Photographs by Santiago & Mauricio

Miranda Lambert is known for being somewhat of a tough girl who’s not afraid to speak her mind, and who certainly won’t put up with anyone’s….crap. W magazine recently sat down with the current “it” girl of country music to talk about her life, marraige, and music.

Photographs by Santiago & Mauricio

“It’s tough for a girl to be a headliner in country music,” she says, after a pause. “For instance, I can’t get a sponsor.” She points to her beer T-shirt. “I love alcohol! You would think a beer company would sponsor me.” Lambert gets up to leave. She does her own hair and makeup for every show. “I’m my own damn sponsor,” Lambert says, rather proudly. “And I put on my own eyeliner. A woman’s work is never done.”

Photographs by Santiago & Mauricio

She gives credit to a very unlikely suspect for creating a better environment in country music…Another blond, but not-so-tough Taylor Swift.

“Taylor Swift is a pop singer,” Lambert tells me. “But she really helped country music. When she hit, I was thinking, Thank God Taylor’s out there to show people we’re not cheesy. Some people still think that country music is twangy and cheesy, and they pigeonhole us. But I thought if they’re looking for Taylor’s videos or songs, they might see or hear other people they like. If her fans are watching for her, they might like me too.”

Well, it appears Miranda isn’t going anywhere any time soon…and she’s blazing her own trail doing it.

You can read the rest of the article here...But let’s be honest, it’s not all about the words; after all, we’ve heard many of them before. But the pictures of Miranda are killer.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

More artists have been added to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2012 CMA Music Festival, featuring two acoustic performance sets each night.

During Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, June 7, David Nail will perform the title track of his album The Sound of a Million Dreams with the previously-announced Nashville School of the Arts Chamber Choir (under the direction of Walter Bitner). The Nashville School of the Arts has been a recipient of funds from CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program, which benefits music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Having a father who is a highly regarded high school band director, taught Nail to be a life-long supporter of music education.

The current lineups for the Nightly Concerts are as follows in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 7:
Full band performances: Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley,and Zac Brown Band
Acoustic performances :Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler
Special performance: David Nail with the Nashville School of the Arts Chamber Choir (under the direction of Walter Bitner)
National Anthem performer: Nashville School of the Arts Chamber Choir (under the direction of Walter Bitner)
Host: Storme Warren (GAC’s “Headline Country”)

Friday, June 8:
Full band performances: The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood
Acoustic performances: Randy Houser and Gwen Sebastian
National Anthem performer: Oak Ridge Boys
Host: To be announced soon

Saturday, June 9:
Full band performances: Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, and Kenny Rogers
Acoustic performances: Love and Theft and Kip Moore
National Anthem performer: Julie Roberts
Host: Melissa Peterman (CMT’s “The Singing Bee”)

Sunday, June 10:
Full band performances: Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, The Mavericks, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, and Rascal Flatts
Acoustic performances: Bill Anderson and Steel Magnolia
National Anthem performer: Sarah Darling
Host: Evan Farmer (CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown”)

Tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts are $40 (plus applicable handling fees) for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field. Fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1 (800) 745-3000. They can also purchase them through CMAfest.com or 1 (800) CMA-FEST (262-3378).

Four-day ticket packages are also available, from only $125 per person plus handling fees. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to varying levels of seating at LP Field and include admittance to all four Nightly Concerts as well as all daytime Festival activities, including the Fan Fair Fall where artist autograph signing sessions are held. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE. For information on ADA seating, please call 1-800-CMA-FEST.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

10. If there is one tour to be an opening act, it is for Brad Paisley. @KramerGirl found that out this weekend “@bradpaisley took us to go see the Avengers after the show tonight!! Thanks Brad!!”

9. Having seen @FrankieBallard’s live show, I don’t think he needs a gym membership – every night is a workout “Gotta new gym membership today…left with useless arms and a gladiator like appetite…let’s get ripped”

8. The tales of a teenager from @Lauren_Alaina “I don’t have Ex’s I have Y’s. Like Y the heck did I date you?!?! #truth”

7. Cupid aka @BrettEldredge set up a blind date last week. Here is his update on the couple “Just met the people I matchmakered & they have more chemistry then my high school Chem teacher! That guy really knew his protons & neutrons”

6. One year ago it all started for @ScottyMcCreery – tours, platinum albums, shows, etc. “Crazy to think that 1 year ago today was one of the best days of my life.”

Dierks Bentley on WhoSay
5. @DierksBentley has always supported the armed services. He did just that this week. “best way to get pumped up before a show??? hang out with some navy seals!!”

4. Having been performing for over a decade, @BradPaisley doesn’t have any ‘cobwebs’ in his show “As a crowd St. Louis, you were spot on. So great. We the band, on the other hand, we need to get the cobwebs out. Hope you loved it though!”

3. It is now time for an insight to pregnancy from @MartinaMcBride “This pressure to “take off the babyweight”so soon after birth is crazy.I say,all u should worry about is nurturing yourself and your baby.”

2. @BlakeShelton rarely opens up to the fans, but seeing this reminds us all what’s important “Strange how when you come to a sudden stop that long line of things you’ve been trying to out run slams right back into you.. I miss my dad.”

1. Starting as a prom contest, @LadyAntebellum had no idea that they would be changing a community forever. “What a great night with an incredible community. Over $285,000 raised. Thank you for #RebuildingHenryville with us!!”

Don’t forget to follow Country Music Tattle Tale (@CMTT) on Twitter

If you have any Tweet of the Week suggestions let me know!
Scotty B. – cmttreviewer@yahoo.com
Twitter @stupidkid2150

Miranda Lambert brought her On Fire tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last night. The tour lived-up to it’s name, leaving the audience a-blaze and no way to put it out. The tour standards Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young, and Miranda impressed, but true to Nashville special guest Blake Shelton and Miranda’s girl trio The Pistol Annies added fuel to the flame.

Unlike most opening acts, Jerrod Niemann needs no training in crowd interaction. He worked the stage and left his mark on the hands of nearby fans as he performed his hits “What Do You Want,” “Lover, Lover,” “One More Drinkin Song,” and his current single “Shinin On Me.”

Chris Young looked truly glad to be home, or as close to home as he can get.   the crowd erupted in applause and screams, Chris beamed. He worked the crowd with his puppy dog eyes, and impressive list of songs that included “Gettin You Home,” “You,” “Voices,” “Tomorrow,” as well as some new songs.

It’s obvious that Miranda Lambert has spent the last ten years perfecting her tour. She knows exactly who she is, what the crowd expects, and what she has to do to get the job done. Entertaining a massive crowd appears to be effortless for her. It doesn’t hurt that her career has supplied her with plenty of sing-a-long hits. Her nearly two-hour set included hits such as “White Liar,” “Kerosene,” “Gun Powder and Lead,” “The House that Built Me,” “Dead Flowers,” “Only Prettier,” “Baggage Claim,” “Famous in a Small Town,” and “Over You.”

Just over halfway through her set, she invited her gal pals, The Pistol Annies to come out and sing a couple of their fan favorite tunes “Hell on Heels” and “Takin Pills.”

Later on, Miranda also invited her hubby, Blake Shelton, out to perform “Honey Bee.” The couple performed the last half of the song together.

The night ended with a sing-a-long of sorts with the entire group performing Roger Miller’s “King of the Road.”

True to form, we took entirely too many pictures and you can see them all here.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

Edens Edge on WhoSay
15. Watch out for a takeover from @EdensEdge this summer.  They are Too Good To Be True! “We’re having a blast at our video shoot today for Too Good To Be True!!!! Can’t wait for you to see it! DB”

14. In lieu of a little reality show drama, newcomer @ChaseRiceMusic made this statement that I find quite fitting “All this hatin goin on between country artists right now. Y’all…chilllll, smile, and have a drink.”

13. Hey @BrettEldredge I think my mom could give your mom some competition “Todays the day where everyone tells you why their mom is better than your mom…well my mom is better than your mom! The best!”

12. @LBTmusic spent a little time on a boat last week.  I think Karen forgot her water shoes though “Now here is Karen’s shoes #pontoon”

11. Couldn’t have said this better myself @LauraBellBundy “Bob Marley said ‘complaining is prayers to the devil.’ Today I’m taking account of all the things I HAVE…not the things that I don’t have.”

10. Sometimes we all need to take a step back and appreciate what we have as @JRodFromOz pointed out this week “News just said several soldiers returned home to TN today from overseas. Welcome home & thank for your unbelievable service!!! #hugefan”

9. Following the theme from the last two tweets, here is a little motivation from @BillyCurrington “life is like a tree. love are the leaves. sometimes u cant c the beauty til theyve fallen. look a little deeper into the forest today ! amen”

8. This week Blake Shelton was victorious on The Voice.  @Miranda_Lambert showed her joy in this tweet “Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Team Blake did it!!!!!”

7. Maybe a few CDs from now @KipMooreMusic will be able to fly private “3 types of babies on planes: A. Cute and calm B. investigative C. Pissed ….just said goodbye to C”

6. The Blue Angels had @KelliePickler flying in style this week. Maybe Kip Moore should get their number “Early flight…can’t wait to get home. After flying with the Blue Angels, flying commercial is definitely a downgrade…ha ha.”

5. I think the techie in @KristianBush is taking over – foreign invasion? “So I must have reset my login while in Paris and @iTunesMusic thinks I live there. The romantic in me won’t change it.”

4. @MartinaMcBride could write the story of my life based on this tweet “Couldn’t sleep last night. Too much music in my head…”

3. After a little time in cuffs, @JakeOwen had one of the best days of his life – his wedding “A best friend for life. I now have a wifey my face hurts from smiling. What a wonderful way to start the rest of my life.”

2. @BlakeShelton has a found the only weight loss plan that is guaranteed to get you to the end – don’t try “In order to keep the focus on my music and NOT my image I’ve decided against losing weight…”

1. It looks like @CarrieUnderwood buying her own CD on it’s release day was lucky.  She ended up at Number One on the Billboard Charts. “Just bought “Blown Away!” Glad they finally have a section for us country folk! Ha ha!”

Don’t forget to follow Country Music Tattle Tale (@CMTT) on Twitter

If you have any Tweet of the Week suggestions let me know!

Scotty B. – cmttreviewer@yahoo.com
Twitter @stupidkid2150

Lionel Richie’s Platinum album “Tuskegee” is on sale for only $5 on Amazon.com! If you don’t already have this album GO GET IT NOW! It is AMAZING!

The country duets album, which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for two consecutive weeks, sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the fourth week since its March 26 release.

The album features duets of 13 of his timeless hits with Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Shania Twain.

The $5 price is only good for a limited time so HURRY!

CMTT wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email Jessica at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com. Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

Our buddy Broadway caught up with Miranda Lambert after she won big at the Kentucky Derby. They spoke about her lucky small fortune, duets with her hubby Blake and American Idol Skylar Laine, and of course, Eric Church. Just in case you’ve been under a rock somewhere, Eric opened his mouth and inserted his foot in a recent Rollingstone interview where he pretty much called out artists who use reality tv to make a name for themselves. Well, lets put it this way, Miranda may have made up with Ashton Kutcher, but it’s gonna take some time for her and Eric Church to mend fences.

“It’s sad that, you know, he probably got roped into a really bad interview. I think it’s sad that they portrayed him that way, and that he actually portrayed himself that way. You know, cut down his friends. He probably didn’t realize he was cutting down his friends when he did it. Either way, he just said something stupid, and it’s gonna take him a long time to make it up to people that he offended. “

But, Miranda isn’t planning on holding a grudge or giving Eric the cold shoulder the next time they find themselves together either.

“I’ll be fine, I’m sure that he would be groveling, cuz he should.”

You can listen to the entire interview here.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!