NASHVILLE, TN. (Epic Records) - Epic recording artist,
Miranda Lambert is the Top Selling Debut Country Artist to date in 2005 according to Nielsen SoundScan figures. Her debut CD Kerosene entered the Billboard Country Albums Chart at No 1 on March 23 earning her an elite spot in music history as only the sixth country artist ever to have their first album debut at No 1. Kerosene has gone on to sell more records in 2005 than any other country newcomer.
“This certainly has been a crazy year for me,” states Miranda. “I went from being big news in my tiny hometown of Lindale, Texas to having artists like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw introduce themselves to me at award shows. I’ve met my idol Merle Haggard and he said he liked my album. I’ve gotten to share the stage with many of the artists I’ve been fans of and I’m going to tour with Keith Urban. It’s been a lot of work and I haven’t been able to spend much time at home but I’m loving every second of it.”
MIRANDA LAMBERT’S 2005 HIGHLIGHTS
Performed on The Today Show
Album debuted at No 1
Cover story in USA Today
Performed on the CMT Awards Pre-Show Concert
Featured in People Magazine
Guest at the prestigious White House Correspondent’s Dinner
Performed on The Tonight Show
Voted ACM Awards’ “Fresh Face Cover Girl” and performed on the CBS Telecast
Performed on CMT Top 100 Duets with Blake Shelton (Airs Sept. 17)
Second full-page feature in USA Today
Selected for Rolling Stone’s 2006 “Year in Rock” Calendar
Performed on Austin City Limits (Airs Jan. 2006)
Performed on ABC’s CMA Music Festival Special (Aired August 2)
September 6 Co-hosts CMT Top 20 Countdown with Blake Shelton
September 9 joins Keith Urban on his “Alive in ’05” Tour
December Cover of Texas Music Magazine
Miranda admits the career milestones of the past year have been thrilling, but three in particular have deeply affected her personally - meeting her idol Merle Haggard, performing on “Austin City Limits” and headlining the famed Texas hotspot Gruene Hall.
“Meeting Merle was the highlight of my life. Getting married and giving birth will both take a backseat to this event. This is always going to be the number one thing that has happened to me in my whole life,” gushes Miranda. “People always ask me when I started to be influenced by Merle and you know he was just always there. Growing up you always have an aunt or uncle that you’ve never met but that you hear about and in turn influences your life. To me Merle was that uncle.”
Miranda opened for Merle Haggard on July 30 in Sweet Home, Oregon and was given the surprise of her life when Merle introduced himself to her. She was further flattered when she found out that he had listened to her entire album and complimented her abilities as an artist/songwriter saying, “The entire album was good because Miranda gets the little things.” which Miranda took as the highest compliment because “getting the little things” is what she admires most about Merle.
Miranda’s second dream will come true September 2 when she headlines her first show at the historic Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas. “Growing up in Texas you spend a lot of Friday and Saturday nights dancing and listening to music at Gruene Hall,” explains Lambert. “I think everyone wanting to be a singer from Texas dreams of someday actually getting to play on that stage.”
