News-Herald.com - Willoughby, OH, USA - Miranda Lambert knows she has lucky stars to thank.

As second runner-up in 2003 on "Nashville Star," the young singer believes she's escaped the baggage that comes from winning a TV talent show.

"It's perfect, because I got all of the exposure of the winner, Buddy Jewell, but I didn't have to have that 'Nashville Star' title on my albums for the rest of my life," said Lambert, calling from St. Louis. "I didn't have to put an album out in a month. I had time to really put the music together that I wanted and finish writing the songs. I felt

Great American Country - Nashville, TN, USA - It's only been four years since Miranda Lambert broke into country music as a contestant on the 2003 season of USA Network's "Nashville Star," but now she's taking on judging duties on another reality show.

ABC has announced that Miranda is one of three industry pros who will decide which of the six hopefuls on ABC's "Six Degrees of Martina McBride" will achieve their dream of a shot at country music stardom. Miranda will join Ray Benson, the front man and only surviving founder of the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel, and Beverly Keel, columnist for The Tennessean and