Driving east on Interstate 20 through the towering hardwood trees of the Piney Woods toward Tyler, you might zoom right by the exit that leads you to Lindale, population six thousand—if it weren’t for a giant billboard boasting its claim to fame as the hometown of country music icon Miranda Lambert. That same larger-than-life advertisement also highlights the charming burg as a Texas Music Friendly Community. It’s an official designation by the Texas Music Office and one that Lindale was only the fifth in the state to earn, after Austin, Denton, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Even though Lindale is a fraction of the size of those other cities, the live music scene alone (especially on weekends) makes Lindale worth a visit.

Though music is an important part of Lindale’s current cultural fabric, the town got its start in 1871 as an agricultural hub. It was then that Elijah Lindsey (the “Lin” in Lindale who would become mayor a year later) opened the area’s first general store in anticipation of growth triggered by the new railroad, which was set to transport his brother-in-law Richard B. Hubbard’s crops to market. A few years later, fruit orchards and the canning industry became integral parts of the city’s boom, earning it a designation as the Fruit and Berry Center of Texas. the town’s past and present collide in an old-meets-new central entertainment hub, the Cannery, where restaurants, retailers, and music venues have taken over buildings that were once essential to the town’s canning operations.

Yet no amount of fresh blackberries,  jams and jellies, or blackberry-infused olive oil—sold in stores throughout the community—could ever compete with Lindale’s most famous commodity: Miranda Lambert. Raised in town by her parents Rick and Bev, the multi-award-winning country music sensation visits her mom and dad as often as she can, driving along Miranda Lambert Way en route to their home. Even when she’s not back on her home turf, her presence can be felt all over Lindale by way of her signature color: hot pink. In years past, the town has celebrated everything from Pinktoberfest to Pink Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) as a way of embracing their hometown superstar.

“Some visitors may be surprised that our small town is the home place of an…