Miranda Lambert

Miranda is EXACTLY what country music needs right now-she's not exactly a kick in the pants, more like a kick in the teeth. While Carrie Underwood can sing, she's definitely one of those "perfectly styled waifs who sound more like Mariah Carey than Tammy Wynette" you mentioned, along with Taylor Swift (who I'll give more credit to b/c she actually writes her own stuff-I just hope the tame, radio-friendly lyrics are b/c of her youth & she eventually gets some Miranda in her). I've described Miranda as being a cross b/n the Dixie Chicks & Gretchen Wilson. She's one of the most talented singer/songwriter/musicians I've ever seen, will tell you exactly what she thinks, & makes absolutely no apologies for who she is & what she believes in. I'm thrilled that the CMA & ACM recognize her achievements & am praying she wins all 3 categories she's nominated for this year (album of the year for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; single of the year for Famous in a Small Town; & female vocalist of the year). I just wish country radio would loosen up & give her the airtime she rightly deserves. I've already predicted (to anyone who'll listen) that she's got what it takes to become a fixture in Country Music, she'll be around long after Carrie & Taylor's 15 minutes run out. You rightly called Underwood's "Think Before He Cheats" child's play, but even more juvenile (& therefore, radio-friendly) is Swift's love-gone-wrong song "Picture to Burn". It's sad that it will inevitably make it onto the charts, as Taylor's songs all seem to do, while Miranda remains unappreciated by country radio & undiscovered by millions of potential fans.

Ok, I'm done, I'll climb down off my soap-box, thanks for letting me vent.