Women of Gumption: Kacey Musgraves
With the perfect amount of saged old soul and bedazzled youthful charisma, Kacey Musgraves has followed her own arrow into our hearts and our AirPods. Through her distinct voice and personality, she’s blazing a rainbow tinged trail all her own. So it’s no wonder she’s our newest Women of Gumption honoree.
Image via Billboard
Music will always be both my love language and my emotional touchstone. To me, there is nothing more powerful than a well written lyric. There are some that can just bring me to my knees with tears and adversely bring me to my feet with joy. I also consider myself somewhat of a music savant, considering I was raised on some of the best, mostly female (because duh), musicians of all time. Stevie Nicks, Elton John, ABBA, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Donna Summer, Alison Krause, The Judds, all of these artists were my first story tellers. Kacey Musgraves is that kind of musician to me as well; one who evokes broad emotional strokes through the art of story telling.
Kacey Musgraves is also the kind of artist you want to share a Malibu and Diet with. Through telling lyrics that always ride the line of playful and truth cutting, she wears her vulnerability like a well worn Levi’s trucker jacket. Her first two records ( 2013’s Same Trailer Different Park, and 2015’s Pageant Material) remind us of a young Dolly / Loretta hybrid that can only be described as deliciously infectious. Through songs like Merry go Round, Follow your Arrow, and Biscuits, Musgraves gave us light hearted but honest and truthful looks at life and love.
Musgraves’ first LP Same Trailer Different Park 2013
Her Sophomore effort Pageant Material 2015
With two juggernaut records under her rhinestone encrusted belt, you might think it easy for Musgraves to rest on her signature tongue in cheek method of emotional delivery as she headed into the studio to create her third record. However, with the release of her third studio album, 2018’s Golden Hour, she did something that I wasn’t expecting; she stole my heart.
From the 90’s Joan Osborne vibed lead track Slow Burn, to disco banger anthem High Horse, and the perfect ode to gleeful melancholia Happy & Sad, Musgraves covers every inch of the musical landscape, all while managing to connect to a sense of eternal nostalgia. From the second the guitar begins to strum in Slow Burn, you know you are about to be transported into a beautifully constructed emotionally fraught amusement park that feels so familiar yet completely fresh.
And speaking of fresh, sister doesn’t just leave the sass and sparkle to her tunes, she’s also a full fledged red carpet maven. Her style, like her music, is eclectic, filled with playful hues and never takes itself too seriously. She’s also worn some of my favorite designers like Rosie Assoulin, Versace, Ashish, and Brandon Maxwell just to name a few. Musgraves and her stylist Erica Cloud, have created some of the grandest Lewks this year. Peep the gallery to take a gander at all her gorgeousness.
But what makes her a Woman of Gumption?
Kacey is a female country artist (by definition) who is playing with the big boys in a male dominated industry. But let’s take that one step further, she’s not just playing with them, she’s teaching them. She’s innovating and reinvigorating an industry that is, despite great efforts and strides, rooted in old world views on women and diversity. She’s an advocate for equal rights, an LGBT ally, and an promoter of change within country music itself, as evidenced by this quote from her LA Times interview,
“Record labels promote male artists harder than female, Musgraves explained. “And it doesn’t matter the quality. You could hand them the best record in the world, but you’re not going to get the same excitement or opportunities.”
“It’s not just gender, either,” she continued. “There are so many areas in country music where it’s unequal. Where are the country musicians of color? I’d love to have a gay country star. We need that perspective in country music because there’s a ton of kids out there who’ve grown up in small towns that need a hero,” she said. “Let’s hear about that side of love.”
Kacey Musgraves performing "Rainbow" live from Late Night with Seth Meyers.
And on a personal note, Musgraves gave me a gift I didn’t know I needed. A musical catharsis I wasn’t aware I would crave this year. The track, Rainbow.
It was a reminder to love the wins, hold on through the losses, and overall the notion that regardless of where we are in life, we should stand strong and know that it’ll all be alright.
(Just trust me, you want to watch this video right now.)
Which, is exactly what I am going to leave you all with today, the last day of 2018;
A reminder that no matter what, we are simply humans just trying to make it work in this world. None of us really know what we are doing or how to make it perfect, we’re just taking one step after the other on this grand adventure and hopefully leaving a little glitter in our path. Be grateful for the family (both blood and chosen) who are your champions and mile markers, as they are truly life’s greatest treasure. So from myself, TJ, and my collection of shoes, I say here’s to the end of a gorgeous, tragic, love filled, confusing, and awe inspiring year, and here’s looking forward to a beautifully powerful 2019. And whatever it may bring, Don’t forget that there’s always been a rainbow hangin over your head.
