MIRANDA LAMBERT COUNTRY GAL

By JOHN BENSON

entertainment@vindy.com

In the press material for Miranda Lambert’s latest CD “Revolution,” the fiery country singer believes she’s slightly more stable than she was when she wrote her raucous hits “Kerosene” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” In some ways, that’s like saying a stick of dynamite is slightly less dangerous because the wick is longer. Sure the 26-year-old shows off her romantic side with the tender new track “Love Song,” but there’s also the love-gone-bad romp “Sin for Sin,” which may or may not end in a murder.

Nevertheless, this Texas native, who emerged onto the country music scene in 2003 after appearing on reality show “Nashville Star,” has proven staying power with two hit albums – 2005 platinum debut “Kerosene” and 2007 gold album “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

Her hits include “Me and Charlie Talkin’,” “Kerosene,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Famous In a Small Town,” “Gunpowder & Lead” and her latest single “The House That Built Me.”

After touring with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Toby Keith and Brad Paisley over the past few years, Lambert has booked the “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour,” her first as a headliner. The bill, which includes opener Randy Houser, rolls into the Rubber City for a Friday show at the Akron Civic Theatre. The Vindicator talked to Lambert via e-mail about her current tour, her latest CD and her image.

Q. Considering “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour” is your first headlining effort, what tours have you seen in the past or been a part of that you used as a guide for this tour?

A. I’m so excited, and it feels right to go out and take my touring to the next level; it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ve been on tour with some great male headliners. It truly was an honor to be asked to play on Kenny’s tour. I’ve always admired who he is as an artist and performer, and being out on the road with him, I got to see his live show every night. It was a great learning experience. Keith Urban was another amazing run, I loved watching him perform and give the audience what they wanted to hear. Toby Keith’s tour was a summer of fun as well. His show is rockin’ country. Brad Paisley was my most recent stint. I learned so much from watching all of them.

Q. As far as your latest album, what was the idea about calling it “Revolution?”

A. I wanted this record to reflect both sides of my personality, and I think I accomplished that. I have the regular small-town girl that likes to make cupcakes and live on a farm, and then I have this rowdy, crazy, head-banging, rock-star-girl side, that is my life on the road. This album is much more revealing into my personal life. As a songwriter, you can sometimes hide behind the lyrics and not let the listener know the real person behind them. In “Revolution,” I feel like I didn’t hold anything back from my fans.

Q. It’s sort of funny in looking over a lot of your hit singles (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Gunpowder & Lead,” “Dead Flowers” and “White Liar”). The songs all have rough/tough titles. Is this by accident?

A. Well, being a born-and-bred Texan, I guess I’ve just got that fiery personality as part of my heritage. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and not take any crap, so I suppose that self-assertiveness holds true in my songs and in my life.

Q. Finally, in your mind, what’s Miranda Lambert’s image?

A. An all-American regular girl just happy to be alive who gets to do what she loves. Music is my first love, and I am a singer-songwriter. I have a farm in Oklahoma and get to spend my free time with my dogs and other animals. At home, I am just Miranda who is picking up some food for her horses at the local feed store. The other side of me is the girl you see on stage who wants to sing and entertain her fans, so they can forget about their problems and just have a good time by coming to my show. I am just like anyone else, a daughter that loves her parents, a sister who adores her brother, a young woman who hopes that she gets to do what she loves for a long time to come.