Miranda Lambert Offers Mellow Performance of ‘Settling Down’ on 2020 CMA Awards
Her husband even starred in the music video for the song.
Miranda Lambert offered a mellow take on her reflective new single “Settling Down” at the 2020 CMA Awards.
The country superstar opted for a stripped down performance of “Settling Down” from the stage at the Music City Center in Nashville. Supported by the song’s co-writer Luke Dick on guitar, Lambert’s vocals and stage presence felt down to earth, with former opening act Caylee Hammack standing and singing along from the audience as she professed, “Bare feet on the tile with my head up in the clouds/I’m one heart goin’ both directions/One love and a couple of questions/Am I settlin’ up or settlin’ down?” As Lambert brought the song to a close, she gave a shout out to friend and the song’s other co-writer Natalie Hemby saying “love you Nat” with a smile on her face, speaking to Hemby who was in the crowd that rewarded her with a standing ovation.
Lambert went into the ceremony as a winner, taking home Music Video of the Year for her number one hit “Bluebird,” the song which is also nominated for Song of the Year. She’s also vying for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Wildcard on which “Settling Down” is featured. She was also nominated for “Single of the Year” for “Bluebird,” an award that ultimately went to Maren Morris, and Musical Event of the Year for her all-star collaboration “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” the award going to Carly Pearce and Lee Brice for “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
The day before the awards, Lambert celebrated her 37th birthday at home with her husband, Brendan McLoughlin. The former NYPD officer honored his bride with a sweet post to Instagram.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Brendan McLoughlin (@brendanjmcloughlin) on
“Would love to just wish a happy birthday to my amazing wife. Not only am I thankful, but I am so proud to be able to call you my wife. You are the most genuine and caring person I truly have ever met,” he wrote. “The amount of rescue dogs we have says it all. You go above and beyond to make sure those around you are always happy. The list is endless of all the reasons why I love you, but there’s one that holds a special place. It is how you stay true to who you are. No matter what hurdles life has thrown in the way, you have always stayed true to your heart and that says more than you will ever know. I love you and I hope you have such an amazing birthday.”
Brendan also co-starred in the music video for the song, which showed the couple enjoying time together on their farm in Nashville.
“Just sharing that moment together, I’ve never really let anyone in to my personal life that much over my career and this is kind of the most I have ever shown anyone sort of behind the scenes of my real life,” Lambert explained. “You saw my real cabin, my real husband and our farm but I think it was time and it felt right. Brendan is learning to fish. He moved to Nashville from New York City last spring so he’s getting his fishing game going pretty good.”
Co-hosted by Darius Rucker and Reba McEntire, the 54th Annual CMA Awards aired live on ABC from Nashville’s Music City Center on November 11.
