When Platinum arrived on June 3, 2014, it marked a defining moment in Miranda Lambert’s career. Not only did the album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, it also captured the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and cemented Lambert as one of country music’s most fearless storytellers. Fifteen tracks deep, packed with bold collaborations and powerhouse songwriting, Platinum remains a snapshot of an artist at the height of her creative force. Here are five lesser known facts about the album that reveal just how layered and intentional this era truly was.
1. The album was recorded in studios across three cities
Most fans know Platinum was a Nashville-driven project, but fewer know Lambert recorded it in a sweeping list of studios. Sessions took place at Cyclops Sound in Los Angeles, Dave’s Room in Hollywood, and Ronnie’s Place, Ben’s Studio, Sound Stage Studios, St. Charles Studio, and The House in Nashville. The album’s sonic variety reflects the many rooms, producers, and musicians woven into its foundation.
2. Lambert wrote or co-wrote half the album during a creatively explosive period
Eight tracks on Platinum bear Lambert’s name as a songwriter, a notable jump from some earlier albums. She wrote across tours, writing retreats, and downtime between sessions, shaping songs that blended humor, heartbreak, nostalgia, and swagger. This dense writing streak helped define the album’s confident, personal voice.
3. Carrie Underwood wasn’t originally supposed to sing on “Somethin’ Bad”
The hit duet was originally written by Chris DeStefano, Brett James, and Priscilla Renea as a male–female collaboration. It was later rewritten as a women-driven anthem before Lambert ever heard it. When the song reached her, she immediately sent Underwood a direct email asking to collaborate, and the two fulfilled a long standing goal of recording together.
4. “Little Red Wagon” began as a gritty indie track by Audra Mae
Before the song became one of Lambert’s signature singles, it lived on Audra Mae’s album Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound. Lambert first heard Mae’s version through a recommendation from John Eddie while touring. Its camp song inspired hook and fiery delivery instantly grabbed her, and she personally asked Mae for permission to record it.
5. “All That’s Left” with The Time Jumpers was recorded in one joyful session
The collaboration with the legendary Western swing group isn’t just a feature — it captures Lambert stepping fully into a vintage country sound. The session’s live–in–studio energy created one of the album’s most playful tracks. It’s a reminder of Platinum’s core charm: celebrating country roots while rewriting the rules in real time.