Miranda Lambert won Billboard’s inaugural Country Icon Award at the 2026 Billboard Country Power Players event in Nashville on June 3, becoming the first recipient of the newly created honor that recognizes her nearly two-decade career in country music.
Songwriter Tom Douglas, who co-wrote Lambert’s signature hit “The House That Built Me,” presented the award. In her acceptance speech at the event held on the rooftop of Luke Combs’ Category 10 bar, Lambert pledged to use her influence for “good” and committed to lifting up the next generation of country artists.
“Country music is my life, it’s what I’ve dedicated my entire adulthood to, and I still feel like even though I’ve been doing this for 23 years, I have 23 good ones left in me, I hope,” Lambert told the crowd of her peers. “I’m trying to lift up the next generation.”
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Miranda Lambert wins inaugural Billboard Country Icon Award
Lambert has achieved seven No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, beginning with “The House That Built Me” in 2010. She continues to mentor emerging country artists, most notably collaborating with rising star Ella Langley on the co-written hit “Choosin’ Texas,” which Lambert described as unexpected in its massive success. This is Lambert’s second Icon Award—she previously received the Country Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards.
Sources
- Country Living — detailed account of the award ceremony, Lambert’s acceptance speech, and her mentorship of younger artists
- Billboard — coverage of the 2026 Country Power Players event and Lambert’s Icon Award presentation
