Miranda Lambert might be one of country music’s most powerful voices today, but she’s always been quick to tip her hat to the icons who paved the way. In a January 2025 interview with Today, Lambert opened up about the country legends who inspired her to blaze her own trail — and the names she dropped say a lot about the kind of artist she’s always aimed to be.
Ahead of her appearance on Today’s With Jenna & Friends, Lambert sat down with the network’s 8 Before 8 video series. Between swapping stories about making music with her husband and digging into the creative heart behind her 2024 album Postcards From Texas, Lambert also offered a glimpse into the artists who helped shape her music and her spirit. She didn’t hesitate when asked about her biggest influences. “So many people have inspired me, but country, specifically… Dolly [Parton] and Reba [McEntire] because they are our queens. Loretta Lynn. But on this record specifically, George Strait had a lot of influence for me,” Lambert said.
It’s a lineup that feels obvious in the best possible way. Dolly’s fearless sparkle, Reba’s powerhouse resilience, and Loretta’s unfiltered grit have always run through Miranda’s songs. But George Strait’s steady, unshowy presence looms especially large over Postcards From Texas. Lambert made it clear that in her home state, George Strait isn’t just admired; he’s revered. “We call him ‘The King’ in Texas for a reason,” she said.
Listening to the record, you can hear how those influences simmer beneath the surface. Postcards From Texas is packed with the kind of sharp songwriting and understated storytelling that made Strait a legend. It’s Miranda at her most honest — stripped back, strong, and deeply tied to her roots.
For You
Lambert said the album’s title came naturally because of how much Texas — and the sounds that raised her — echo throughout the songs. “The name just felt right because there are so many influences on this record that have made me who I am musically. Each song feels like a snapshot of the last 20 years of inspiration.” After years of recording elsewhere, it’s also the first album she’s made in Texas since she was 18, adding another layer of homegrown authenticity to the project.
She didn’t break down exactly where each influence pops up on the tracklist, but if you listen closely, you can feel them all over the record. Dolly’s sense of humor, Reba’s bigger-than-life storytelling, Loretta’s refusal to sugarcoat hard truths, and George’s easygoing swagger. They’re baked into every chord and chorus.
At this point in her career, Miranda Lambert isn’t trying to play the Nashville game or chase trends. She’s busy crafting the kind of music that feels honest to who she is — the kind that’s less about radio singles and more about leaving a mark that sticks around. Much like the legends who shaped her, Lambert’s building a career rooted in real stories, emotion, and guts. And that’s why she’s not just inspired by country music royalty — she’s earned her place right alongside them.
