The honest singer–songwriter, Kacey Musgraves, is the new country singer to watch because she brings a new and unique dynamic to country songs, showing a different side to the genre.

Kacey Musgraves is from a small town called Golden, Texas.  She started singing at her church when she was eight years old, wrote her first song when she was just nine years old and started playing guitar at 12. In 2007, Musgraves competed on USA Network’s Nashville Star placing seventh. She released her first studio indie album in 2008, but was not recognized until her 2013 release of her deluxe acoustic single of “Apologize” and “See You Again.”  Her first tour was with Lady Antebellum in 2012 in the United Kingdom. Musgraves signed with Mercury Records, her first major label that helped the release of her debut single, “Merry Go Round,” off her award winning album, Same Trailer Different Park.

The Nashville based singer has been nominated and has won many awards. Country Weekly calls her “ … one of the most distinctive voices on country radio today.” In 2013, she won Best New Artist at the Country Music Awards and was also nominated for Album of the Year and many others. Most recently, she beat Taylor Swift, winning two Grammys for Best Country Album and Best Country Song, which have been Taylor Swift’s categories for the past couple of years. She has been compared to Taylor Swift, but she talks about the struggles of everyday life and love, rather then how she feels about a boy who just dumped her, which Swift discusses in the majority of her songs.

At the Country Music awards she told Rolling Stone, “‘I think its super awesome that country music has been so supportive of [my] message.’” Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, according to Rolling Stone, has called Musgraves the new top dog in country music. Her inspirations are Dolly Parton, John Prime and Loretta Lynn. Musgraves also co-wrote “Undermine,” which was featured on ABC network’s “Nashville.” She has also written songs for Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride.  Her song, “Mama’s Broken Heart,” she co-wrote for Miranda Lambert and was also nominated for Song of the Year at last year’s country music awards.

All of her songs seem to have some sort of message. Americansongwriter.com says “Musgraves likes to focus in on her characters at these small, pivotal moments, when they come to terms with their own faults and dreams…” Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark and Luke Laird helped her co-write her lyrics that are poetic and catchy. Her album, Same Trailer Different Park which has sold 42,000 copies, has been ranked second on the country music charts.

“Merry Go Round” also won number one on the Billboard for Best Country Singles in 2013. “Follow Your Arrow” strays away from country music tradition. Her other popular songs include “Silver Lining” and “Keep it to Yourself.”

Her voice sounds calm and honest in her songs. Rolling Stone called her music “free-spirited— inclusive message of self empowerment and progressive diversity.” Her single “Merry Go Round” talks about junkies, lovers and deceivers. With all that said, you will find a new feel to country music when listening to Kacey Musgraves.