Taking the Dolly Parton approach.
Miranda Lambert is gearing up to release her new album Postcards from Texas, and she recently appeared on Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast to talk about the new music, as well as her childhood in Texas, marriage to Brendan McLoughlin and so much more.
And she also opened up a little about her decision not to have kids, at least for right now, saying she wants to pour that energy into the next generation of artists.
Miranda does have a stepchild, Brendan’s son from a previous relationship, but she never had one of her own and she explained to Bunnie that being a mentor to younger artists is how she can continue to pass her wisdom down:
“Since I don’t have children of my own, I want to use that part of what I’ve learned for younger generations. Especially of artists because nobody tells you how this goes.
Nobody sits there and gives you a handbook of, like, ‘Well, when you make it to this level, this is what’s gonna happen. And then you’re gonna have your first breakdown on week four of this tour.’ They’re real, and no one tells you what to do if you’ve made it.”
I think that line of thinking has a lot to do with her relationship with Lainey Wilson, and Lainey has said before that Miranda wants to “pass the torch” to her and has been a huge resource as she’s stepped into the spotlight over the last couple years.
Miranda also talked about her next big business venture with Jon Randall and Big Loud Texas, and how she feels she can give a different perspective and approach to mentoring younger musicians because of all of her experiences both personally and professionally over the years:
“I’m really excited about it for so many reasons, but mostly because I’ve been through so much in this industry and personally in my life.
And I feel like I can be there for the 2AM call, or I can be there for the ‘Hey, I met with this new manager, what do you think?’ I want to just be an artist for the artists.”
She explained that working with younger artists gives her a new fire and energy that she had when she was first getting started too, telling Bunnie that it’s so important to just slow down and enjoy the ride, which she knows firsthand how hard that can be when you’re chasing down a dream.
It’s true that there aren’t many artists in Miranda’s position, especially females who are willing to pour out their wisdom the way she does, and I think it’s incredible that she’s so willing and able to step into that and be a role model she really never had.
Miranda also told Bunnie about growing up with parents who were private investigators, which was fascinating…
Now signed to Republic, Miranda went back to her Texas roots and co-produced the record alongside Jon Randall, and recorded all of the songs for the new record at Austin’s legendary Arlyn Recording Studios. She’s described it as “honky tonk as hell,” and I really believe it’s shaping up to be one of her best albums yet.
She has released four songs so far, including “Dammit Randy,” “Wranglers,” “No Man’s Land” and my personal favorite, “Alimony”:
Postcards from Texas is due out everywhere next Friday, September 13th.
Postcards from Texas Tracklist:
“Armadillo” (Aaron Raitiere, Jon Decious, Parker Twomey)
“Dammit Randy” (Miranda Lambert, Brendan McLoughlin, Jon Randall)
“Looking Back on Luckenbach” (Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby)
“Santa Fe” feat. Parker McCollum (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure, Jessie Jo Dillon, Dean Dillon)
“January Heart” (Brent Cobb, Neil Medley)
“Wranglers” (Audra Mae, Evan McKeever, Ryan Carpenter)
“Run” (Miranda Lambert)
“Alimony” (Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally)
“I Hate Love Songs” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
“No Man’s Land” (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick)
“Bitch On The Sauce (Just Drunk)” (Miranda Lambert, Jaren Johnston)
“Way Too Good At Breaking My Heart” (Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Jesse Frasure, Jenee Fleenor)
“Wildfire” (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
“Living On The Run” (David Allen Coe, Jimmy L. Howard)