Page 105 - OVATION Magazine (Issue 1)

“We didn’t intend to have an all-girl tour. But when we looked and saw a bunch of badass girls, the idea of rolling down the road, playing music, drinking beer, having fun, and enjoying the fans? Every single one of them knows who she is; they’re making music that comes from that.And it’s gonna be awesome.”
Lambert—to be clear—is an equal-opportunity badass.While she knows she speaks for a lot of women pushing back, the once-upon-a-time wild child realizes men can find their own way into her songs. Recently married (after her high-profile divorce from another country star), she’s not about to forget the fun-loving hot messes who view her as their patron saint.
“I’ll never not feel at home in a honkytonk,” she explains.“That’s just the way it is. It’s not shameful to be drawn to places where the stories are, you know? ‘Track Record’ is funny because it’s one of those after-it’s-all- over-’n’-you’re-out-of-your-‘Mis’ry- and-Gin’-phase. It’s just going,‘Oh, remember that time I was a little crazy?’ We all weave in and out of trouble, the good and bad in your life.
“I feel like the girls I’m singing to, or even the people listening, are people just like me. Men or women, they’ve made their mistakes; they go through things, high and low. So, I tell stories for everyone who can’t. I’m kinda representing all of us.
“And when you come to one of our shows, we’re all kinds: blondes, brunettes, redheads, big, and little.We’re all fighters, fighting for what we love.You don’t stop because [being a woman in music] is hard; you fight a little harder. My top-earning song,‘Gunpowder & Lead,’ went to num- ber 7, but when the crowd sings every word back to you, that’s when you know a hit is not a number.”
She doesn’t laugh, even though you expect her to. She doesn’t sigh either.
Lambert just kicked off the third go-round of her Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars tour.
Deadeye, the girl with the wildcat soprano draws down on the truth that’s brought her here. “The social media, the press, they’re always looking for a story
or a way to get you to click.Anyone who knows me knows I put everything in the songs. If you wanna know, all you have to
do is listen to the records.
“I’ve put my life in my songs—
and I’ve never counted on my hair, my makeup, and my boobs to get me over. I’ve always used my guitar.A guitar and a real stubborn head will get you a long, long way.”
FALL 2019
OVATION |111