Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

Musgraves follows her arrow

Jeffrey Remz  |  January 27, 2014

Kacey Musgraves may have won "only twos" Grammy Sunday night, but chances are she was the big winner of the country artists.

Musgraves, who has enjoyed tremendous acclaim this past year with "Same Trailer Different Park," one of the few CDs out there that tackles a more traditional side of country, won the Grammy for Best Country Album and Best Country Song for "Merry Go 'Round." In doing so, she took the honor over Taylor Swift's "Red," Tim McGraw for "Two Lanes of Freedom," Jason Aldean for "Night Train" and Blake Shelton for "Based on a True Story..."

Musgraves also performed her left of center single "Follow Your Arrow," which is quite unlike most anything out there country-wise. The song embraces the idea of same sex marriage among other things ("love who you love," Musgraves sings).

The Texas native intones "follow your arrow wherever it leads," encouraging people to be true to themselves. Gutsy song in a genre where that has typically been on the conservative side (Garth Brooks tackled the subject as well on "We Shall Be Free" back in 1992).

Musgraves, decked out in a colorful skirt and very cool looking boots that lit up, turned in a solid performance that was clearly on the traditional country side. You could even hear pedal steel and typical country drumming. Not to mention neon colored cacti adorning the stage and a band decked out in flashy jackets, white shirts & ties. Old school rules!

For those who were unaware of her in the non-country crowd (and even country folks), they are now.

Congrats to Musgraves for a winning night in more ways than one.