How Miranda Lambert's life has changed since her divorce

By Bryanne Salazar 8:43am PST, Nov 8, 2017

Going through a divorce is hard. It's even more difficult when you're famous and the world is watching your every move. No one knows this more than country music superstar Miranda Lambert, who went through a painful split from husband Blake Shelton in July 2015 but has refused to discuss the experience publicly. A lot has happened in Miranda's life since her and Blake's four-year marriage came to an end. To mark her 34th birthday on Nov. 10, 2017, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at some of Miranda's biggest moments since she signed those divorce papers and embarked on a new life as a single woman in the world of country music. Keep reading to learn more…

Two days after the ink was dry on Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton's divorce decree, she put on her cowgirl boots and hit the one place she knew would make her feel better: the stage. Seen here on July 22, 2015, Miranda and country singer Ashley Monroe performed a duet during a concert hosted by SiriusXM in Nashville. Miranda wasn't about to sit at home and feel sorry for herself. It was also important for her to show her fans that she was strong and ready to move on with her life.

On July 29, 2015, Miranda Lambert (seen here earlier that summer) proved she was only human when she broke down in tears on stage while performing the song "Over You" during a concert in Chicago. The song was co-written by her ex, Blake Shelton, and has emotion-stirring lyrics like "They say I'll be okay / But I'm not going to ever get over you" and "It really sinks in, you know / When I see it in stone / 'Cause you went away." Miranda reportedly was so overcome, she couldn't finish the song and asked the audience for help.

In September 2015, Miranda Lambert got a fresh chance at love with rhythm and blues musician Anderson East. The pair kept a low profile in the early days of their romance — the tabloids didn't catch wind of it till that December — and waited until the Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2016 to make their red carpet debut as a couple.

On Oct. 6, 2015, Miranda Lambert was honored for her talent and success with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville. The singer shared her big moment with deceased country music legend Johnny Cash and made sure to thank everyone for "the honor and privilege" of her star, saying, "This is a milestone moment that I will cherish forever."

On Oct. 21, 2015, Taylor Swift had a big surprise for fans at her concern in Greensboro, North Carolina: She invited Miranda Lambert on stage for a duet performance of Miranda's 2014 hit "Little Red Wagon." Miranda looked like her bright, happy and confident self while rocking a 1989 shirt (honoring Taylor's album of the same name) while the two belted out a playful rendition of her tune. It seemed to the world that Miranda was no longer nursing a post-divorce broken heart.

Less than a day after Blake Shelton's rep confirmed he was in a romantic relationship with fellow "The Voice" coach Gwen Stefani, Miranda Lambert arrived at the 49th Annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville rocking pink-tipped hair and a killer, body-hugging black dress. While it was clear that Miranda was struggling to keep a smile on her face, she didn't let news of her ex's new flame burn her big night. Nominated for four awards, Miranda took home the CMA Award for female vocalist of the year. Later that night, she shared a post on Instagram that revealed her emotional state of mind, writing the lyrics "I could spend ages reading the news / I could spend days, singing the blues / But I turn up the TV light / Give up without a fight / Better than pretending to know what's wrong and what's right" from Lake Street Dive's song "Better Than." Fans rushed to support Miranda, reminding her that the pain would eventually pass.

In an effort to reclaim her happiness, Miranda Lambert shared this selfie showing off new diamond stud earrings on Instagram to celebrate her 32nd birthday on Nov. 10, 2015. In the post she wrote, "Diamonds are a girls best friend! #2isbetterthan1 #piercing #32today #bday," and later shared a picture of a semi-permanent wrist tattoo of a colorful unicorn — letting the world know that even after her divorce and news of Blake Shelton's relationship with Gwen Stefani, she still believed in magic.

Shortly after announcing that her "Keeper of the Flame" tour would kick off on April 30, 2016, Miranda headed abroad for her first-ever overseas performances, beginning in London on March 11, 2016 (seen here). Miranda sang live at London's Country 2 Country Festival and followed the performance with stops in Dublin, Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland.

On April 3, 2016, Miranda Lambert arrived in Las Vegas to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards, where she was nominated for three prizes and ultimately won two: vocal event of the year (for her song "Smokin' and Drinkin'" featuring country group Little Big Town) and female vocalist of the year. Blake Shelton didn't attend the show due to a scheduling conflict with "The Voice," which kept the event drama-free for both exes and left Miranda free to shine that night.

On Sept. 25, 2016, photographers caught Miranda Lambert smiling and singing along backstage while her new younger beau, Anderson East, performed at the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Tennessee. Miranda had a lot to be smiling about that month including her new scholarship program (The Women Creators Scholarship) choosing its first-ever recipient on Sept. 6. (Music student Anna Vaus at Belmont University in Nashville received an amazing $40,000 for the 2016-2017 school year.) On Sept. 27, Miranda also opened her boutique, The Pink Pistol, in Lindale, Texas — she'd boarded up the original in Blake Shelton's hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, after their split — giving her another business venture and new opportunities for growth.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Miranda Lambert took the stage at the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards, where she was nominated for (but didn't win) female vocalist of the year. She performed her newest single at the time, "Vice," from her sixth studio album, "The Weight of These Wings" which was released to enormous critical acclaim on Nov. 18. The performance was riveting and raw, as Miranda sang about coping mechanisms that left her not knowing where she was in her life. She later explained in interviews that she wrote the song during a particularly painful time post-divorce and put exactly how she felt into the lyrics, saying, "I wrote this at the exact time of the s— hitting the fan… I think it's great, though. It's documented on paper with emotion."

One thing Miranda Lambert didn't expect from the November 2016 CMA Awards was to clash with internet trolls. After posting this picture of herself with boyfriend Anderson East at the show on Instagram, Miranda was shocked at how many negative comments she received. Commenters wrote things like "you deserve better" and "he is not the one for you" while tearing into their clothing and facial expressions. Miranda commented on the platform saying the haters were "cowardly people hiding behind a keyboard or a cell phone writing their useless comments…" She followed her response with "Thank y'all for reminding me why I read books, write songs and spend most of my time with animals and people I trust and love."

Notoriously private Miranda Lambert (seen here performing in April 2017) isn't known for opening up about her love life. While she's famously never spoken about her divorce from Blake Shelton, she did let fans know her sixth studio album, "The Weight of These Wings," explored her emotions during that difficult time, saying, "All the parts of me, the parts of the pain I went through, everything that happens to a person in their life — especially in the last couple years for me — is on this record." Interestingly, in January 2017 while performing at Joe's Bar in Chicago for a small crowd, Miranda did open up about leaning on alcohol shortly after her marriage ended, admitting she "started drinking a little extra." Miranda went on to say, "I found myself in Midtown in Nashville, three nights in a row, at, like, last call and with the lights coming on and I'd be sitting there." She said the experience was the inspiration behind her song "Ugly Lights."

Miranda Lambert was all smiles on April 2, 2017, after she won her eighth straight female vocalist of the year trophy at the Academy of Country Music Awards (setting a new record in the process). "The Weight of These Wings" also won album of the year, and in July, it reached platinum status after selling more than 1 million copies. Miranda had also just wrapped up her successful "Highway Vagabond" tour in March, meaning she had time to kick back, relax and enjoy her accolades.

If you've ever peeped Miranda Lambert's Instagram page, you know she's not shy about her love of animals, especially dogs. On June 8, 2017, Miranda, mom Beverly Lambert (right) and the mayor of Nashville, Megan Barry (left), participated in a march for the singer's non-profit, MuttNation, which works to promote the adoption of shelter pets while also teaching the importance of spaying and neutering animals. Miranda founded MuttNation in 2009 with her mom and has done amazing work through the organization, including supporting shelters in all 50 states as well actively taking part in the rescue of animals stranded after Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas.

Miranda Lambert looked stunning on the red carpet at the June 7, 2017, CMT Music Awards in Nashville. She was nominated for video of the year and female video of the year, both for her hit single "Vice." While she didn't take home either of the awards, Miranda did spark a memorable style moment during her performance of the catchy track "Pink Sunglasses." Much to the amusement of viewers watching the show at home, everyone in the audience donned a pair of pink sunglasses while Miranda sang on stage.

On Sept. 12, 2017, Miranda Lambert joined forces with legendary country music star George Strait (seen here) to perform for the "Hand in Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief" concert to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The concert featured artists like Brad Paisley and Demi Lovato, but it was Miranda's closing performance along with George, Lyle Lovett, Chris Stapleton and more that really left audiences inspired. The benefit raised an estimated $55 million.

On Sept. 12, 2017, Miranda Lambert and her boyfriend, Anderson East, celebrated their two-year anniversary. Miranda marked the occasion by sharing a sweet message on Instagram she hashtagged #bamaboy (short for Alabama, where Anderson is from) along with a lyric from their duet "Pushin' Time." "Oh how I remember well, sunset on September 12th…" she wrote. It's been rumored the couple, seen here together in Nashville on Sept. 20, might be engaged, though no new rings have been spotted on either of their fingers. Since September, Miranda's been back on the road touring. She also graced the cover of Redbook magazine's November 2017 issue. She's proven over the last few years that not even heartbreak can stop her from having it all.

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