Miranda Lambert has denied hitting Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger in the face, and she has a specific explanation for why the rumor started. The country singer told The New York Times’ Popcast that she threw moonshine in his face instead.
The denial comes after years of speculation about a bar fight between the two singers. Kroeger is the lead vocalist of Nickelback, a rock band whose music has long divided listeners. Lambert is a country star whose own career has weathered plenty of controversy.
The Origin of the Rumor
The story began in 2014, when Blake Shelton appeared in a Rolling Stone cover story. Shelton described a bar encounter involving Lambert, saying that people tried to provoke her and that one man, whom he refused to name, was the lead singer of a very popular rock band. He noted that the man’s initials were C.K.
Shelton’s account was the origin of the story. It placed Lambert in a physical confrontation with Kroeger, a man whose initials matched those of the band’s frontman.
Lambert’s Explanation
When asked directly about the incident on Popcast, Lambert responded with a specific correction. She said she threw moonshine in his face, not that she hit him.
The moonshine detail suggests a splash, a throw, a mess — a different kind of confrontation than a bare-handed strike.
What Lambert Said
Lambert’s denial is notable because it is so specific. She answered with a clarification, not a flat denial.
The Popcast host, Joe Coscarelli, asked Lambert a simple question: “True or false: You hit Chad Kroeger in the face.” Lambert answered with a correction, not a flat denial.
The Shelton Factor
Shelton’s role in the rumor is central to understanding why it persisted. As Lambert’s ex-husband, he had access to details about her life that outsiders did not. His description of the incident, with its careful refusal to name Kroeger, gave the story weight.
The Moonshine Detail
The moonshine detail is the most interesting part of Lambert’s response. It paints a picture of a messy confrontation, one that involved a bottle of spirits rather than fists. It is a detail that Lambert chose to share, and it adds color to a story that has been told in broad strokes for years.
What We Know Now
The takeaway is simple. Lambert says she threw moonshine, not that she hit him. Shelton’s 2014 Rolling Stone account is the origin of the story, and now Lambert has stepped forward to set the record straight.
The story has been circulating for over a decade. Now Lambert has stepped forward to set the record straight.
The Key Facts
- Lambert denied hitting Kroeger in the face
- She said she threw moonshine in his face instead
- The rumor originated in a 2014 Rolling Stone cover story by Blake Shelton
- Shelton refused to name Kroeger by name
- The man’s initials were C.K.
Why the Story Persisted
Shelton’s account gave the story weight because it came from Lambert’s ex-husband, who had access to details about her life that outsiders did not. His refusal to name Kroeger by name kept the story vague enough to circulate freely.
Lambert’s correction now settles the record. She did not punch Kroeger. She threw moonshine.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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