See Miranda Lambert, Anderson East Sing Joyful ‘Woke Up This Morning’
Miranda Lambert was joined by an unorthodox all-star ensemble – including none other than her own father – for a performance of “Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)” in Chicago on January 24th.
Lambert, her father Rick Lambert, boyfriend Anderson East, and harmony vocalist Gwen Sebastian (a former member of Team Blake from season two of The Voice) all came together to sing the powerful, spiritual song,
“We worked on this song for a long time today, so if it sucks, just tell us it doesn’t, okay?” Lambert laughs, before singing the song’s first notes. It’s actually Rick who steals the show, however, showing the audience at Chicago’s Joe’s Bar that his daughter isn’t the only Lambert with a set of pipes. Sebastian and East followed, taking everyone to church with their soulful vocals.
“Woke Up This Morning” was a prominent song during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, a variation of a gospel standard re-written by Reverend Osby while he served time in Aurora, Illinois’ Hinds County Jail during the Freedom Rides.
Lambert’s show at Joe’s Bar was a one-night only rehearsal for her upcoming Highway Vagabond Tour, with ticket proceeds benefitting the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Scholarship at Nashville’s Belmont University. The scholarship is awarded annually to a female student pursuing a career in the music industry. Natalie Hemby, who had a number of songwriting credits on Lambert’s 2016 double album The Weight of These Wings and just released her own solo album Puxico, opened the show.
Lambert is nominated for two Grammy Awards at this year’s ceremony. The Highway Vagabond Tour kicks off tonight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.