As a teen, Miranda Lambert listened at the dinner table as her grandmother, mother, and their friends exchanged gossip, life lessons, and stories from East Texas.
Those overheard conversations over enchiladas and banana pudding became the inspiration for Lambert’s Grammy Award-winning musical career, teaching her the art of storytelling and entertainment at the same time.
“I wrote some of my first songs about some stories they were going through,” said Lambert. “I haven’t experienced it myself yet, but I really get it.”
After nearly two decades in country music and at the height of her career as one of country’s most awarded artists, Lambert delves into those recipes—and the stories behind them—from her family and friends in a book called Have You All Eaten Yet?
“It’s really important to surround yourself with people who celebrate the good times and who hold you back in the bad times,” said the “The House You Built Me” singer. “That’s what this whole book is about.”
The book, now published on the HarperCollins imprint of Dey Street Books, is equal parts Lambert family memoir, guide to Texas-style entertaining and church cookbook.
Get to know Lambert’s grandmother Noni, her mother Bev, and all their colorful friends through the recipes they’ve traded and shared: the famous meatloaf that often leads to wedding bells, whiskey donuts, and potato bar (mashed potatoes in a martini glass with all the toppings.) She’s also Learn tricks to shine in her Airstream travel trailer and tubing down the Guadalupe River. Her father offers a primer on seasoning a cast-iron skillet to perfection.
“You are eating yet?” By Miranda Lambert with Holly Gleeson.
– Courtesy of Day Street
“Life on the road is tough, so it makes it even more special when you get a home-cooked meal,” said Lambert. “It’s an exciting memory. It’s like a perfume or a song.”
Lambert has a lot to celebrate now that she heads into the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11 as the reigning Female Artist of the Year. Already the most awarded female artist in ACM history, she won the top prize again, as well as breaking another record by being nominated as the 17th female artist of the year.
“I didn’t really get to celebrate with everyone when I won last year, so this will be like, ‘Yay, hooray!'” Lambert said of the award ceremony, which will be held in Frisco. Who will get it next? “, Texas, this year.”
She’s also now a highly sought-after free agent after leaving her longtime home of Sony Music Nashville this spring. She was only 19 years old when she signed a contract with the record label and debuted as her first Sony recording titled “Kerosene” in 2005.
“It’s a completely different landscape than when I started,” Lambert said, but noted that she’s already got some collaboration in the works.
Of her future musical plans, Lambert said: “It feels really good to be free and to take a step back and breathe deeply and let creativity drive the decisions.”
