Country music superstar Miranda Lambert is finally putting one of Music City’s most persistent urban legends to rest.
For over a decade, rumors circulated across the country landscape alleging that the 42-year-old “Gunpowder & Lead” singer had physically punched Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger in the face during her 27th birthday celebration at a Nashville bar back in 2010.
Appearing on the New York Times’ Popcast with host Jon Caramanica, Lambert addressed the infamous night directly, confirming that while a confrontation certainly took place, no punches were thrown.
“I threw moonshine in his face,” Lambert revealed. “I did do that.”
When Caramanica jokingly inquired about the condition of Kroeger’s signature long hairstyle at the time, Lambert quipped: “I wrecked it. It was a lot [of hair].”
Lambert admitted feeling a bit “nervous” to revisit the story on air before offering context regarding the late-night altercation, noting simply that “it was a late night and no one was in their best state.”
When pressed on whether the exchange with the 51-year-old Canadian rocker was a “playful, mischievous” interaction between musicians, Lambert gave a firm answer: “No.”
“I don’t know if we’re fine now,” she added with a smirk, “But I don’t care.”
After the podcast co-hosts offered a playful apology for bringing up the 16-year-old bar legend, Lambert took it in stride, acknowledging the lasting public fascination with what she described as a “ridiculous” and “magical” moment in time.
Lambert also noted that any potential industry awkwardness has long passed, pointing out that she recently completed a musical collaboration with pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne—who was married to Kroeger from 2013 to 2015—adding simply, “we’re good.”
The bar story originally gained mainstream traction in 2014 when Lambert’s ex-husband, Blake Shelton, referenced the incident during an interview with Rolling Stone. At the time of the 2010 confrontation, Lambert and Shelton were engaged.
“People always try to pop off or call her bluff at bars,” Shelton recalled to Rolling Stone in 2014. “One of them I don’t want to say the guy’s name, but he’s the lead singer of a very popular rock band. His initials are C.K.”
