from Washington Post on washingtonpost.com

Miranda Lambert's coronation at the Country Music Association Awards came with the most authentic endorsement you can get in Music City: Loretta Lynn "Nobody in country music is more country than Miranda," the icon said.

Lambert won three CMA awards Wednesday night, including the coveted album of the year, celebrating her 27th birthday by leading a sea change in country music that also included two wins for her fiance, Blake Shelton, and entertainer of the year for long-suffering Brad Paisley.

The blond Texas firebrand whose breakthrough album "Revolution" was just that joined Lynn on stage with Sheryl Crow for a rendition of "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Lambert received her female vocalist of the year trophy from Lynn, who is celebrating her 50th year as a singer.

"I hope it's the beginning," Lambert said. "I hope that I'm here 40 years from now, handing out an award like Loretta did."

Lambert also won video of the year for "The House That Built Me," which also won song of the year for songwriters Tom Douglas and Allan Shamblin.

It's a song that Lambert almost missed out on. It originally was pitched to Shelton, but when Lambert heard it, she immediately broke down because it seemed to perfectly describe her hard-luck childhood.

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