CMA Fest is one of the biggest events of the year when it comes to country music. And the weekend extravaganza is right around the corner, which means fans will be flocking to Nashville, Tenn., for the ultimate experience, which includes close-up celebrity meet-and-greets, once-in-a-lifetime concerts, and more.
Miranda Lambert will be on the bill this year for CMA Fest, which will mark its 50th year, and she says even though she has played the show several times before, she still looks forward to being a part of the lineup.
“We used to come to CMA Fest as a family vacation, to get as close as we could to the artists I admired,” Lambert, who will perform on June 9 on the main stage, told Music Mayhem, reflecting on the early days of her music career. “It was so inspiring to me as a young girl chasing this dream, and it’s still surreal to think about going from those trips to playing Nissan Stadium now.”
Teases CMA Fest “Surprises”
When asked whether or not she can share what fans can expect from her upcoming set list at the big event, she says, “I might have some surprises up my sleeve – you’ll have to wait and see!”
“A week till #CMAfest begins! I’m going big for the 50th anniversary. See you later! 🔥,” Lambert also teased a post on Instagram.
To Celebrate Two Major Milestones This Year
Aside from playing CMA Fest, Lambert is gearing up to celebrate some major milestones before the end of the year. In November, she will turn 40 years old and also celebrate 20 years of her musical career. Along with that, she’s already enjoying some big moments, including the excitement surrounding her recently released cookbook Y’all Eat Yet, which earned her the title of New York Times best-selling author.
“It is a big year! Y’all Eat Yet was a great way to kick it off,” Lambert gushes before sharing more of what’s in store. “I’ve been writing a lot, so we’ll have some new music to share soon which is always my favorite celebration. We head back to [Las] Vegas for the next round of shows in July, so I’m excited to get back to those shows with the fans because the energy has been so great. CMA Awards are usually the week of my birthday, so that’s always a big party, too!”
The new music that Lambert speaks of will be especially personal to her as it will be her first offering since she parted ways from her longtime record label home, Sony Music Nashville.
New Duet With Leon Bridges
The now-independent artist recently teased she will be unveiling a handful of collaborations, including one called “If You Were Mine,” featuring fellow Texan and Grammy winner Leon Bridges.
The enchanting duet finds Lambert and Bridges experiencing love from a distance and imagining how things would take shape if fate stepped in and they were given the chance. “If You Were Mine,” produced by Jon Randall, will be available on Tuesday (June 6).
“I have been a big fan of Leon for a while because he is very authentic as an artist, and I love his music. I wrote this song with Ashley Monroe and Jesse Frasure, specifically with Leon in mind,” Lambert shared in a press release. “Since we are both from Texas, we threw in a few Texas references, of course – the Frio River being one. When we finished this song, we sent it to Leon in hopes that he would want to collaborate, and we were so glad that he said yes. I have really enjoyed getting to know him, and I’m happy to have him as a new friend.”
“I was humbled to have Miranda ask if I’d join her on this beautiful duet she wrote,” Bridges added. “Getting in the studio with her in Nashville to sing this song together was magic. There’s nothing better than two Texans on one mic!”
Following her scheduled Nissan Stadium performance at CMA Fest, which runs from June 8-11, Lambert will return to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Bakkt Theater in Las Vegas for the next shows of her Velvet Rodeo residency.
