When Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and Brandy Clark got together to write a song, they had their minds set on Reba McEntire to sing it with two of its co-writers. Now, that dream is coming to fruition, with its official public debut happening at the upcoming 60th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Titled “Trailblazer,” the track, which has not yet been released, will be available on all streaming services at 8 p.m. ET Thursday (May 8).
The Story Behind “Trailblazers”
Produced by Tony Brown and recorded in Nashville, the trio of singer/songwriters penned “Trailblazer” at Lambert’s house after Wilson threw out the idea for the title and noted her appreciation for Lambert and McEntire, who have blazed the trail for artists like her to come along.
“Generation after generation, it’s going to continue, but we got to keep blazing those trails for the next one,” Wilson told Billboard in a brand-new interview that included Lambert and McEntire onsite.
And that’s what “Trailblazer” is all about — being inspired by the influences that shaped them. “Trailblazer” shares a message of gratitude, name-checking artists like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Tammy Wynette before highlighting each generation of new female artists who have followed in the footsteps of their heroes.
Lainey Wilson And Miranda Lambert Were Brought To Tears With The Song
While writing the track, the mid-tempo ballad got the tears rolling for everyone involved.
“When you’re writing a song, and you get that feeling, it’s like the Holy Spirit feeling. And you just feel it all over your body. [It] definitely had that,” Wilson said of co-writing “Trailblazer” with her country cohorts, adding, “I remember thinking that this could be a song that a grandmother and a daughter and a grandchild could listen to.”
“It’s not about us. It’s about what the song means to little girls out there watching, or anyone out there watching that really has a dream or needs to be surrounded by people they love, and needs a little nudge to know they’re not alone,” Lambert added, noting that the song, which also includes Easter eggs that tie back to each artist, isn’t just about the history of country music.
Reba McEntire Fell In Love With the Song Immediately
Luckily for its songwriters, “Trailblazer” got the seal of approval from McEntire upon first listen.
“I remember listening to it in the dressing room,” McEntire recalled. “I couldn’t find a flaw in it, not a word. It was that great. I was very emotional when I heard it.”
McEntire, who hints that more collaborations with Lambert and Wilson are likely to happen in the future, also commented on how the industry has changed over time. Thanks in part to new technology that has brought artists together through the years, she has noticed a sense of camaraderie that didn’t exist when she was coming up in country music.
“There’s something different, totally, in these generations than the earlier generations, mainly because of the social aspect,” McEntire said. “We’ve got texting, we’ve got emails, communication at our fingertips, and we didn’t have that starting out. And I like it that things are more approachable.”
“When I was getting started, I wouldn’t have even thought about talking to Dolly when she walked by me in 1977. I was brand new,” she recalled. “She was a huge, mega, beautiful star. And I don’t know if it’s confidence that’s totally different, but I had [my musical heroes] all up on this pedestal where you can’t touch, you can’t talk. Now, we’re more friends, and it’s a family. It’s totally different, and I like it this way.”
Fellowship Among Each Other
McEntire went on to say that anytime an artist needs help, they have someone in their corner, ready to come to the rescue.
“There’s enough room in this business — and all businesses — for everybody to be successful,” she insists. “We’ve just got to help each other and share what we’ve gone through and say what didn’t work. ‘Now, here’s what did work. Maybe it will work for you.’”
Both Lambert and Wilson couldn’t agree more with McEntire’s sentiment, sharing their examples of having experienced that kind of fellowship with one another.
Referencing a lyric in “Trailblazer” that highlights those who “gave me a seat at the table,” Wilson pointed to Lambert, saying, “One of the very first people to give me a seat at the table was that one right over there. She made me feel like I was welcome and like she was my cheerleader. I think a lot of times people like to pit women against each other, and I think we’re just proving otherwise.”
2025 ACM Awards
The three artists will world premiere their performance of “Trailblazer” during the 2025 ACM Awards, which air live from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas Thursday, (May 8) at 8:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Along with their highly-anticipated collaboration performance, McEntire will serve as host for the ACM Awards.
