The last time Kacey Musgraves played in Ohio, she completed her opening performance before the skies opened up and a torrential downpour drenched later acts at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Since then she’s completed the rest of her summer schedule opening for country superstar Kenny Chesney and embarked on an international tour of her own, which will close with Thursday’s show at Ohio University’s Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
A singer-songwriter who is known for her clever wordplay and edgy lyrics, she’s familiar with the kinds of country carols that receive a warm reception — whether as an opening act or touring headliner.
“My audiences tend to really range in age everywhere I go,” she said in an email. “I’m assuming this will be a crowd more my age and that will be fun! I love though, how many different types of people are connecting with my music.”
She’s no stranger to that sensation, jumping up the country music charts this past year after the March release of her debut major-label release, Same Trailer Different Park.
Since she’s established herself as a rising star in the genre, garnering six Country Music Award nominations — the same number as Taylor Swift and two more than country mainstay Miranda Lambert, whose hit single “Mama’s Broken Heart” Musgraves helped write.
Musgraves, who said she enjoys both writing music alone and as part of a tandem or team, also has songwriting credits with artists such as Martina McBride and another upcoming OU performer Gretchen Wilson.
“I love the small handful of people that I am comfortable enough to write with,” Musgraves said. “Writing by yourself is a different challenge on its own and requires more self-application.”
Musgraves has also been among a small cadre of country artists, including Zac Brown, to recently speak out against popular aspects of the genre. In an August interview with the British GQ, she said songs about trucks — many of which dominate country radio — are “not fun to listen to.”
Musgraves said her blunt, witty lyrics such as those featured on her U.S. Country Top 40 hits “Merry Go ’Round” and “Blowin’ Smoke,” aren’t going anywhere.
“... Popularity or fads will never influence me or the core choices I make,” she said in the email.
Amanda Culley, a first-year graduate student studying Food and Nutrition Sciences who has been following Musgraves’ music for about a month, said she’s a fan of the honesty Musgraves employs in her lyrics.
“I think she’s clever,” Culley said. “I really appreciate her lyrics. They’re easy to hit home with because they’re easy to relate to for most people.”
jr992810@ohiou.edu
@Jimryan015
