John Fogerty Joins Pistol Annies Onstage in L.A

Miranda Lambert has a new album (Four the Record), a new-ish husband (Blake Shelton) and a new Country Music Association award (for Female Vocalist of the Year). But last night at a Los Angeles show by her girl-group side project, the Pistol Annies, Lambert seemed most proud of having made a new friend: John Fogerty.

"I don't mean to brag," the country star insisted, introducing her song "Dear Diamond" to a boisterous, capacity crowd at the House of Blues. "But he texted me and told me this is one of his favorites." Fogerty himself turned up later for a rowdy take on Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising," with the Pistol Annies on roadhouse-ready backing vocals. Squeezed snugly between Lambert and her bandmates – Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe – Fogerty said, "I've got the best seat in the house!" (Watch video of the performance below.)

The classic-rock gem was one of several telling covers in last night's hour-long gig, which Lambert called the Pistol Annies' second-ever headlining date. (They played Las Vegas last weekend and they'll hit Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield tonight.) A medley of "songs that inspired us growing up," as Presley put it, featured Dolly Parton's "My Tennessee Mountain Home," Tanya Tucker's "Texas (When I Die)" and "Blue Kentucky Girl," made famous by both Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris; Lynn got another nod elsewhere with "Fist City."

But the Pistol Annies also packed in everything from their debut, Hell on Heels (which hit Number One on the Billboard Country chart), including the flirty "Boys from the South" and "Family Feud," which Lambert said they'd co-written with Shelton one night after "sitting around talking about how effed up our families are." In "The Hunter's Wife" Presley asked for an "amen" from the ladies in the room – then got one that seemed to surprise her with its force.

"We're just a bunch of girlfriends up here acting like fools," Lambert said at one point, and her description reflected the appealingly sloppy vibe of Wednesday's show. She may be as big as country music gets right now, but Lambert still knows how to cut loose.

Related
• Review: 'Hell on Heels'
• Video: Miranda Lambert Performs 'Baggage Claim' on the 'Tonight Show'