At a recent stop on her On Fire Tour, Miranda Lambert opened up about her career goals for the future, but also how she got her start -- her beginnings as a singer, especially what it was like to hear legendary country singer Loretta Lynn give her some pretty hefty praise.

Speaking of the spark that lit her road to fame, the 'House That Built Me' singer, who was discovered when she came in third place on a season of 'Nashville Star,' says she was a 19-year-old woman with a lot to say and admittedly, a bit of a chip on her shoulder at the time.

"I decided early on that no one was going to dictate what kind of songs I sang, so I learned how to play guitar and write my own," she explained to the Toledo Blade. "I expected to make music my whole life because I didn't know what else I would ever want to do. Instead of going to college, I spent my time out on the road learning how to be a better musician."

Now, with three consecutive platinum records, two ACM Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, a Grammy and a successful country trio Pistol Annies to her credit, Lambert has seen those effort pay off. Even so, the songstress says she still has goals she's trying to achieve.

"I would love to have a song that I wrote by myself to win a Song of the Year award," she shared. "There is just something special, something that makes you reach deep down into who you are as an artist, when you write a song all on your own. I wrote 'Dear Diamond' and 'Safe' on 'Four the Record' on my own, and I am so proud of those songs."

In the same interview, the interviewer reveals to Lambert that he once asked Loretta Lynn who reminder her of herself, and Lynn had, without hesitation, said Lambert. Asked how she felt about this praise, Lambert seemed to be more than flattered and honored.

"That is amazing to hear," she said, adding, "and I actually saw an interview where she talks about me ... doesn't get better than that. Loretta is one of my biggest heroes. I think she and I love and believe in the same kind of songwriting -- authentic, no-holds-barred country songs. I know I've always thought that she is one of the strongest women in music, and I hope I can set that kind of example as well. I would love to have a career like hers where I am still making music that I love well into my later years."

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