Miranda Lambert signed with Epic Records on September 15, 2003. She had previously gained national exposure as the third runner up on the television talent show “Nashville Star” and had built a fan base by touring throughout the Southeast. Her first release with the label was 2005’s “Kerosene,” which hit the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart. When Miranda hit number one with the album, she bumped “Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)” by Kenny Chesney on April 2, 2005. Trace Adkins eventually claimed the top spot with “Songs About Me.”Lambert released just one album with Epic Nashville, who closed its doors and transferred her contract to Columbia Nashville. She released her next two albums with the label before joining RCA Nashville for “Four the Record.”