Miranda Lambert Says Her Female Musical Role Models Include Dolly Parton, Beyonce

Miranda Lambert is certainly forging her own path in country music. The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year for the last five years, Lambert's recent 'Platinum' album debuted at the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart when it was released and spawned the No. 1 hit 'Something Bad,' featuring Carrie Underwood, which also became her seventh platinum-selling song.

But while Lambert is certainly on a string of successes, she admits that some of the credit goes to her female musical role models, who inspired her to push her own boundaries.

"There have been lots of people I’ve looked to for that," Lambert tells Gibson.com. "It’s sort of like you take little parts from them and try to learn and apply them to your own life. One strong female artist I look up to is Beyonce. She handles herself well and has such class.

"As far as building an empire goes -- and reinventing yourself and being true to yourself," she adds, "I would say Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn are people I look up to most."

Lambert may have found inspiration in some of the most influential women in country (and pop) music, but she's inspiring a new wave of artists as well, including actress and rising star Jana Kramer.

"I was in a very discouraged time, and she was like, ‘You know what, it didn’t happen for me until my second album,’” Kramer recalls. “I was like, really? You’re Miranda Lambert. I just imagined it happened on the first album. So it really is about keeping on and not giving up.”

Lambert has a big year planned. In addition to embarking on her 2015 Certified Platinum Tour on Jan. 15 in Evansville, Ind., she will also perform at the inaugural Big Barrel Country Music Festival in June. Keep track of all of her upcoming dates here.

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