Kacey Musgraves - My New Favorite Country Artist?

When I was growing up, country music was all we listened to in my household. Some people might say, wow, you missed out. I really don't think so. I grew up listening to the great and legendary country-rock band Alabama, who have sadly become a bit forgotten nowadays. I listened to the legendary acts of Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Martina McBride on a daily basis.

But besides Brad Paisley and the Zac Brown Band, and the holdovers from the 90's, I stopped listening to country almost exclusively in about 2002. I moved on to Top 40, then alternative rock, then basically listened to anything that suited my fancy - as long as it wasn't new country. I felt that country music had lost its identity and become a Southern "redneck" extension of pop music. It made me sick and it all started to sound the same.

Well, my faith in country music may not have been restored, but there is one artist who is most definitely a country artist, but has gained a lot of respect from me as both a performer and a songwriter. That lady is the young Kacey Musgraves. Not only is her song-writing fantastic and her messages straight-shooting and extremely relevant, but she has a sweet voice to deliver them, too.

Here's what's easily my favorite song by her so far, and perhaps her most famous, Merry-Go-Round:

If you haven't listened to Kacey Musgraves' music, you really should. "Follow Your Arrow," especially, is a poignant tune about being yourself and not having other people point the direction of your life for you. In fact, Kacey originally wrote it with the plan of giving it to none other than her good buddy, Katy Perry. Katy then told her to keep it for herself. Of course, Miss Queen KatyCat most likely would've turned it into a number one hit, but I agree with Katy that Kacey was right to keep it for herself, as it fits her no-nonsense, straight to the point commentaries on the obvious flaws in our everyday society.

Speaking of Katy and Kacey, they did a CMT Crossroads together a few months ago. When you have about 40 minutes to spare, you owe it to yourself to watch it. It is incredible.

CMT Crossroads: Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves

Although, I don't think anyone can do "Firework" like Katy can, it's pretty awesome seeing Katy singing Kacey's songs and vice versa. I hope Katy does a random country album someday. She does love country music after all.

I'm just glad I have another new artist that I can add to my playlist after a couple of years of really finding no one tickle my fancy. If you're looking for a new country artist and you haven't listened to Kacey yet, you definitely need to check her out.

Don't take my word for it!