Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris Gang Up on ‘Way Too Pretty for Prison’

This one is so much fun it's probably illegal.

Written by Chris Parton
Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris Gang Up on ‘Way Too Pretty for Prison’
Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris; Photo courtesy of Vanner Records/RCA Nashville

Miranda Lambert makes Maren Morris her latest partner in crime in their dangerously fun new duet, “Way Too Pretty for Prison.”

Full of bad-girl attitude and back-alley sass, the superstar collaboration is part of Lambert’s upcoming Wildcard album (due November 1). It begins with crash of cymbals and Lambert’s sly Texas vocal, opening up into a strutting anthem that weighs the risks and rewards of revenge. Alongside gospel-organ accents and a lighthearted beat, Morris joins in for the second verse to imagine some fool-proof options for getting rid of a two-timing cheater — reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks’ classic “Goodbye Earl” — but ultimately the girls decide they wouldn’t last five minutes behind bars. Lambert says the whole thing was inspired by another of country’s top female voices, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild.

“Karen Fairchild and I were having a wine night to talk about The Bandwagon Tour, and I always tell my friends, ‘Don’t leave if you’ve been drinking, because you’re way too pretty for prison,’” Lambert explains in a statement about the song. “She got a ride home at the end of the night, and the next day I had a write with The Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose). I was telling them about our night, and that conversation, and they said, ‘Well that’s what we’re writing today.’ I’m so glad Maren joined me on singing this song. She sang her ass off and it was so fun to have her in the studio.”

“We’re way too pretty for prison / Hard time ain’t our kind of livin’ / I don’t want to talk about / The way those jumpsuits wash us out / We’re way too pretty for prison,” goes the upbeat chorus hook.

It’s not the first time Lambert has recruited another country star for a criminally good time. She and Carrie Underwood hatched a plan for “Something Bad” in 2014 — a Platinum certified No.1 that ended up being nominated for a Grammy award. Lambert and Morris will soon be sharing time on the road, teaming up for Lambert’s Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour this fall.