Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves is an American country singer and songwriter.
Born in the small town of Golden, TX, Musgraves first showed an interest in music at the age of 8 when she began writing her own songs. By 12, she began learning how to play the guitar, which she claims was “one of the most important things that ever happened to me”. After self-releasing three albums, she appeared on USA Network’s Nashville Star in 2007, finishing in seventh place.
Signing to Mercury Nashville in 2012, she released her debut major-label single, “Merry Go ‘Round”, that September. It set a precedent for the outlaw country theme of its parent album, Same Trailer Different Park, which followed in March 2013. Receiving a wealth of critical acclaim, it was praised for its frank lyricism and Musgraves' writing skill. Songs such as “Merry Go ‘Round” observed and criticised the Middle-American way of life, while the single “Follow Your Arrow” saw her shunned by country radio for its open acceptance of the LGBTQ community and the use of marijuana.
Returning in June 2015 with her second album, Pageant Material, she later embarked on the Country & Western Rhinestone Revue world tour. The following October saw her release her first Christmas album, A Very Kacey Christmas, featuring appearances by Willie Nelson, Leon Bridges and Quebe Sisters. Late 2017 saw her work on her fourth studio album, drawing influence from the likes of Tame Impala, disco and Sade.
The result, Golden Hour, was released on March 30 the following year to rave reviews; many considered it to be one of the best albums of 2018. Featuring the singles “Space Cowboy”, “Butterflies”, “High Horse”, and “Rainbow”, it saw her take on a more expansive and rich sound than her more subdued previous albums. It fared particularly well at the 61st GRAMMY Awards the following year, where she received four awards – tied with Childish Gambino for most wins of the night – including the coveted Album of the Year.