Miranda Lambert Debuts at Number One!!

Miranda Lambert Debuts at Number One!!

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Epic recording artist, Miranda Lambert has the Number One Country Record in the Nation. With first week sales of 40,390 for Kerosene, Miranda Lambert has done what only five other country artists in the history of Soundscan have ever done: earned a Number One country chart debut on their very first release. She joins an elite club consisting of Wynonna (1992), Billy Ray Cyrus (1992), LeAnn Rimes (1996), Buddy Jewell (2003) and Gretchen Wilson (2004). Sony Nashville, Miranda's parent record label, has released the last three new acts to debut at number- one. No other music company has scored a Country number-one debut on a first album since 1996. Miranda's Kerosene sits at #18 on the Billboard Top 200 as well.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050325/LAFRU5 )

"When my manager called with the news I was driving home from the gym and I had to tell him to hang on because my truck had just died," laughs Miranda. "I had to pull over to the side of the road - I'd like to say it was just because of the shock I was feeling, but my truck really wouldn't start. It's an old beat up Ford and it's always doing that but it picked the perfect moment."

"Of course the first thing I did when I got home was call my band and they all started crying, adds Miranda. "This weekend we're doing a show in Gulfport at a Casino so we'll leave the celebration to your imagination."

"A Number One debut for a new artist is a major feat and is a testament to Miranda's solid talent as a singer, songwriter and performer. All of us at Epic are extremely proud of Miranda," says Mark Wright, Executive Vice President, A&R, Sony Music Nashville.

In addition to the sales success, Miranda is also receiving widespread critical acclaim. The news of her Number One debut comes on the heels of a sweeping media blitz that found Miranda on NBC's Today Show, on the cover of USA Today with a two-page feature spread and reviews in the pages of People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Associated Press and countless other national outlets. She'll be the focus of large upcoming features for the Associated Press, Parade, People and many of the country's top daily newspapers.

People's review (on stands now) avowed, "While she'll remind you at times of Gretchen Wilson and Dolly Parton, this worthy 21-year-old Texan is clearly her own singer." An album review by the Associated Press confirmed, "Lambert has come up with a solid album full of thoughtful words and tuneful melodies, delivered with fresh country conviction." Entertainment Weekly called Kerosene, "a spunky set of honky-tonk, country rock and Sheryl Crow inspired ballads," adding, "Her vocals evoke Natalie Maines and she clearly knows how to writer a killer tune." And on noting that Miranda gained her notoriety on the USA Network's Nashville Star series, The New York Times named her album "excellent" and wrote that her," ... strong voice that hints at mischief, and Kerosene, her impressive debut, might be the best album so far from the current reality-pop boom."

Miranda wrote or co-wrote eleven of the twelve tracks on Kerosene including the first single, "Me and Charlie Talking" which was a top-twenty- five radio hit and has been the Number One song on the Texas Music Charts for the last eleven consecutive weeks - tying Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." She will likely hold on for a twelfth. Her new radio single, "Bring Me Down" will go for adds on April 4.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050325/LAFRU5 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Front Page Publicity

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