Miranda Lambert fired up more than 101,000 fans at Daytona International Speedway with a high-octane pre-race set that kicked the 2026 NASCAR season into gear.
Taking the stage shortly before the 1:30 p.m. green flag at the sold-out Daytona 500, Miranda Lambert delivered a punchy, hit-packed performance that blended her signature fire with a meaningful nod to rising star Ella Langley. The weather held off despite earlier concerns, and the race ultimately rolled on without major delays, giving fans a full day of engines and music. Tyler Reddick later captured the win, but Miranda set the tone long before the checkered flag waved.
Before the show, Lambert joked during a NASCAR press conference that thinking about the Speedway’s 101,500 capacity made her “nervous.”
“I think this would be one of the biggest stages, now that you mention it… thanks for making me nervous,” she said. “It’s just incredible, the amount of people here.”
She quickly added that once she arrived and saw fans tailgating, the nerves shifted.
“These are my people,” Lambert said. “Everybody was tailgating, it kind of felt like a concert already. Everybody’s in a good mood, it’s a celebration.”
That energy translated directly into the set.
Opening with “Fastest Girl in Town,” a fitting choice for the Great American Race, Lambert leaned into the NASCAR atmosphere from the first note. She followed with crowd staples like “Kerosene” and “Little Red Wagon,” both of which landed hard in a stadium built for noise. NASCAR later shared clips of the performance across its official channels, capturing a sea of fans on their feet well before drivers took their positions.
One of the more personal moments came when Daytona International Speedway president Frank Kelleher presented Lambert with a custom Daytona guitar before her set, marking the occasion and underscoring the scale of the event.
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But the most meaningful song of the afternoon may have been her cover of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.”
The track recently made history by topping the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs chart, and Country Airplay chart at the same time. Lambert is a co-writer on the song alongside Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor, and the idea was partly inspired by one of her own stories about getting pulled over while driving with Texas plates and a baby kangaroo in the backseat.
By choosing to perform “Choosin’ Texas” on one of the biggest stages in American sports, Lambert bridged generations in real time. It was not just a cover. It was a full-circle songwriter moment and her first Hot 100 number one as a writer.
The performance also signaled a noticeable shift for Lambert after a quieter 2025. While she kept a limited touring schedule last year, she spent significant time mentoring and producing for Langley’s upcoming album Dandelion. Stepping into Daytona in front of more than 100,000 fans felt like a reminder that she can both build the next wave and still command the biggest rooms herself.
Country music and NASCAR have long shared a fan base rooted in tailgates, trucks, and tradition. Lambert’s set fit that world naturally. No overproduction. No gimmicks. Just a tight band, familiar hits, and a surprise that carried real weight.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is officially underway.
And Miranda Lambert made sure it started loud.
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