Miranda Lambert Leaves Lasting Impression in Highland Park
A little rain couldn’t stop a packed house from filling the lawn at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park for an evening of country music with Miranda Lambert. Fans arrived prepared for the unpredictable weather, armed with coolers, lawn chairs, snacks, and ponchos, ready to settle in for the show. Opening the night was up-and-coming country artist Julianna Rankin, who is signed to Miranda Lambert’s Big Loud Texas label. Shimmering in glitter and towering in sky-high heeled boots, Rankin immediately commanded the stage during her 40-minute solo set. Rankin showcased her contemporary country sound with songs including the divorce-driven “Double Knot” and “Bad Habits and Good Horses,” the latter of which was featured on the hit Paramount+ series Landman. Her performance made it clear why she is an artist to watch as she continues to build her career under the mentorship of one of country music’s biggest stars. Looking forward to more music from this rising artist.
Photo From Julianna Rankin IG PageMiranda Lambert opened her 90-minute set with the high-energy “Fastest Girl in Town,” quickly followed by her breakout hit “Kerosene.” From there, it was hit after hit, drawing on a catalog that spans more than two decades. Lambert, a Texas native, has become one of the defining women of modern country music. Since the release of Kerosene in 2005, she has built a career around songs that balance toughness, vulnerability, humor, and unapologetic Texas spirit. Her trophy case includes multiple Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Grammy Awards, and she has remained a major influence on a new generation of country artists.
She also proved that she isn’t content to simply revisit the past. Lambert performed her newly released song “Till the Going’s Gone,” from her upcoming album Crisco, a project described as blending country with disco influences. Lambert’s longtime connection to emerging artists was also on display. Backup vocalist Gwen Sebastian stepped into the spotlight on several songs, including “Vice,” and took over Elle King’s part on “Drunk (And I Don’t Want to Go Home),” giving the duet a lively, crowd-pleasing energy.
And Lambert wasn’t the only one having fun. She danced her way across the stage, matching the energy of the audience packed onto the lawn. Even in the rain, the crowd sang, danced, and stayed on its feet. That spirit was especially evident when Lambert performed “Choosin’ Texas,” a song she co-wrote with Ella Langley, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor. Lambert’s relationship with Langley represents the connection between country music’s established stars and its next generation. The two have worked together on Langley’s music, including her latest album Dandelion, further cementing Lambert’s role as both a performer and mentor.
Later in the evening, Lambert brought Rankin back to the stage to perform “Good Horses,” taking the part originally recorded by Lainey Wilson. It was a fitting moment, with Lambert literally sharing the spotlight with an artist from the next generation of country music.
The second half of Lambert’s set had the Ravinia crowd on its feet for fan favorites including “Mama’s Broken Heart” and “Little Red Wagon.” The hits kept coming, proving just how deep Lambert’s catalog has become. She easily could have played another 30 minutes of fan favorites and still had plenty of material left. Lambert closed the night with “Gunpowder & Lead,” sending the crowd home on a high note.
For an artist who has spent more than 20 years at the forefront of country music, Lambert showed exactly why she remains one of the genre’s leading ladies. Rain or shine, her songs still have the power to bring a crowd together, and at Ravinia, that crowd was more than happy to sing along. Check out Miranda’s new album, Crisco, coming out October 2nd.
