Miranda Lambert Revisits Country Music’s Golden Era While Forging Her Own Path On New Album, ‘Crisco’

Miranda Lambert has officially released her brand-new, highly anticipated album, Crisco. Available today (Oct. 2) via MCA, this 12-track collection takes listeners on a musical journey through different eras, weaving together classic influences, fresh perspectives, and the unmistakable storytelling that has defined Lambert’s artistry.

Lambert co-produced Crisco alongside Jesse Frasure, continuing to expand her creative vision behind the boards. Building on her production work on 2024’s Postcards from Texas and 2022’s Palomino, as well as her co-production of Ella Langley’s Dandelion, the 42-year-old Texan continues to push creative boundaries while bringing an authentic, hands-on approach to her artistry.

For Crisco, Lambert enlisted a trusted circle of friends and collaborators, including Natalie Hemby, Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Aaron Raitiere, Josh Osborne, and more. She and her co-producers looked to the late 1960s through the early 1980s as a sonic touchstone, drawing inspiration from sweeping strings, rich harmonies, undeniable melodies and signature countrypolitan production.

“I’ve always loved every corner of country music,” Lambert shared via a press release. “The heartbreak songs, the honky-tonk songs, the songs that make you think and the songs that make you dance. Making this record reminded me that those things don’t have to be separated.” She added, “We followed the songs wherever they wanted to go, trusted our instincts and ended up with something that feels really fun and really honest to who I am.”

Recorded in Nashville at Blackbird Studio, Lambert and her team maintained the album’s vibrant energy while creating an atmosphere filled with disco balls, intentional lighting, and a nine-piece string section. Drawing inspiration from playlists, they approached each song with a distinct purpose, allowing the record to take shape organically.

“Crisco started with a conversation,” Lambert explains in her album bio. “Jesse Frasure and I were talking about all these records we love and wondering why country music doesn’t reflect back into its history more often, especially when we’ve got this incredible archive of music to inspire us – from artists like Patsy Cline, Glen Campbell, Conway & Loretta, to Kenny & Dolly and so many others.”

One song on the album, “Cowgirl Curtsy,” serves as a nod to Cline’s “She’s Got You,” with Lambert singing about ignoring warning signs and heartbreak as she drinks to soothe her pain from heartbreak while crying on the dance floor.

“Can’t sit around with a heart that I can’t kick / Tonight I’m in love with the lie / Falling for a boy that hurts me / Cowgirl curtsy and a tear that won’t dry,” she sings throughout the chorus, backed by steel guitar, background vocals, and a classic string arrangement.

“I never really dove into strings in my career before this record, and I just think that it really elevates a performance. It was so special to be in the studio and to watch those strings play live to all these songs we had written. It’s very moving and emotional, honestly,” Lambert shares in a statement, discussing each track on Crisco.

Lambert name-checks Keith Whitley on “Cuttin’ Onions,” delivering plenty of energy while tipping her hat to the sounds of Jerry Reed and Merle Haggard. At the same time, the song’s modern lyrics give its story an appeal that can resonate across generations. Sonically, “Cuttin’ Onions” features a thumping backbeat and instrumentals that will make listeners want to hit the open road, while Lambert showcases her sassy side as she sings about feeling free from a relationship gone wrong and only tearing up when she’s dealing with onions in the kitchen.

Midway through Crisco, Lambert ramps things up on “Whiskey Business,” a track that honors honky-tonks while highlighting her signature wit. The rollicking song features fast-paced guitar strumming and sing-along harmonies, complemented by subtle strings and steel guitar.

“This is our tip of the hat to Glen Campbell’s ‘Southern Nights.’ One thing I’ve always loved to do is A&R song choices by a committee of loved ones. This one became an early favorite with what Jesse jokingly calls the ‘Texas Conglomerate’ – my mom, my brother, and my best friend April. They all fought hard to make sure this one stayed on the record,” Lambert shared. “It was also the first song we wrote after ‘A Song To Sing’ and ‘Crisco,’ and it led to a conversation where I told Jesse, ‘I’m having so much fun writing these kinds of songs and really pushing and exploring – let’s do a whole record.’ Everything came together so easily from there.”

Before releasing Crisco, Lambert gave fans an early preview with songs like the reflective and forward-moving “Till The Going’s Gone,” the heartbreak ballad “Two Things Can Be True,” the retro title track, the hypnotizing closer “Sunset Marquis,” and her smooth collaboration with Chris Stapleton on “A Song To Sing.”

Stapleton is one of two collaborations on the project, with Lambert teaming up with “Choosin’ Texas” co-writer Ella Langley on “Snakeskin Boots,” which serves as the Western-style opener and was inspired by Nancy Sinatra’s cover of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).”

Ultimately, Crisco is a celebration of the many sides of Lambert that fans have come to know and love, offering a little bit of everything along the way—from the storyteller and wanderer to the romantic, troublemaker, traditionalist and dreamer.

A wanderer, Lambert slows things down on “To Everything,” capturing the essence of embracing new adventures and possibilities with the accompaniment of light shakers, dreamy synths, and strings floating in the background.

“I’m flying high tonight, singing from the rafters / I don’t care where I’ve been or where I’m going after,” Lambert sings, showcasing her powerful belt on the chorus. “Don’t know if it’s right or if it’s wrong / Oooh I’m letting go and holding on, to everything, to everything.”

Elsewhere, Lambert offers her take on Jim Croce’s “I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song,” explaining, “Jesse and I are both huge Jim Croce fans, and we always knew there would be a cover somewhere on this album… this vocal paired with the warm ‘70s keyboard textures made [this song] feel like it had always belonged in the world of Crisco.”

Meanwhile, “Right Where We Left It” reflects on an old flame that has returned to stay, with the three-time Grammy winner singing over a driving bass line, sweeping strings, retro guitar licks and a groovy vibe.

“Love was always right where we left it baby / Right in between goodbye and a dream that we had / Bringing the good times back / It was worth the waiting / Always some of the best days baby / Just you and me / Both of us still hanging on / Just when we thought it was gone / It was right where we left it,” Lambert sings.

With Crisco, Miranda Lambert proves she doesn’t have to choose a lane, she can tear the whole road wide open and make it sound unmistakably her own.

Miranda Lambert’s Crisco release follows her sold-out, one-night-only performance at The Truth, Nashville’s newest venue, on October 1. The show, through a special Amazon Music Songline Live broadcast, will premiere Oct. 7 on Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch.

Additionally, Lambert will mark her second of two special album-release celebrations in Texas, with a home-state performance at the legendary Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth on October 6.