Miranda Lambert lists the people she considers her role models in a new interview, and one of them might be surprising to country music fans.

"One strong female artist I look up to is Beyonce," Lambert tells Gibson.com. "She handles herself well and has such class."

The 'Smokin' and Drinkin'' singer also names three of country's most iconic women.

"As far as building an empire goes -- and reinventing yourself and being true to yourself -- I would say Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn are people I look up to most," she adds.

Lambert is doing a little empire building of her own. She released a new album, 'Platinum,' in June of last year, and kicked off her Certified Platinum Tour on Thursday (Jan. 15) in Evansville, Ind.

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