Miranda Lambert's childhood was anything but conventional. Raised by private investigator parents in Lindale, Texas, she became enthralled with country music after attending a Garth Brooks concert as a child. After recording a few demos in Nashville as a teenager, Lambert was inspired to learn to play guitar; her father taught her the instrument so she could accompany herself. The budding songstress graduated from high school early in order to pursue her music career, releasing a self-titled independent album in 2001 and coming in third on 'Nashville Star' in 2003. Lambert released her major-label debut, 'Kerosene,' in 2005 and gained acclaim for her insightful storytelling and ability to balance commercial success and critical acclaim. In 2018, she became the most-awarded artist in ACM history with a total of 31 wins. In addition to her solo country career, Lambert is a member of trio the Pistol Annies, along with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. Lambert is also an entrepreneur -- she owns a boutique and a winery -- and head of her animal-centric non-profit, the MuttNation Foundation.