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Miranda Lambert examines life at 30 on new album

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS TALBOTT
AP Music Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Miranda Lambert has learned something about human nature since becoming one of country music’s most identifiable stars.

“People are very, very mean,” she says of the tabloids that have made sport of her life, her looks and her marriage since her husband, Blake Shelton, joined NBC’s musical competition “The Voice” as a celebrity coach.

Lambert’s wild ride over the last two years is all over her ambitious, sprawling new album, “Platinum.” The 30-year-old lays bare her life in many ways on songs that examine the darker aspects of celebrity, and she shows the tabloids have been getting everything wrong.

“There are people who literally, their only job is to make other people miserable, and that’s a terrible way to live your life,” said Lambert, the top nominee at Wednesday’s CMT Music Awards (8 p.m. EDT). She also has a starring spot at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, which begins Thursday.

Lambert’s multifaceted musical reaction to the gossip press helps make “Platinum,” out this week, her most diverse album yet. It heads in many directions musically, from the rock ‘n’ roll of “Priscilla,” ”Girls” and “Little Red Wagon” to the singer-songwriter self-reflection of “Bathroom Sink” and “Hard Staying Sober.”

“Priscilla” takes on the tabloids directly. In the song, Lambert identifies with Priscilla Presley and the troubles she must have experienced in her life with Elvis. The song resulted from a catch-up session between Lambert and songwriter Natalie Hemby as Lambert gathered material for “Platinum.”

“When I get to write with her I think she just lets her hair down,” Hemby said. “She doesn’t have to be Miranda. I’ve known her before she was big and famous … and I asked how she was doing. She said, ‘According to the press I’m pregnant or I’m fat or I’m getting divorced.’ It just went on and on and I just kind of laughed and said, ‘Well, then you must be really successful.'”

Lambert says she’s learning to live with all the attention. Her new trim look is a result of getting control of her emotions, she says, and not some darker reason. She simply no longer turns to corn dogs for solace when she reads an upsetting headline.

Tabloids aren’t the only topic on “Platinum.” There is plenty of joy and sass, just as there is in her life. She shows a beau the door in traditional country style on “All That’s Left,” featuring The Time Jumpers; examines her love of flea markets and her hatred of getting older on songs with titles that can’t be reprinted; and teams up with Carrie Underwood for the powerhouse anthem “Somethin’ Bad.”

In the end, the album is as overstuffed as her life.

“Loretta Lynn said you’ve got to live a life in order to sing about it,” Lambert said. “That’s what I’m doing. The good, the bad and the ugly is on this record. It’s who I am.”

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Online:

http://mirandalambert.com

http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival/

http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/

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Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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