Who loves makeup, has a three-legged dog, and has put out three successful albums in less than ten years? That would be East Texas native, Kacey Musgraves.

This lone star princess has the quintessential country star rising to fame story, but her music isn’t cookie cutter. Her lyrics often make waves in her genre, whose main listenership is mostly right-wing. Does that bother Kacey? Probably not. She’s the one that told us to “follow your arrow, wherever it goes.” Where does her arrow go? It seems like it goes straight to the top.

From East Texas to the World

Kacey was born in a small town in East Texas called Golden and started writing songs when she was eight. Soon after she learned to write music, she decided to pick up an instrument so that she could accompany herself.

She chose the mandolin, then a guitar, and with both those talents, released a self-produced album in 2010, at just 22 years old. She didn’t give up on making her music, and that dedication led her to be a contest on Nashville Star, the American Idol of country. Though she placed seventh, her time on the show was enough to get her noticed by major record labels. She signed with Mercury in 2012.

Merry Go ‘Round the Charts

She released her first major studio album (with a label) in 2013, which featured the single “Merry Go ‘Round.” The tongue in cheek yet classic country feel of the song was exactly what the scene needed, and the single managed to hit #10 on the country charts. The debut album that followed, Same Trailer Different Park, went gold and won her multiple awards – as did her third album.