When I first listened to Kacey Musgraves, I was driving with a friend through a rural part of New Jersey on a trip to our summer camp. She was playing Musgraves' first album, "Same Trailer, Different Park." I don't think she realized that road trip would lead to an obsession that eventually led me to see my first Kacey Musgraves concert about two years later. As Musgraves took the stage in a pair of sparkly boots, she began singing her single "Pageant Material" with breezy confidence.
Every Kacey Musgraves song comes with a life lesson. Whether she's talking about break ups, trailer parks or breaking the typical Southern traditions, her songs are relatable and cleverly written. These are some of the most important lessons I've learned from Kacey Musgraves' songs.
1. Life is too short to not do what you want.![]()
"Say what you think, love who you love, 'cause we just get so many trips 'round the sun." - Follow Your Arrow
2. It's OK not to fit in.
"If I had to walk the runway in high heels in front of the whole town I'd fall down. My momma cried when she realized... I ain't pageant material."
- Pageant Material
3. Embrace the things that make you different.
"I'm just a dime store cowgirl. That's all I'm ever gonna be."
-Dime Store Cowgirl
Someone insulted Kacey before a performance in Texas when she was 12 and told her she looked like a "dime store cowgirl." But Kacey had the last laugh.
4. Be proud of where you come from.
"It don't matter where I'm goin', I still call my hometown home."
- Dime Store Cowgirl
5. When you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.
"If you're ever gonna find a four-leaf clover, you gotta get a little dirt on your hands." -Silver Lining
6. Being miserable won't get you anywhere in life.
"You can't set sail with your anchor down." - Miserable
7. Being an adult doesn't mean you have to grow up.
"Before we get to heaven, baby let's give 'em hell. We might as well, 'cause we don't know when we're done - so let's love hard, live fast, die fun." - Die Fun
8. Even if your family drives you crazy sometimes, they're your strongest support system.
"Family is family in church or in prison, you get what you get and you don't get to pick 'em." - Family Is Family
9. Yeah, I definitely like country music.![]()
Raise your hand if you weren't a country fan before you listened to Kacey and she's the reason you listen to country now.
10. Any song can be a country song.
At concerts, Kacey has covered a unique range of songs such as "Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins and "Scrubs" by TLC. She's also recorded covers of "Apologize" by One Republic and "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus.
11. Country songs can be about anything...
"Make lots of noise, kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's something your into. When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint - or don't. Just follow your arrow wherever it points."
- Follow Your Arrow
"Follow Your Arrow" is about a lot more than pot and same-sex love. It definitely proved Kacey was an agent of change when she first stepped onto the country music scene.
12. Don't underestimate yourself.
"We're all 10s that wants 11s." - Somebody To Love
13. We can't please everyone.
"We can't be everybody's cup of tea." - Cup of Tea
14. Don't deal with people's negativity.
Don't stick around for people who drag you down and prevent you from being happy.
"Step off, step off, yeah you're gettin' too close to me with all your negativity." - Step Off
15. Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy...
man running in forestPhoto by 
