Miranda Lambert Reveals Why She’s A Big Fan Of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”

Miranda Lambert calls out fans for taking selfies at concert

Miranda Lambert explained why she loves one particular Willie Nelson song, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” The song was a hit before Lambert was born, but she still grew up with it.

The country singer was a guest at Texas Monthly for John Sprong’s podcast, One by Willie, where guests have the chance to wax lyrical about a favorite Willie Nelson song of theirs. Miranda Lambert’s favorite Nelson song should be apparent to those who tuned in to Nelson’s 90th birthday concert in 2023.

Lambert performed “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” at Nelson’s 90th birthday bash at The Hollywood Bowl in 2023. She’s also performed the song again recently at the Whitewater Amphitheater, where she played with Calder Allen and Wade Bowen.

She explained why the song means so much to her, and funnily enough, it’s because she likes the idea of falling for a bad boy cowboy.

“Man, what a story that is. I feel like it is one of those songs that I hear it differently every time I hear it—still, to me. It’s just, it’s such a message,” she says, the emotion apparent.

She then talks of how the audience of her recent performance reacted to the song, “Just seeing the crowd and what that song—like, the way that song hits people, seeing the crowd just sway their arms and sing it so loud. Because cowboys have this reputation, because they don’t stick around long.”

Miranda Lambert Wants To Be A Cowboy In Her Next Life

It turns out that the reputation of cowboys is something that Miranda Lambert takes special notice of. “It’s the allure of that bad boy that we all want, and I feel like this song said it perfectly,” she said.

After more discussion about the song’s history, Sprong plays “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.”

Afterward, Lambert jokes, “It’s so good. It makes me want to be a cowboy, real bad. In my next life.”

About the song, she especially loves that “they made him soft. He loves “little warm puppies.” You know what I mean? Those tender moments in the song. I love that.”

So it turns out that the song struck such a chord in Lambert that not only is she allured by cowboys, but she wishes to be one. Incredible work, Nelson.