Miranda Lambert has a 700-acre farm full of animals, including chickens, goats and a miniature horse. She recently rescued two puppies from the side of a local road to add to the menagerie. Yep, you might call her an animal lover.

But when she adopted her dog Delilah from the Humane Society of East Texas a couple of years ago, Lambert got serious about helping animals. Now she’s organized her first benefit for the humane society, a silent auction and concert called Cause for the Paws, scheduled for April 20 in North Tyler, Texas. Joining her in concert are Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves and Adam Hood.

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Miranda Lambert wasted no time in putting her country music stardom to good use. The self-described animal lover uses her celebrity to help homeless pets in her home state. “I hate to think of abused animals and animals that are uncared for,” she says Lambert. “I wish I could adopt them all, but I can’t, so I do what I can to spread the message and help raise funds for the local Humane Society of East Texas.”
 
Lambert does have a dog in this fight, so to speak. She adopted her treasured four-legged pal Delilah from a pound. “She is a white, wiry-haired mutt, and she’s a total diva,” says Lambert. “She’s always on the road with me and makes for a wonderful companion.”
 
Lambert is quick to point out the qualities that win dogs the title Man’s (and Woman’s) Best Friend. “Her best characteristic is that she loves me unconditionally,” Lambert says. “I can mess up the words to a song on stage and have a terrible show, but when I walk on the bus, she’s always waiting for me and excited to see me.”
 
Like all dogs, Lambert’s has her own particular personality traits. “One weird quirk is that Delilah won’t pee on anything other than perfect grass,” Lambert giggles. “No concrete, no wood chips, no dirt…only perfect grass. Makes for a fun time when you’re trying to walk her in downtown Chicago!”

Lots of people leave the holiday season packing a few more pounds than they did before Thanksgiving. A few years ago, Miranda Lambert used the post-holiday period to reassess her lifestyle choices. As a result, she rocks a sleek physique today.

“Three years ago after the holidays I realized that I had to start addressing my habits regarding eating on the road, and fitness in general,” she says. “I am a performer, and my stage show is quite physical. I use exercise to keep strong and toned, and I love feeling healthy.”

Lambert hooked up with a fitness expert who created a diet and exercise regimen that helped her streamline her eating habits and her waistline.

“I’ve been on the same routine for a while now,” says Lambert, who maintains that it’s now easier for her to stay fit on the road than at home. “I hired a personal trainer, Tony Boykin, to go on the road with me. We work out every day. He put together two diets that I follow: one when I need to lose weight and one when I want to maintain. It’s fairly easy when we’re on the road. The tough part is when I go home and my mom is cooking or I pass a Sonic every two miles!”

Lambert is the first to admit it takes work to stay fit, especially when you’re not an exercise fan. “I don’t have a favorite exercise,” she says. “But I guess walking would qualify, if I have to pick one. I can tell you what I don’t love: lunges. But they have worked!”

The CMA Awards show is definitely country’s dressiest night, as stars abandon their favorite jeans and hop into haute couture for a few hours of photo ops. Designer duds may not be the norm for most of these artists, but it doesn’t mean they’re out of the loop when it comes to style. Trends that are hot in New York, L.A. and other fashionable cities show up on the CMA red carpet every year.
 
The menswear trend? Check. Martina McBride performed in a glam tuxedo and Sheryl Crow held the stage in a leather vest and pants. Detailing? Check. Soft, flowing gowns experimented with shirring, tucking, draping, bustling and all kinds of extras. Curls? Oh yeah. For the most part, the stick-straight hairstyles popular with young stars in the past few years were replaced with the loose ringlets seen on Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Jewel and other attendees.
 
The word that best describes CMA fashion 2007 might be “shine.” The fashion world says the sequin is back, and it was showcased on such performers as Miranda Lambert in red and Taylor Swift in black sparkling minis, and Reba McEntire in a glamorous, orange-sequined number. (Of course, when it comes to country music, have sequins ever gone out of style?) Glittery beads also joined the party, as in Carrie’s nude-colored Badgley Mischka spaghetti-strap gown with jeweled vine details. Even Martina’s tuxedo shone onstage, highlighted by a sparkly lamé tie.
 
“It was a very glittery CMA,” agrees stylist and fashion columnist Libby Callaway. “The guys got in on it, too — lots of the men’s jackets had a subtle sheen that really showed up under the lights. My favorite outfit was Jennifer Nettles’ shiny blouse and slacks. She proved that just because you’re going sparkly doesn’t mean you have to wear a dress!”