Introduction
When Miranda Lambert Lights the Fuse: A CMA Medley That Reminds Us Why Real Country Still Hits Hard—From “Kerosene” to “Bluebird,” One Fearless Performance That Leaves the Room Shaking
There are performers who sing songs, and then there are performers who carry a lifetime onto the stage—every hard lesson, every small-town scar, every ounce of grit that can’t be taught. That’s what makes Miranda Lambert performs a medley featuring her hits Kerosene, Mama’s Broken Heart, Bluebird, Little Red Wagon, and Gunpowder and Lead. (Live from the 55th Annual CMA Awards) feel less like a television moment and more like a living timeline of modern country music.
For longtime listeners, this medley isn’t just a highlight reel. It’s a reminder of how Miranda built her name: not by polishing the edges off life, but by telling the truth with a steady hand and a sharp eye. When “Kerosene” kicks in, you can almost hear the early years—when her sound arrived like a match strike, fearless and unapologetic. That fire doesn’t fade as the medley moves forward; it simply changes shape. “Mama’s Broken Heart” brings the bite, the humor, and that familiar Miranda wink—the kind of song that tells you she understands both the rules people expect you to follow and the wild urge to break them anyway.
And then comes “Bluebird,” the emotional turn that makes the whole set land even deeper. In the middle of the heat, she gives you air. She gives you perspective. It’s the song that feels like growth—like the moment someone finally chooses peace without pretending the past didn’t hurt. That shift is what separates this medley from a simple medley: it has an arc. It has weight.
“Little Red Wagon” snaps the energy right back into place—fun, defiant, and loud in the best way—before “Gunpowder and Lead” closes the circle with that familiar thunder. By the end, you’re not just thinking about the hits. You’re thinking about the voice behind them: a woman who’s spent years proving that strength in country music can sound many ways—sharp, tender, playful, and unbreakable.
This performance doesn’t beg for attention. It earns it. And for anyone who’s ever loved country music for its honesty, this medley feels like a salute to everything the genre is supposed to be.