For singing for the doggies.

Oh, for your pups.

Music for mutts? Yeah, it's a benefit for Mutt nation.

Music for mutts. And how. What qualifies a mud?

Actually, just us, probably. I don't know. Like, I have just rescue animals and like, they're just all just mixed little puppers. And I started a foundation in 2009 called Mutt Nation foundation with my mom. Yep, that's her. And. And we've raised over $10 million since then.

$10 million?

$10 million? Yeah. We raise awareness for adoption. First bay neuter for adopt. Don't shop. And like, right now with the hurricane Helene, we're doing a lot of work with tractor supply, rescue, relief, and with greater good to, you know, people are first, obviously, but there's tons of shelters down there that were already overcrowded and got hit. And so just. It's. There's a lot of moving parts. So really what our foundation does is kind of meet the need, whatever the need is, you know, whether it's lifting up shelters, giving them grants for renovations, natural disasters. We kind of run the gamut. But our maintain focus is to encourage people to adopt.

And once someone creates something like this. This foundation. Right?

Yeah.

So this is a nonprofit organization. How do you raise funds for it? Obviously, you can do fundraiser shows. You can put your own money into it. And then how does. I'm just curious, how does a nonprofit even. Well, I guess those are the ways you put money into it or you do fundraisers?

Yeah, we've done fundraisers thing for the pups. I mean, we haven't done a music one, but like, for my Vegas residency, we gave a dollar a ticket and I was there for two years, so. A dollar ticket, we've done that on tour where a dollar ticket goes to Mutt nation. And then this is our first benefit show in a couple years. So I got some friends coming out to sing some surprises.

Really?

Yes. It'll be fun.

Can any of the animals ever tune in? Any of them ever hit a b sharp or something? And have you ever trained any?

My mom has this terrible, shitty dog, though. His name is Rhodey. And he's just like my dad. I know my dad found him on the floor.

Was he held back in school?

Yes. And he has an underbite and he's a chiweenie. It's like the worst of all the world is that. And he's like my little shitty brother now. And that's what she calls him. Because me and my brother, my real brother, like God, sibling of hearts is terrible. And he will sit there. My dad plays guitar and write songs. And it's specifically George Jones. He saw blood in her today when dad starts singing that, that thing howls and it's like this screeching, awful noise and you have to put it away. Like, you have to put the dog in the house. And it's still. You could hear it howling. And then my. That part where they go, that thing howls and it's just like. And my parents think it's cute, which is even worse. I know it's the worst. So, yeah, they could be. Some dogs sing. Do you want them to? Absolutely nothing.

But if you could organize them.

Well, yeah.

That'S what I'm talking about.

Yeah.

Get you a little batch of hounds and those. In those church gowns or whatever.

Yeah, we could do it. I mean, anything can be done. We can ask Chad. Yeah, Chad will do it.

That's Chad. GPT. Hey, organize these mutts, guys. Was there two pieces of news? Anything else in the news? What were the top two news stories that we had in there? Oh, yeah. This is a. And we don't have to talk about this either if you don't, if it's awkward thing. Yeah. Garth Brooks got accused of harassment. Did you ever know him as a bad guy? Always heard the nicest things about him.

I don't know him. I don't. I just heard this today, so I have not been down the news, like, rabbit hole of this. So it's fresh off the press. I have nothing to say about it. But I'm. I want to read it. I mean, I'm gonna read it like everybody else. I'm gonna read it. I want to know.

Yeah, no, I've always heard the nice things about him, or I've always seemed kind of mysterious to me in a way. Like, he always has seemed like he's done his own thing, I guess. You know, he was the biggest artist when I was a kid.

He was my first concert.

Was he?

Yep. When I was ten years old. Not to a Texas stadium. And he flew in. He, like, dropped out of a helicopter, and they. When he did, standing outside the fire, and they lit the whole stage on fire, and I was like. And I, okay, this is bad. But I had braces, but only two because I had a gap, so I had to do the gap. Close the gap on the front to just those two. Yeah.

Who haven't even heard of that.

Well, this was a while ago. Should never do this to a child ever again. They have, like, invisalign. It's not. It's not fair. Kids these days, I'll have to be ugly. Like, we were ugly. Like, we had of just. I had scrunchy hair and tease Jesus and braces and all things, but I. I had the two braces when I saw that Garth Brooks show, and I had all my rockies. Do you remember those jeans that were, like, real high waisted with no back pockets?

Everybody's butt looked real long, and it had a. The label was black and white lettering.

Rockies. Yeah. And I had on those, and they were red. I had on my roper boots, and I was so excited. My flame shirt, I was like, my brush popper, like. And he came in and dropped out of that helicopter, and I was just like, God, I was, like, screaming, and I was, like, waving. But I only had the two, and I had, like, pink rubber bands on them. Yeah. So just, like, totally. And it was in that area where you would, like, curl one bang up and one down and tease it, and it would look like a big cloud.

Oh, that was never an era, but tell me more about it.

It was so bad. It was so bad. And I just was so excited, and I was like, I'm gonna be a country singer. It was epic.

Standing outside.

Oh, I was just singing all of it, and I would get so excited when I could say damned old rodeo. My mom would be like. And my mom would be like, that's cuss word. And I'd be like, well, Gar said it, so I get to say it.

Dude. The beaches of Cheyenne. So many good songs.

So many. Yep. That no fences record. I bought the tape. I'm older than you, but I had.

We used to play that tape together. Oh, we used to play. We used to. They used to have this thing called crying, loving or leaving on the radio. Do you remember?

Yes. I loved that. Did you record the countdown? Like.

Yeah, same.

And you had to push the button at the exact right time.

Yeah. And it for. But for two years, the number one song was, um, Whitney Houston. I was like, gee, can we just do something? Can't red hot chili peppers do something? Like, we just had. There was this why can't we do.

Scar tissue.

Song for so long? I was like, something's gotta happen, man. We need a war in this country. You know? I was just like, we got it. We needed something new in there. But, yeah, that was. And that's when all the music, some of the channels even, it was all of the. It was all one. That top 40 was. Anything was in there.

Yeah, everything. Because it was a Casey Kasem. Yeah, it was like, all of the songs, like, it wasn't just one genre.

Crying, loving, or leaving. Was it, though? Hey, Ernie, where are you? And he's like, yeah, I'm over here in Davenport, Iowa. First time caller. He'd be like, you crying, loving, or leaving, Ernie? And he'd be like, I'm loving.

I want to see if we could, like, find that and listen to it. Like, I wonder if it exists somewhere on YouTube or something. I would totally listen to that.

Yeah. Oh, I called in. I called in two times. Got through. I called in 60, 75.

What were you doing? Crying, loving, or leaving?

I was loving one time, and then I was leaving one time. I was gonna leave home. I was gonna go to the post office and mail myself somewhere else. That was my goal. And they're like, you can't do that.

But you're gonna mail yourself somewhere else.

Yep.

That'd be kind of cool. Here.

I rode my bike all the way over there, and it was closed. I thought it was open 24 hours a day. I'm like, what the hell? Can you guys can even. But just learned a lot that year. But, yeah, crying lover and leaving. Play one of them real quick for us if you can.

It exists. Perfect one to pick, by the way. Perfect. Perfect.

There's no way. We did not.

That is so perfect.

Brenda.

I swear to God, that was one of them.

We did not pick that on purpose. I had no idea we were.

That was actually perfect. My first wedding song. Guys, let's play. That was it.

Really? I'm sorry. You believe me, though, that we did not do that on purpose.

We just manifested all that.

Leaving all three.

We need to do a new spin off of it.

They should have it. Wonder if Kicks Brooks does something like that, because I know he has, I think, as a weekly show or something, but that was it, man. When you were a kid, waiting to hear if somebody was crying, loving, or leaving, you even know, I'm gonna listen to these.

Not that one particular where people were.

And if they did it on purpose, I don't think they would do that.

It's pretty funny.

They're too nice of guys to. To actually do that. About the new album. What else? What, like, what's new about it? What feels new to you about it? Obviously you have new tunes and. And that sort of thing, but, yeah. Like, what feels like exciting to you about it or anything different?

Well, I made it in Texas. It's the first time I've recorded in Texas since I was 18.

Okay, so we're back to your roots.

Kind of back to the roots. Yeah. I wanted to go to Austin and just, like, really. It's really honky tonk record. I mean, it sounds like my childhood. It sounds like the music I grew up on. And I think it's just because I have a new chapter, a new label, a new decade ahead of me of, like, whatever's gonna happen. And I wanted to, like, go back to the root of where the whole passion started to begin with, which was, like, playing those honky tonks in Texas. Like, I think I had that sort of awakening when I had my birthday at Billy Bob's, and I was like, I'm turning 40 at one of my favorite places on earth in my home state, at a honky tonk, listen to country music. And that's just where my heart lives at the end of the day. Is a honky tonk listening to country music.

Yeah.

So it felt right to, like, make my own music that way this time, you know?

Yeah. It's hard for your heart to kind of get back home when your life gets busy like that. In a way, you know, it is.

And I have a house in Austin. I spend a lot of time in Austin.

I love Austin.

Me too. My little brother lives there, and. And I just. I don't know. I spit. I always say I'm a teen tnt state girl because my heart's half in Tennessee, half in Texas, and. But both places that I live are revolve around music, and I love that.

Yeah. It's like sometimes your life gets so busy, and then you're like. You're like, it stops at a certain point. There's a special day or a moment, you're like, okay, I can get a look at where I'm at.

Yeah, it's good to, like, have enough time to stop and look at where you're at, because I didn't for so long. I mean, when you're young and you start young following your dream, and then you just sort of are a horse with blinders, and you stop and you go, okay, I'm now what? I made it. Now what, you know? And it's. It's like, it's kind of a weird spot to be, but then once you embrace it, which is where I feel like I am right now, just embracing, like, look what I've done so far. But, like, what else can we do, you know?

Yeah.

Still feel really inspired and excited. I mean, I'm definitely don't have the same energy for, like, long, you know, 150 dates a year on the road or anything, but I'm still so inspired to, like, write songs and, you know, I love the music. I can't. It's my life. I dedicated my whole life to it.

It is funny. You kind of. Yeah, you do. When you get busy and your career gets busy, you. A lot of you gets dedicated to what it is. It's like, I spend most of my time, like, I have some close friends. I don't get to talk to that much. And I know it's sad to say people like, will you work instead of talk to them? But it's almost like you build up your dream and. But then your dream takes a lot of responsibility.

Yeah. You know, nobody tells you what to do when you have done it. Like, there's not, like a manual you can, like, there's not, like, a podcast you can, like, go back and look at and be like, so now what happens at this point in my career, at this age, with this. These accolades, like, what happens now? You just figure it out as you go. And, you know, I'm, like, working with younger artists now and, like, new artists have a label called Big Loud, Texas. Oh, yeah, ship with big loud.

And, oh, you're part. That's your. So you guys have a branch there now?

Yep.

Oh, that's awesome.

And it's, you know, keeping that Wilson.

Junior on big loud, too.

So he's playing in Nashville.

Patches on.

Yeah, torn cigarette.

Oh, when he said, is this song called torn cigarette, it's called patches, but. Oh, that lyric that he said, I'm a torn cigarette.

My patches got patches so good. But he is playing in Nashville, everybody. December 4, tether. So good.

My father said drain my blood, dude.

God, it's like the one. It's one of the greatest records come out in a decade.

That's our audio slave, man.

It really is. All of it. It's hillbilly and it's rage and it's sad and it's funny.

And even as a Native American, some of the beats, some of the drums that he uses have a very, like, native sound to me.

It's great.

It blows me. I'm like. And I keep finding new songs on it that I like. That's. That's what's always amazing.

Keep going back and hearing them.

Yeah, you're like, oh, now this one I like.

Now this hit me weird.

Yeah, yeah, let's get fucking weird, buddy.

Anyway, also, like, the doers is like, little vest. He's just, like, wears his little vest and all his videos just in there freaking slaying the guitar. He's just like a little puffy vest.

Yeah.

Just cozy. I love it. There he is. Puffy vest. I love it.

He looks like a lifeguard at Woodstock, kind of, in a way, you know what I'm saying? He has a very safe but risque vibe, dude.

He's so sweet, by the way.

Like, the sweetest you can tell. Like, I've just listened to some interviews and stuff with him and just listen to his music. I got to see him play one night at UMDh whiskey jam. Yeah, at whiskey jam. And that was so cool. But, yeah, it's amazing him, right? Clay strays. I've been listening to so much good music out there.

So much.

Yep.

So many great Lainey Wilson. I know you love her so much.

God, if they. Lainey Wilson's good gal pal, you'd be.

In there in the doughnut box with eleven ladies.

Yeah. Yeah. And you'd be the cop.

I would.

Well, no.

Well, look, like, what are y'all doing?

What are you doing in there, huh?

With a New York accent? I gotta work on that.

Hey, what are you doing today? Anyway? Miranda Lever, thank you so much for all the beautiful music. Thank you for spending time with us today and just sharing a little bit of your life and. Yeah, and thanks for just, like, the inspiration and just be in a space of, like, hey, this is where you are, and now let's see where we are and let's make the best stuff yet to come. And, yeah, I just really enjoyed my time.

Well, thank you. We got deep and I. It was good. I liked it. Yeah, we talked about some good songs, too.

It's nice. Yep, we sure did. Um, your new album is out.

It is. It is called postcards from Texas.

Postcards from Texas. And, um. And, yeah, we'll be listening to it. And.

And, uh, you got to check out Aaron right here.

Okay.

You're gonna like them.

Okay.

Quirky one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

All right, I'm in. Uh, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Yep.

Now just on the breeze and I feel I'm falling like these leaves I must be cornerstone oh, but when I reach that ground I'll share this piece of mine I found I can feel it in my bones but it's gonna take.