Miranda Lambert's On Fire tour stops at the KFC Yum! Center this Saturday. Here the 2011 Female Vocalist of the Year and Grammy winner chats with us about recording with husband Blake Shelton, watching The Hunger Games and supporting the Kentucky and Southern Indiana Disaster Relief Fund.
This week you announced you were donating 100 percent of all proceeds of the remaining tickets to the American Red Cross’s Kentucky and Southern Indiana Disaster Relief Fund: How did that decision come about?
I had just recently played in Lexington, KY, which I loved because the fans are unbelievably wonderful and sing along to every song and have a great time. Then I heard that the tornados caused this massive destruction, and due to my already packed schedule, I could not participate in a fundraiser that my friends are putting together, so this was a way for me to participate.
How much of your records are autobiographical?
Some of the songs on my albums are inspired by my life. "Heart Like Mine" is probably the most autobiographical song on Revolution. "Over You," my current single, is about Blake [Shelton's, her husband] life and his brother. A lot of my music is inspired by people I know, the way I grew up, and then again some songs are written by other artists inspired by "All Kinds of Kinds."
What do you do during down time at home?
Sometimes I wish there was more of that downtime, but honestly I love music and performing, and when I have a break, I am usually ready after a few weeks to get back on tour. I love playing with my dogs and hanging out on the farm when I am home.
What's other musicians are you listening to right now?
I am all over the place, but my friend Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" is a great song, and Dia Frampton from last season’s The Voice put out an amazing debut album with Red. I love Brandi Carlile as an artist overall, and I am listening to Gillian Welch’s The Harrow and the Harvest a lot. I’ve been a big fan of Gillian’s for a long time, and that’s what inspired me to put her “Look at Miss Ohio” on my newest album, Four the Record. And of course I always listen to Merle Haggard; that’s a staple I couldn't do without.
How was it recording with husband (Blake Shelton) on Four the Record?
It was fun to record a song together; we felt that "Better in the Long Run" was a great duet, and we have been looking for one to sing together that we both liked.
What are you working on now?
I am currently on my "On Fire" tour and getting ready for the ACM's [Academy of Country Music Awards] in a few weeks. This past Monday I got to go to The Hunger Games premiere (loved the books) in LA with my trio, Pistol Annies. We wrote and recorded a song for the soundtrack, produced by T-Bone Burnett, that is coming out in a few weeks I believe.
When can we expect your next album?
The last one just came out in November, so honestly I have no idea.
Tickets are still available and start at $48. Call 502-690-9090 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Photo: Courtesy MirandaLambert.com/Carl Dunn
