Miranda Lambert Sees Career Best Debut with New Single
Miranda Lambert is back with a big new single called “It All Comes Out in the Wash” ahead of a new album out this fall, and the big question on a lot of people’s minds once the single was released was if radio would play it. To say commercial country radio has been lukewarm on singles from Miranda and many women lately would be an understatement. Lambert’s last two singles “Tin Man” and “Keeper of the Flame” only made it to #22 and #55 respectively. Miranda hasn’t had a Top 10 on radio since 2014.
But “It All Comes Out in the Wash” makes its entrance with its first week on radio like it was shot out of a canon. The single receives the biggest first week adds at reporting radio stations in Miranda Lambert’s career, with Mediabase reporting 108 adds, and Nielsen reporting 92. That’s good enough for Miranda to debut at #19 right out of the chute on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, and also allows her to take the biggest gain in audience on the week with a whopping 11.2 million impressions. Only her single “Vice” debuted better on the charts, showing up at #18 after the first week.
“It All Comes Out in the Wash” is also showing solid strength in consumption, coming in at #36 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart its debut week. The Hot Country Songs chart also considers sales and streaming data along with radio play.
Miranda Lambert co-wrote the new song with the “Love Junkies” Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, and Hillary Lindsey. It’s produced by Jay Joyce, which is a shakeup from previous Miranda singles where Frank Liddell was in the producers seat. Lambert has been saying the new record is a return to her roots of sorts, and will be more aggressive and sassy. “It All Comes Out in the Wash” certainly is that.
But don’t start popping champagne just yet if you’re a Miranda Lambert fan. There are a lot of promising signs for “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” but now the single must follow through. The lead single from her last record “Vice” debuted strongly too before stalling out at #11 on radio, despite going #2 on the consumption-based Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This speaks to the uphill battle Miranda Lambert and many other women face on country radio.
As we saw with George Strait’s recent single “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” released in February, it debuted very solid at #20, but then stalled out at #17. Nonetheless, that consistency of staying in the Top 20 for multiple weeks gave George more mainstream country radio success than he’d seen in years. A big debut doesn’t always mean a big finish, but with Miranda and George, it means more radio support than previous efforts. We’ll also have to keep an eye out on Miranda’s record label Sony Nashville to see if they will put support behind the single, especially with such a promising start.
Margaret
July 28, 2019 @ 8:50 am
I grew up on the island of Jamaica, and country music was the only genre we were allowed to listen to. Thanks to my father, it’s still the only genre I love to listen to today. Go Country
Norma Rowland
July 28, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
Miranda music always great she works her but off for all her fans i will be going to see Miranda in Columbia SC on November 8 2019 can’t wait
Black Boots
July 28, 2019 @ 9:45 am
It’s a jam, so that’s great news
Caroline Calabio
July 28, 2019 @ 2:35 pm
I love For a music Her music never Fails us
sbach66
July 28, 2019 @ 10:24 am
Over under on how many posts until the nutjobs show up?
CeeCeeBee
July 28, 2019 @ 10:46 am
Put me down for 7.
This is good news, but I don’t expect it to hold. The novelty of new music from her will wear off in a week or so and radio will go back to ignoring her again.
Hope I’m wrong, about both radio and the over/under, but history has shown I’m probably right about both.
Trigger
July 28, 2019 @ 10:56 am
If “It All Comes Out in the Wash” goes #7 on country radio, I would see this as a victory. This would be Miranda’s best charting performance in a while, and would mean a large audience is being served her music. I also saw George Strait’s success with “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” as a success, even if it didn’t make it to #1. I think too much emphasis is being put on #1’s, and not looking at the breadth of success a single can have to help promote the albums and tours of artists, which ultimately is the point. Not every song is meant to go #1, and not every song should. Miranda may go #1, but it will only be if her label is willing to put the effort out to get it there.
CeeCeeBee
July 28, 2019 @ 11:04 am
Agree, Trigger, actually considering the thud with which “Keeper of the Flame” and “Name Changed Back” arrived at country radio, I actually already consider these debut numbers to be a success for her.
Jbarr
July 28, 2019 @ 11:15 am
Miranda seems like she can’t win right now. Started with a good radio debut but bombed commercially. Vice had strong sales going for it but Wash is being outsold by year old country songs. I don’t think Locomotive is in top 300 on iTunes anymore. Sony got her on top of the Hot Country Spotify list but that went nowhere. It makes you wonder what her demographic is now.
Trigger
July 28, 2019 @ 2:39 pm
Troll comment.
Cho cho
July 28, 2019 @ 5:18 pm
Lol. It’s about #100 on iTunes and #1100 on Apple Music after only 10 days. It’s clearly not connecting with consumers. But yeah, let’s blame commenters for facts. You’re a loser, man.
Trigger
July 28, 2019 @ 5:30 pm
Lol. iTunes. There’s a reason they’re shutting the format down.
But for the record, it’s at #32 in country on iTunes at the moment, not #100. Perhaps the single will fail, I don’t know. But it happens to be a career best debut on radio, and that’s what this article is about.
Jbarr
July 28, 2019 @ 8:37 pm
I don’t think name calling is necessary. We all get defensive when our favorites are struggling. I should have phrased my comment differently I guess. I think we can all agree that her lead single is selling and streaming very poorly. Songs from 2018 are outselling and out streaming her. Her label can’t be happy with her performance. I guess my main question is if Miranda is struggling to connect with her fans, how will her song test among radio audiences? That affects its chances of going number one doesn’t it? There was a lot of excitement around new Miranda music but for some reason fans aren’t supporting her two singles. Why do you think it is? Thank you.
ICUCletus
July 29, 2019 @ 9:19 am
Miranda skips radio spins and goes to directly to Granny nominations and wins. After all, isn’t radio #1’s a stepping stone to a hopeful Grammy. There are tons of radio #1’s but fewer for the coveted Grammy win. No worries Jbarr and Cho cho, Miranda will be just fine. Her talent is BIG, that’s why she lot of fans. Some of her songs are better than her others, depends on your personal favs. But they all still better than most (i.e., Kinkin Boots, and most of the crap Shelton puts out.)
Jbarr
July 29, 2019 @ 9:50 am
I’m not familiar with her Grammy award wins but from the look of it she won none for her last album. Of course Miranda has a lot of fans but I asked Trigger why are fans not buying her lead single of her forthcoming album. Maren Morris’ 4 month old non single is outselling Miranda. Does her new sound not appeal to fans, is it the new producer, marketing, Miranda’s personal struggles? And will the commercial failure affect her chart run?
Chris
July 29, 2019 @ 2:41 pm
It’s a career best debut that is no doubt due largely to hourly spins on iHeart owned stations. Which makes it just another kind of chart manipulation. It doesn’t necessarily reflect high demand for the track from the general public. Whether the track has any legs will become evident once all the pseudo-payola spins wear off. And Jbarr’s comment was not a troll comment. His (her?) concerns are valid. If consumers outside of Miranda’s loyal stan army aren’t connecting with the track, that spells trouble, high chart debut or not.
And before the Miranda stan army flames me – this is NOT a knock on Miranda or the quality of the track. I would love to see it succeed and bump Maren Morris’ faux-Camilla-Cabello ass off the country airwaves. But let’s be realistic and not look at this through rose colored glasses.
Dee Manning
July 29, 2019 @ 1:17 am
Exactly. There is a fine line between “she’s so badass, love her ” and “gee that was a shitty thing to do” and I think she is on the wrong side of that equasion. Consumers don’t just consider the quality of the music, like it or not.
Rosemary
July 28, 2019 @ 12:46 pm
I just love her.your single like all your other songs are great
RJMay
July 28, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
I quit listening to Country radio years ago when they started playing Country Rap Music or Crap Music. Radio needs to play true country artist like Miranda Lambert to up their ratings
Stella
July 28, 2019 @ 1:39 pm
I love her! Love her new singles and I’m looking forward to the whole album ML7.
elf
July 28, 2019 @ 1:41 pm
It had an iheart radio promo deal (so did Vice) but it’s not a “real” sign of radio support/strength. Currently the song is 39th on MB, after losing promo spins. And now we’ll see what happens.
Kim Stewart
July 28, 2019 @ 1:42 pm
Love all your music!
Jayne steiner
July 28, 2019 @ 2:16 pm
Shes the best so I hope she keeps the country sound alive.
Barbara Storey
July 28, 2019 @ 2:25 pm
Love her
Chrissy
July 28, 2019 @ 2:42 pm
Miranda music has a bit of spunk. That’s what Country Music is about. It tells a story from the past & future. I see the change our Country is taking and alot of Country Music singers are trying to stay a float. I just pray that they can still produce great music that touches the souls of our era….
God bless Miranda, George Strait, and all the others that are dedicated to Country Music !
North Woods Country
July 28, 2019 @ 2:53 pm
It’s a net positive for sure but I just hate that she had to make such a drastic sonic change in order to get spins. You know mainstream radio is fucked up when great artists have to record with certain arrangements and production in order to get airtime. I also dislike the message of the song considering who it’s coming from, but that doesn’t really affect its overall quality.
LINDA MURPHY
July 28, 2019 @ 3:43 pm
Miranda and the Annie’s gave me balls
At 60
Larry Porter
July 28, 2019 @ 4:20 pm
Hi Miranda your new song is awesome baby! If You ever want to deerr hunt in Michigan I will show you s big shooter besides I would like to take you out to dinner 😊
sbach66
July 28, 2019 @ 5:28 pm
If you went with “21,” you win.
Some others edged close, but I’m going with that.
V Jones
July 28, 2019 @ 5:54 pm
Miranda has never been a fake and sometimes if you’re not a kissup , you don’t get the attention you deserve. Her songs show such passion and her voice is so soothing. Regardless of reaching a #1 on the charts, she has a following like no other. Her concerts are always sold out because she’s one of us ! Fans love , love, love her ! They’ll defend her ’til the end .
Sam
July 29, 2019 @ 10:56 pm
Uh. No her concerts aren’t always sold out. Most recent was Mid State Fair in CA. Didn’t sell out. Tickets were quite cheap. And this song had Iheart playing it every hour. It’s already dropped on MB. And BB will reflect that this week. Plus label pays for spot on Spotify Hot Country. It is what it is. Not sure about this article. It’s currently 123 all genres ITunes. 36 on Country. I guess it’s good for her.
CountryKnight
July 30, 2019 @ 9:01 am
Miranda has never been a fake? LOL.
I guess you neglected to remember her appearance on “Boys Round Here” or her inconsistent privacy policy regarding the paparazzi or how she never yelled for women in country music when she is flying high on the radio and award shows.
Diamond Girl
August 10, 2019 @ 7:09 pm
Miranda is a genuine TX girl and a genuine songwriter and artist. This article is about the music, not papparazzi countryknight. And you are wrong about her in regard to supporting women in country music, Miranda has always supported women in country music. When she won several awards she always graciously gave credit to other women artists.
Ann Smith
July 28, 2019 @ 6:18 pm
These two songs are just not my favorites of Miranda’s. I hope the album has some better offerings. I’ll reserve judgement on this new era until I hear the album. I do think she has peaked in her career. I don’t think this album will as successful sales and awards wise and I’m not sure this upcoming tour will be real success either. I think there are other ladies coming up that will take over the spotlight in CM.
Judy
July 28, 2019 @ 6:23 pm
i love miranda and her music. She is great.
wayne
July 28, 2019 @ 6:47 pm
As stated in an aforementioned article, one problem with the declining audience of country is the artists do not have distinctive voices. Most are too generic and sound similar. That applies to both male and female.
That can’t be said for Miranda. You immediately know it is her when she sings. That is to be appreciated regardless of one’s opinion of her songs, voice, or personal life.
Sherry
July 28, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
Here I go.. country music radio has let us women all down..They dont play female artist.. Music companys are screwing the female artist over.
Paul
July 29, 2019 @ 4:23 am
Hi Sherry, I’m A Brit in the UK. I only really listen to female country singers. They just seem to me, to put a song over better. Miranda (and the Annie’s!) Being my all time favorite!
Judy Peoples
July 28, 2019 @ 9:18 pm
I have Loved Miranda Lambert since the first time I had the opportunity to see her perform and I Love the words of her songs. They are meaningful to me!!
Love You Girl ❤️💋🍀🙃🙏🌺💕❤️J
Judy Peoples
Keepin it Country
July 28, 2019 @ 9:30 pm
Trigger I don’t understand why the billboard or iTunes is relevant. Billboard put lil Nas x on the chart to begin with and Blanco Brown is still there. On iTunes lil nasty is still labeled as country. I thought radio stations didn’t really have much choice in what they played due to Iheart and Cumulus. I don’t really understand the relevance or signifgance id of the charts of non country or flat out pop songs like Meant to Be are allowed to be on there
albert
July 28, 2019 @ 10:39 pm
whatever…….this ‘radio /chart popularity’ thing is a bit contradictory is it not ?
radio , for the most part is not playing country music .
the fan base listening to it is more than OK with that fact , apparently .
its a far different fan base than the one REAL country radio attracted .
its pop radio with a pop audience .why do I care whether pop radio with a pop audience likes or doesn’t like a REAL country song whether its by miranda or willie or banjo bill ? why is THAT audience the litmus test for a song’s ‘countri-ness” and/or ‘success’ ..?
george ,dolly , reba and miranda ALL sell tons of product whether pop-country radio plays it or not .
they sell to REAL country fans at shows …AND they sell out those shows .
miranda getting airplay doesn’t hurt her , of course ,and may open some virgin ears to ‘the good stuff ‘ but REAL country fans are gonna support her no matter what. they’ll KNOW a real country song when they hear it .
pandering to a pop audience who THINK they are listening to a country station is like expecting a four year old to appreciate and rate citizen kane .
63Guild
July 29, 2019 @ 4:41 am
My favorite thing is knowing that Miranda, Kane Brown, and a few others, when articles are posted about them it makes the SCM comments go weird.
CeeCeeBee
July 29, 2019 @ 6:12 am
Actually, these comments are really tame… For an article on Miranda Lambert anyway.
Radio success is still important, but if you look over Miranda’s career, she has always struggled at radio. The only time she ever had consistent success were those few years she was 1/2 of Country’s tabloid golden couple.
Even without radio support, she has managed to carve out a very significant place for herself in the industry. As nice as it would be for her to have a radio hit, I honestly don’t think she needs one.
63Guild
July 29, 2019 @ 9:00 am
I’m talking about people who post on here and have no idea what SCM really is.
63Guild
July 29, 2019 @ 9:02 am
I’m talking about the people who comment here and have no idea what SCM. See Bill Bratton below as an example
Bill Bratton
July 29, 2019 @ 6:53 am
Sound like a bunch of haters. I bet no matter where you go people know who miranda lambert is. Ask them if they have ever heard of your name.
Linda
July 29, 2019 @ 9:42 am
Absolutely LOVE all of Miranda’s music! She works so hard and it most generally pays off! She keeps women in country going! She’s 100% country!!!
jeannie
July 29, 2019 @ 11:00 am
Yes, people all over know the name Miranda Lambert….the woman and name is a draw! She even gets articles written about her clothing purchased from Target. Now why is beyond me. Hard for many people to come to grips that Miranda is the same person she was living in Texas homeless with her parents.The Gal has talent, has worked her a** off for years, she’s made her millions and knows how to keep them. Miranda doesn’t have a fake bone in her body, she is still the simple country girl….all these new, up and coming country female artist out dress her when on stage. Miranda out shines them with one thing….her talent. No I don’t look for Radio to play her new music. It will be played in my home!!!!
Alex
July 30, 2019 @ 2:54 am
Few people in the world are interested in country music in General and Miranda in particular, rather learned about her as the ex-wife of the current boyfriend Gwen.
OlaR
July 30, 2019 @ 3:15 am
Billboard Country Update (07/29):
Miranda Lambert – “It All Comes Out In The Wash” drops to #29 (last week #18) without a bullet.
Sony Nashville played the chart game & pushed Maren Morris with “Girl” to #1 (was #4).
Luke Combs (who moved must faster to the top) is still on #2 close behind the MM pop song but with much lower audience increase & plays this week.
“Country” radio does what Sony Nashville pay…well…wants.
The *hit Up:
Blanco Brown is down to #50 (Billboard Country Airplay – was #49 – no bullet)
Hot Country Songs: still #1
Country Streaming Songs: still #1
Digital Songs Sales: still #1
Country Indicator: #59 (New Entry)
The list of involved imprints & labels: TralierTrapMusic/BBMG/BMG/Wheelhouse/Stoney Creek/Broken Bow
CeeCeeBee
July 30, 2019 @ 5:00 pm
Whelp. Guess we have our answer about whether or not radio will support the new Lambert single.
TJgolf
July 30, 2019 @ 7:35 pm
I have Miranda Lambert’s music on constant repeat play and home and in my car. Funny thing is that most of my favorite songs are ones that were never released as singles. I think that is the primary problem. Whoever it is at the record label that’s making the selections needs to be replaced. This also explains why her singles never get highly charted yet the album sales are extremely strong.
dukeroberts
July 31, 2019 @ 7:48 am
Without the twang this would have been a pop hit for Sheryl Crow in the 90s.
Blake haag
August 1, 2019 @ 2:17 pm
Miranda rocks knew it first time I saw white liar she destined to be a superstar
Atomic Zombie Redneck
August 2, 2019 @ 7:01 am
It’s not my favorite Miranda song, but it’s still pretty good and worthy of the accomplishment. Good for her.