Miranda Lambert (born November 10, 1983 in Longview, Texas) is a two time Grammy Award nominated American country singer-songwriter who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place. Signed to Epic Records in 2004, Lambert made her debut with the release of "Me and Charlie Talking", the first single from her 2005 debut album Kerosene; this album, which was certified platinum in the United States, also produced the singles "Bring Me Down", "Kerosene", and "New Strings". All four singles were Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Lambert was transferred to Columbia Records Nashville for her second album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which was released in early 2007. Although its first single (the title track) failed to make top 40, the follow-up — "Famous in a Small Town" — became her highest-charting single to date, reaching a peak of #14. The album's third single, "Gunpowder & Lead", is (as of April 2008 ) a Top 20 hit as well.

Biography

Lambert grew up in Lindale, Texas. Her father Rick is a retired cop who in later life became a private investigator in partnership with her mother Beverly. Miranda was taught to shoot by her father at an early age and later became an avid deer hunter. Her parents took her to a Garth Brooks concert when she was nine and this started her interest in country music. Her father wrote and performed country music and she soon began singing in talent contests under his tutelage. Miranda has a younger brother named Luke.

At age sixteen, Lambert began appearing on the Johnny High Country Music Review in Arlington, Texas, the same show that helped launch the career of LeAnn Rimes. Lambert quickly landed a recording session in Nashville, but left the studio after she became frustrated with the "pop" sound of music.[citation needed] Upon returning to Texas, Lambert began writing songs and taking guitar lessons.

While still in high school, Lambert made her professional singing debut. She fronted the house band at the Reo Palm Isle Ballroom in Longview, Texas, a long-running venue that has showcased Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. At the 2008 ACM awards she hinted at her political views when she said, "thank you for accepting me, eventhough I am a little left-of-center."