On June 23, LGBT-affirming country music star Kacey Musgraves released her highly anticipated sophomore album, Pageant Material. The album features her hit single "Biscuits," as well as twelve other tracks that were co-written by Musgraves and co-produced by gay singer-songwriter Shane McAnally and country music producer Luke Laird.
Musgraves first rose to fame in 2012, when she opened for the country group Lady Antebellum on their U.K. tour. Shortly after that, she signed with Mercury Records and released her first single "Merry Go 'Round." But perhaps she is most well-known for her album Same Trailer Different Park, which earned her a Grammy for Best Country Album in 2014.
Musgraves has always been an ally for the LGBT community. In 2013, she took a stand against bullying as an ambassador for GLAAD's Spirit Day. More prominently, she accelerated acceptance for the community in her LGBT-inclusive smash hit "Follow Your Arrow," in which she sings: "Make lots of noise/kiss lots boys/or kiss lots of girls/if that's something you're into." The song received critical acclaim, and Musgraves made history in 2014, when she became the first country music star to perform at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City.
Continuing with the tradition of LGBT acceptance, on her newest album Pageant Material, Musgraves worked with out singer-songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, who co-wrote "Follow Your Arrow." In addition, last week Musgraves hosted a special event at Nashville's PLAY dance club, where she previewed songs from Pageant Material while drag queens performed alongside her.
With songs like "Follow Your Arrow" and co-writes with Clark and McAnally, Musgraves is certainly helping change the face of country music. Recently, GLAAD hosted the Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville, which was co-hosted by out country singer Ty Herndon. With the support of artists like Musgraves and Herndon, the country genre has made strides towards accelerating acceptance of the LGBT community, especially in the South.
In line with her album release, Musgraves is set to embark on a tour this fall called The Kacey Musgraves Country & Western Rhinestone Revue. The tour kicks off in Atlanta on August 27, and finishes in The Netherlands on November 22. Be sure to check out her website for the full list of dates, and look for Pageant Material, which is in stores now!