Miranda Lambert Looks Optimistically Ahead Following Label Departure: “I’ve Never Been Free Before”

Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Miranda Lambert is still basking in the glow of her five ACM Awards nominations. The recognition holds more weight to the now independent singer/songwriter, who announced in March that she left her record label of 20 years.

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In an interview with American Songwriter on Tuesday (April 18), the singer discussed what lies ahead for her musically following her departure from Sony Music Nashville. 

[RELATED:Miranda Lambert Departing Record Label After 20 Years]

“I’ve never been free before,” she tells American Songwriter. “I love Sony. I had some great times there. My whole life’s work is there – literally my entire catalog. There’s some bitter and there’s some sweet to it. But I also know that the landscape of the music industry is so different than when I signed at 19 years old and I’m excited to learn about it. I’m excited to figure out what that looks like.”

Lambert, while seated beside co-writers Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, says she’s taking the time to let the music lead going into this next chapter of her career. She then explains that’s why she’s been telling her collaborators, “We need to block off some dates.”

[RELATED: Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson Reflect on ACM Nominations]

“I want to go write songs and now I don’t even have a deadline or anybody to answer to or wonder if it’s for radio or if it’s not or what it is,” she adds. “I’ve worked on some cool collabs I’ve got up my sleeve. I’m just letting the music lead. 

“I just want to recreate a moment that we created in 2020 [writing for ACM Album of the Year nominee Palomino]. That was our way of finding freedom; writing these songs about travel,” she continues. “I feel like now I’m on my own and I am excited to see what comes to the table and learn. The industry is so so different now and there’s so many platforms and that’s a great thing. … I feel so thankful that all the music has somewhere to land. It really opens up my world as a creator, not just writing to a single.”

(Credit Robert Ascroft for foureleven agency / Courtesy Ebie Media)