We Speak Country

Miranda Lambert’s Music for Mutts Raises More Than $1 Million for Shelter Pets

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

Miranda Lambert performing on stage in a cowboy hat

Miranda Lambert turned a night of country music in Round Top, Texas into more than $1 million for shelter pets. Her Music for Mutts benefit for MuttNation Foundation, the organization she founded with her mother Bev in 2009, brought together Lambert, Randy Rogers, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall and Juliana Rankin for an evening of music and philanthropy.

Music, community and a shared love for animals came together for an unforgettable celebration at Miranda Lambert’s “Music for Mutts” benefit event in Round Top, Texas, last Friday (Nov. 6), raising more than $1 million in support of MuttNation Foundation and its ongoing mission to improve the lives of shelter pets.

Held on the iconic Junk Gypsy property and produced by JHL Company, the special event featured a headline performance from Lambert, with special appearances by Jack Ingram, Jon Randall and Juliana Rankin. Randy Rogers kicked off the evening, setting the stage for a memorable gathering of music and philanthropy in the heart of Texas.

The setting held special meaning for Lambert, who has longstanding ties to Junk Gypsy and the Round Top community, having visited the property over the years for its renowned antique fairs and chosen it as the backdrop for the photoshoot for her acclaimed album The Weight of These Wings. The evening also made a meaningful impact on the local animal welfare community, including a generous donation to the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter to help them complete their surgical suite, which will allow them to perform spay and neuter on site. In addition, guests helped fill MuttNation’s iconic Little Red Wagon with donations to further support the shelter and the animals in its care.

“This night embodies exactly what MuttNation Foundation was created to do: bring animal lovers together to support communities and help pets in need. None of this would be possible without the incredible people, partners and supporters who believe in our mission and continue to show up for these animals. Whether it’s donating, volunteering, supporting our events or simply giving a shelter pet a second chance, every bit makes a difference. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make this night possible and for the impact we can make when we all come together,” shares Lambert.

Founded by Lambert and her mother, Bev, in 2009, MuttNation Foundation has grown into a nationwide force for animal welfare, helping more than 2,000 shelters and millions of pets through its programs and partnerships. The funds raised through Music for Mutts will further support the Foundation’s work to promote shelter pet adoption, provide resources to animal shelters and improve the lives of animals in need.

Lambert’s commitment to animal welfare has been at the heart of MuttNation since its inception, and Music for Mutts brought that mission to life through an evening that united artists, supporters and animal advocates for a cause close to her heart.

MuttNation Foundation extends a special thank you to the generous supporters who helped make Music for Mutts possible: Austin Way, Brown Distributing, Domain Entertainment, El Arroyo, High 5, Junk Gypsy, LALO Tequila, PaperCity Houston, Sony Music Publishing, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Whataburger.

About MuttNation Foundation

Founded by Miranda Lambert and her mom, Bev, in 2009, MuttNation is a donation-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the adoption of shelter pets, advancing spay and neuter initiatives, and educating the public about the benefits of these actions. Since its founding, MuttNation has raised over $16 million and helped more than 2,000 shelters and millions of pets nationwide. The Foundation also provides financial support and works with transport partners to assist and relocate animals during times of natural disaster. MuttNation Fueled by Miranda Lambert, a pet line of toys and supplies that benefits the Foundation, is available exclusively at Tractor Supply Company stores throughout the U.S. To learn more, visit www.muttnation.com.

About Miranda Lambert

Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multifaceted career as an artist, entertainer, producer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. Her latest album, Crisco, featuring current single “Snakeskin Boots” with Ella Langley, is available everywhere now via MCA and continued her unbroken streak of 11 consecutive Top 10s on the Country Albums chart. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, she has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”

Lambert has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection as well as Idyllwind, her western clothing, accessories and footwear brand at Boot Barn.

Lauren Alaina Sells Out Her Ryman Debut and Brings Out Luke Bryan, HARDY and Scotty McCreery in Nashville

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

We Speak Media

Lauren Alaina sings on stage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during her sold-out headlining debut, with her band beside her and a packed crowd in the pews and balcony

Sixteen years after she auditioned for American Idol on the Ryman Auditorium stage, Lauren Alaina came back to headline it, sold the room out, and closed The Stages Tour with a night built around family, friends and surprise guests.

On Thursday (Nov. 12), Diamond-certified Country superstar Lauren Alaina made her SOLD-OUT Ryman Auditorium debut – a full-circle moment for the small-town Georgia native who auditioned for American Idol sixteen years ago on the very same stage.

Taking a well-deserved victory lap, Alaina surprised her sold-out crowd with several star-studded guests, including her brother, Tyler Suddeth (“Babies Raising Babies”), Scotty McCreery (“When You Say Nothing At All”), Emily Ann Roberts (“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”), Chase Matthew (“All My Exes”), HARDY and Devin Dawson (“ONE BEER”) and Luke Bryan (“Drink A Beer”) for an emotional tribute to the loved ones they have both lost.

Concluding her 15-stop headlining The Stages Tour last night, Alaina has donated $1 for every ticket sold throughout the tour to her foundation, My Kinda People – contributing to several causes that are meaningful to her and her “Kinda People.”

“I was introduced to the world on the Ryman stage in my American Idol audition 16 years ago. It was the perfect and only place to end The Stages Tour,” Alaina shares. “It was even more special because the night supported our military heroes who sacrifice so much for us.”

At the start of the show, Alaina announced her new My Kinda People initiative with the Fisher House Foundation. An exclusive signed CD,“For The Boots,” was available for purchase and included “Boots On The Ground” and a Live at The Opry performance of “When You Say Nothing At All” featuring her dad and brother, Tyler. For those who were unable to attend the show, the remaining signed CDs are available for purchase as well as an Amazon exclusive “Boots On The Ground” t-shirt. All proceeds will go to the Fisher House Foundation, helping military and veteran families when a loved one is in the hospital.

After nine years of dedication to her craft, Lauren recently topped the charts at country radio, earning her fourth No.1 with smash hit “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew), becoming one of only five female country artists to reach the top of the charts in 2026, joining an elite group of powerhouses including Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Stella Lefty, and Taylor Swift. Alaina is now one of eight women to have earned multiple Country Airplay No.1s this decade. Adding to her milestones, Alaina performed “Never Been In Love” (which features childhood friend Kane Brown) on Live with Kelly and Mark last month from her 17-song collection Stages. The confessional track has become Alaina’s highest streaming debut to date.

About Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina, praised by Rolling Stone for her “powerhouse, honey-toned vocals that meld timeless twang with modern sass,” continues her “limitless upward trajectory” (American Songwriter) as one of country music’s most magnetic entertainers. Her new album Stages, out now (8/28) builds on the momentum of smash hit “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew)” that just topped the charts at country radio, making it the fourth No. 1 of her career. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2022, Alaina has earned four No. 1 hits: “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew),” Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” the 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification. The vocalist has performed on some of the highest-profile stages in the world including PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, CBS’ Beyond The Edge, ABC’s The Bachelorette, TODAY, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s CMA Fest specials, CMA and ACM Awards, Nickelodeon’s All That, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime performance, MLB’s World Series national anthem performance, a performance at the White House for President Obama, and more.