Miranda Lambert
Singer Miranda Lambert performs onstage during the first ever Academy of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause, at the MGM Grand Conference Center on May 14, 2007 in Las Vegas.
Whether country girl or cover girl, Lambert - named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for the last five years - is comfortable in her own skin, doing what she wants, how she wants.
"We're not doing surgery here," she told CBS News' Lee Cowan. "We're not saving lives, per se. We're making music to make people feel good. And if we're not having fun, how is anybody else gonna have fun listening to it or watching it?"
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Home in Oklahoma
Lambert made her name with rip-roaring anthems about heartache and revenge, with titles like "Kerosene." Her fiery style was something country music hadn't seen in a while.
"Does that make it hard in some ways because country music didn't know where to put you?" Lee Cowan asked.
"Yeah, it took a little bit," Lambert said. "I don't think people really understood what it was about. And country radio, too, at first. I think they were afraid people wouldn't respond, you know?"
"Were you ever afraid that people wouldn't respond?"
"No. I was overly confident!"
Discography
After self-releasing the eponymous "Miranda Lambert" in 2001, the singer released four studio albums, beginning with "Kerosene" for Epic Nashville in 2005. Each of her major label albums has topped 1 million in sales.
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (2008) won Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. "Revolution" (2009) won Album of the Year from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
Lambert's latest album is "Platinum" (RCA Nashville), and includes a duet with Carrie Underwood ("Somethin' Bad") and collaborations with Little Big Town ("Smokin' and Drinkin'") and The Time Jumpers ("All That's Left").
Washington, D.C.
Left: Singer Miranda Lambert attends the Bloomberg News Party of the Year, following The White House Correspondents' Dinner April 30, 2005 in Washington, D.C.
After finishing third in the TV talent competition "Nashville Star," Lambert released "Kerosene," which debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Country Album chart.
2007 Stagecoach Festival
Musician Miranda Lambert performs on the Mane Stage during the Stagecoach Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 5, 2007 in Indio, Calif.
Las Vegas
Singer Miranda Lambert performs onstage during the Academy of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause, benefiting the ACM Charitable Fund held at the MGM Grand Ballroom, MGM Grand Conference Center on May 14, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
New York City
Singers Jack Ingram and Miranda Lambert attend Ingram's performance at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in SoHo on January 31, 2007 in New York City.
2007 ACM Awards
Music artist Miranda Lambert performs with guitarist Scotty Wray (left) and bassist Aden Bubeck during the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 15, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lambert won the AMC Award for Top New Female Vocalist.
2007 ACM Awards
Singers Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert pose backstage at the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Married in 2011, Lambert and Shelton are country music's power couple - stars in their own right, but collaborators, too. They co-wrote Lambert's 2012 hit single, "Over You."
2008 ACM Awards
Musician Miranda Lambert performs during rehearsals for the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2008 ACM Awards
Miranda Lambert performs during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam held at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino on May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2008 ACM Awards
Musician Miranda Lambert accepts her award for Album of the Year for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2009 Stagecoach Festival
Miranda Lambert performs onstage during Day 2 of California's Stagecoach Festival held at the Empire Polo Club on April 26, 2009 in Indio, California.
Nashville
Singer-songwriters Miranda Lambert and Merle Haggard are seen backstage at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on September 22, 2009 in Nashville, Tenn.
Nashville
Singer-songwriters Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are seen backstage at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on September 22, 2009 in Nashville, Tenn.
2010 ACM Awards
Singer Miranda Lambert performs onstage during the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsals held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 16, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2010 ACM Awards
Singer Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards concerts at the Fremont Street Experience during the on April 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lambert won three ACM Awards - for Top Female Vocalist, Album of the Year ("Revolution"), and Video of the Year ("White Liar").
Nashville
Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 2010 We're All For The Hall benefit concert at the Bridgestone Arena on October 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville
Recording artists Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and Jerrod Niemann perform at Dierks Bentley's 5th Annual Miles & Music For Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert at Riverfront Park on October 17, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2010 BMI Country Music Awards
Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert attend the 58th Annual BMI Country Music Awards at BMI on November 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2011 Grammy Awards
Musicians Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert arrive at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles.
2011 Grammy Awards
Musician Miranda Lambert, winner of the Best Female Country Vocal Performance award for ""The House That Built Me," poses in the press room at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, Calif.
2012 ACM Awards
Miranda Lambert and Steve Martin pose backstage at the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lambert won two awards, for Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year ("Four the Record").
2012 Stagecoach Festival
Musicians Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert perform onstage during the Stagecoach Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on April 28, 2012 in Indio, Calif.
2012 CMT Music Awards
Musician Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 2012 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 6, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2012 CMA Music Festival
Miranda Lambert performs on Day 1 of the 2012 CMA Music Festival, at LP Field on June 7, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Law & Order: SVU"
Lambert debut as an actress was in a 2012 episode of the series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," playing an actress who accuses a TV producer of sexual assault.
Grand Ole Opry
Loretta Lynn and Miranda Lambert attend the press conference for the celebration of Loretta Lynn's 50th Opry Anniversary at The Grand Ole Opry on September 25, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2013 Grammy Awards
Singers Miranda Lambert and Beyonce attend the 55th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
2013 Grammy Awards
Singers Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley perform onstage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Pistol Annies
Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Anagleena Presley - the Pistol Annies- are seen on the set of the video shoot for "Hush Hush," filmed at the historic Johnson’s Chapel in Nashville, April 22, 2013.
2013 CMA Music Festival
Miranda Lambert performs during the 2013 CMA Music Festival on June 6, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville
Co-writers Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Miranda Lambert and Brandy Clark celebrate their No.1 Song "Mama's Broken Heart," at Cabana on September 11, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Park City, Utah
Recording artist Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the Waterkeeper Alliance Benefit during Day 2 of the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest held at Montage Deer Valley on December 7, 2013 in Park City, Utah.
MusiCares
Singer Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 2014 MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala Honoring Carole King at Los Angeles Convention Center on January 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
2014 ACM Awards
Miranda Lambert attends the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lambert won two awards, for Female Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year ("Mama's Broken Heart").
2014 ACM Awards
Miranda Lambert performs onstage during the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Country Thunder USA
Singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert headlines Country Thunder USA in Florence, Ariz., April 12, 2014.
2014 Billboard Music Awards
Musician Miranda Lambert attends the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2014 Grammy Awards
Musicians Miranda Lambert and Billie Joe Armstrong perform onstage during the 56th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
2014 Kentucky Derby
Miranda Lambert attends the 140th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky.
2014 Billboard Music Awards
Recording artists Miranda Lambert (left) and Carrie Underwood perform onstage during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more info:
"Platinum" by Miranda Lambert (Sony): Available via Amazon and iTunes
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