Miranda Lambert, the most decorated artist in Academy of Country Music history, took the stage Thursday night at the 60th ACM Awards—and fans were not disappointed. With 75 nominations and 38 wins, including nine Female Artist of the Year titles and a 2022 Entertainer of the Year trophy, Lambert is practically ACM royalty. Even without a nomination this year, her presence added star power to a milestone show celebrating six decades of country music.
The night featured unforgettable performances from Brooks & Dunn, Cody Johnson, Wynonna, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, and more. But Miranda Lambert’s set stood out as one of the evening’s emotional highlights.
A Decade in the Making: “Run”
Lambert performed her latest single, “Run”, a song she waited ten years to release. Fans have speculated it draws from her past relationship with fellow country star Blake Shelton, though Lambert hasn’t confirmed the inspiration. The track, written entirely by Lambert, tells the story of recognizing a relationship’s end before it officially ends, focusing on self-reflection rather than blame.
In a heartfelt interview with Kalleigh Bannen, Lambert revealed she wasn’t ready to perform “Run” until now. “I wasn’t ever ready to perform it until now,” she said. “Emotional songs—you never really grow out of them. Songs let you face things you weren’t ready to face before. It’s human, it’s raw, and it’s honest.”
Lambert credited close friends, including her husband Brendan McLoughlin, for encouraging her to finally release the deeply personal track. “Songs are for revisiting emotions,” she said. “Sometimes they’re an apology, sometimes a confession, sometimes a reminder of growth.”
@brie.murray This is everything to me #fyp #ellalangley #mirandalambert #countrymusic #acmawards
Honoring Her Roots: “Kerosene”
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Lambert invited this year’s most nominated artist, Ella Langley, to join her on stage. Together, they performed “Kerosene”, the fiery title track from Lambert’s 2005 debut. The duet was a perfect bridge between past and present, showing Lambert’s journey while spotlighting the next generation of country talent.
With her mix of raw emotion, powerhouse vocals, and genuine vulnerability, Miranda Lambert reminded everyone why she remains one of country music’s brightest stars—and why her performances always feel unforgettable.
