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For two and a half minutes, Miranda Lambert owned the 2005Country Music Association Awardsstage.
She latertoldVanity Fairof the performance, I knew I needed to nail it.
She has been nailing it ever since, for the next 15 years of her career.
She is nominated for the first time in five years and being humble about it.
Thered be no more fitting time for her to win it.
It had already been a journey for Lambert to make it to the CMAs stage the first time.
She made it to the finale and placed third, behind two men more than twice her age.
And she was ecstatic.
If she was going to have a country career, she wanted it her way.
But soon enough,Nashville Starjudge and label exec Tracy Gershon helped Lambert get signed to Epic Records.
Indeed, it became her first hit, cracking the top ten on the country charts.
1, the intimately relatableThe House That Built Me.
With the album, the Annies drafted a blueprint thatfuture groupslikethe Highwomenwould follow.
Her fifth album, 2014sPlatinum,successfully set a new peak for Lambert.
1 album and earned her a Grammy for Best Country Album.
She seemed like she had really cracked the code.
By November, hours beforethat years CMA Awards, Sheltonsrumored relationshipwith fellowVoicejudge Gwen Stefani was confirmed.
Im lookin forward to the girl I wanna be, she sang.
The more casual side of the Annies most recent album set the stage for Lamberts latest, 2019sWildcard.
Its also her loosest record yet, industry expectation no longer weighing on her shoulders.
Im finally on the up-and-up, sheopensthe album.
And what a joy is it to hear.
Earlier this year,Lambert netted her first country radio No.
1 in eight yearswithWildcardlead single, Bluebird.
This time, more than anything, it felt victorious.
Now, shes set to perform her current single, Settling Down, at tonights CMA Awards.
Is happiness on the highway?
Or is it parked in the driveway?
Shes finally free to try on new things and see what fits as she wishes.
Surely, shes heading somewhere else exciting soon.
But, for once, why not recognize her for where and whoshe is now?
