Miranda Lambert will receive The Country Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, which are slated for Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Lambert will be honored for her 23-year career (dating back to the release of her self-released debut album), “during which she’s built an authentic, female-forward brand of country that has shaped the industry,” in the show’s words.
Last year, an ailing Toby Keith received The Country Icon Award at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards. He died a little more than four months later of stomach cancer.
Lambert will receive award two weeks after the release of her ninth solo studio album, Postcards from Texas, which is due Sept. 13.
“A tour de force in country music for more than 20 years, Miranda Lambert’s groundbreaking albums continue to capture the hearts of fans around the world,” Jen Neal, evp, live events and specials, NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement. “We’re so excited to celebrate her career, fierce individualism and innovation in the industry with the Country Icon Award.”
Lambert has long been an awards magnet. She has won a record 35 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards (more than any other woman) and three Grammys.
She has also been a major force on the Billboard charts, with five No. 1 hits on Hot Country Songs, seven No. 1s on Country Airplay, seven No. 1 albums on Top Country Albums and one No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
She has conquered Las Vegas with her twice-extended “Velvet Rodeo” residency and blurred genre lines with her work with such varied artists as Leon Bridges, Enrique Iglesias, The B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Elle King as well as her inclusive anthem “Y’all Means All” for Netflix’s Queer Eye.
In addition to her musical pursuits, Lambert is a restaurateur, businesswoman, New York Times best-selling author and, perhaps most importantly to her, shelter animal advocate. She has raised nearly $10 million to date for rescue animals via her MuttNation Foundation.
Last year, the People’s Choice Country Awards presented a second special honor, the Country Champion Award, to Wynonna Judd. The show has not yet announced who, if anyone, will receive that award this year.
Hosted by Shania Twain, the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards will air live on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT across NBC and Peacock. Voting for the fan-voted show is open now and runs through Friday, Aug. 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans can vote online at www.votepcca.com. A limited number of show tickets and VIP packages are available now at Opry.com.
People’s Choice Country Awards is produced by Den of Thieves. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski will executive produce along with RAC Clark as executive producer and showrunner.
A pre-show, Live From E!: People’s Choice Country Awards, will kick off the night at 6 p.m. ET/PT on E! The pre-show is produced by Den of Thieves with executive producers Ignjatovic, Prager and Bialkowski.
