On April 22, 2011, country music stars Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley took the stage as Pistol Annies for the first time. As American Songwriter shared, they did so as part of the Academy of Country Music’s “Girls’ Night Out,” which celebrated women in the genre. In a video of their first performance as a trio, the three powerhouse singers belt out their debut hit, “Hell on Heels.”
The trio seemed like an ideal supergroup, but did they have staying power? Would this be the next country band to conquer the charts? Fourteen years later, we’re looking back on where Pistol Annies started and where they are today.
The Group Had Its Heyday in The Mid-2010s Before Going on a Hiatus

“Hell on Heels” wasn’t just a one-off single; it was the title track from the trio’s first-ever album. As Last.FM details, the group followed their successful debut with a second album in 2013 called “Annie Up.” However, the early days of the group weren’t all rainbows and radio hits. As Presley shared with Rolling Stone in 2014, breakup rumors plagued the trio, who eventually went on a hiatus.
According to Presley, people thought there may be bad blood in the group, but their eventual decision to step away from performing together was an example of life getting in the way. “It was timing, it was scheduling. Ashley was getting married; we did not have time to do Pistol Annies. You can only stretch yourself so far before you crack.”
However, Presley stressed that going their separate ways wasn’t a permanent goodbye. “Whenever things slow down, we’ll do something again,” Presley said. “I’m 100 percent confident.” As it turns out, she was right; the group came roaring back with their album, “Interstate Gospel,” in 2018. In 2021, they once again reunited to release a holiday album, “Hell of a Holiday.” The group shared the news of their first Christmas-themed album on X a month before its October release.
The Annies Acknowledged a Special Milestone For Lambert in April 2025

Although Pistol Annies aren’t currently putting out albums like they once did, the members are still clearly close. In April 2025, Lambert celebrated a major milestone in her life and career when her debut album, “Kerosene,” turned 20. In honor of the occasion, the band’s other two members took to Instagram with the perfect tribute: a beautiful cover of “Bring Me Down.”
Fans flocked to the comments section to show their love for the acoustic rendition. Many fans gushed over how spot-on the performance was, and others called “Bring Me Down” their favorite song from the album. Some fans also shared their wishful thinking for a new Pistol Annies album, but the members haven’t shared any official reunion plans as of this publication.
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Pistol Annies: Miranda Lambert Country Super Group 14 Years Later