The two country vocalists delivered smoking versions of ‘Mama’s Broken Heart,’ ‘Fancy,’ and ‘Gunpowder & Lead’
When a fireworks finale erupted at the end of Miranda Lambert’s performance of “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” on Saturday night and the country star disappeared offstage, it seemed as if her Stagecoach headlining set was all but over. But Lambert, who just a few minutes earlier had shouted “I got the hell out of Oklahoma!” in “Little Red Wagon,” reappeared to coyly introduce a special guest from the state: Reba McEntire. “I was thinking it would be pretty badass if I had a feisty redhead from Oklahoma to sing this song with me tonight,” Lambert said.
Together, they lit into a three-song encore defined by fire and fury. Two of Lambert’s most ferocious hits, “Mama’s Broken Heart” and “Gunpowder & Lead,” bookended McEntire’s signature reading of “Fancy.” It was exactly the shot in the arm the Stagecoach audience needed after being buffeted for nearly three hours by high winds and dust. Even Lambert noted the conditions earlier in the night, often literally holding onto her hat.
But the gales couldn’t derail two of country music’s most dialed-in vocalists, and McEntire seemed to relish the chance to show some attitude in Lambert’s double-blast of vengeance songs, at one point miming the smoking of a cigarette in “Gunpowder & Lead.” “Fancy” was superb too, but the Country Music Hall of Fame member has sung it so many times by now that it’s almost automatic.
Along with the McEntire cameo — as decadent as eating a corn dog on a private jet — Lambert’s set included the live debut of her new song “Wranglers.” It’s a smoldering track rooted firmly in one of Lambert’s favorite topics, payback. The studio version drops May 3 and is her first release since signing with Republic Records in a partnership with Nashville indie Big Loud (Lambert launched her own Texas-focused imprint at the label last November.)
Lambert headlined Stagecoach on Saturday night for the first time since 2015. Eric Church headlined Friday night, delivering a 75-minute medley of gospel songs, covers, and his own material that left some fans unhappy. Morgan Wallen closes out Stagecoach 2024 on Sunday.
McEntire, meanwhile, was just announced as the host of the 2024 ACM Awards, airing May 11 on Prime Video live from Frisco, Texas.