When I go to see Kacey Musgraves perform at 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., she throws a handful of covers into her set: twangy takes on TLC's "No Scrubs," Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Three Little Birds," and a show-closing rendition of Roy Rogers' "Happy Trails." But first, I meet her for an interview on her tour bus, where she is completely, unabashedly herself, in gold glittery flats, oversize pink glittery sunglasses, and pink pajama pants covered with cartoon cacti. Her attitude — in person as in her music — is to be who she is, no fuss, no apologies. With less than a week before wrapping her second major-label album, her follow-up to 2013's critically acclaimed Same Trailer, Different Park, Musgraves took a break to talk about songwriting, Jeopardy, and not washing her hair for days on end.
How does writing a second album feel different from your first? Was it hard to figure out what else you had to say?
I didn't really find it hard to find much to say. [Laughs.] That's probably just the nature of me.
Are you always on the lookout for songwriting inspiration?
It tends to be what I'm going through; that's always the driving force. A lot of times, I'll be having an argument or a conversation with someone, and I'm like, Oh, that's a lyric! Then I think, Focus back on the conversation. Or it's stuff my parents, sister, or friends have gone through. I could see a sign and think, Oh, that's an interesting perspective.
Is there anything you're ever wary of writing about, because you think other people won't relate to it or will be offended by it? Were you burned at all by the way "Follow Your Arrow" had a hard time getting radio play [because of lyrics about weed and same-sex kissing]?
I don't let other people, what they would be into, really dictate anything that happens in my music. It honestly, selfishly, starts with making a song that makes me happy. If I'm truthful to that, and if I write a good song, then it will resonate with people. And I just don't try to worry about pleasing every single person's taste palate because it's just not going to happen.
It seems like the more mainstream sound of country music is very bro-y: lots of pick-up trucks and girls in short-shorts getting beers for guys. Do you feel like that sound accurately represents the genre that you're a part of?
I'm kind of in my own little corner, you know? I'm inspired by traditional country music. I love Willie Nelson. A lot of this record was inspired by Glenn Campbell, Roger Miller, he was really humorous. I'm just trucking along in my own lane.
Have you had any of moments of feeling like, "I've made it!"?
Well, last night, I found out that I was a clue on Jeopardy!
No way! That's huge.
That happened. And the lady did not get it right. They said — here, I have a screenshot of it [pulls it up on her phone] — "Complete the title of the 2014 Best Country Album: Same Trailer..." And she goes, "Different Day?" But hey, whatever! That's crazy, right? And this past November, when I got to sing with Loretta Lynn on the CMA Awards, we did her song, "You're Lookin' at Country." In that moment, I died. I came back several times.
What else can you reveal about the new album? How have you grown since Same Trailer, Different Park?
I feel like my voice has gotten better and it's been easier to hone in on where I feel like the music is headed. Right now, we're finalizing the art.
What does it look like?
It's really cool! It's kind of retro. My sister shot it. It's got a lot of muted tones. I'm always inspired by '60s fashion and music. That plays a part into everything that I do. I'll say two words: big hair.
Tell me more about your style. What do you like to wear when you're performing?
Basically, when I'm performing, I just love for the look and the world that we're in to be this kitschy, very Western, almost tongue-in-cheek, very colorful style. I look to Dale Evans for a lot of inspiration. She was just the cutest little American cowgirl; she was decked out in fringe and rhinestones all the time. But she still had this sexiness about her. I think it's fun to go for 100-percent country-wear. There's a little two-piece white leather fringe shirt and a '50s vest. It looks like you should have some cap guns. Just soooo cheeky. That, and big hair.
How long does it take to achieve the full, big-hair look?
Well, it depends on if I'm in the mood to really go for it. And I don't ever wash my hair. You can tell everybody about that. This is probably day eight, right here.
That's what they say you're supposed to do, right? Not go eight days necessarily, but you're supposed to skip days.
I just dry shampoo it up. I've gone, most recently, 12 days.
Was it like, you took it out of a ponytail holder and your hair held the shape of the ponytail?
No, I feel like my hair gets better and better as I go! Which is weird. Maybe no one around me is telling me that I have a hygiene problem. I wash my body, folks, OK? So yeah, just don't wash your hair. And I have this beauty case that I travel with that's gotten ridiculously heavy. It's, like, 17 pounds right now. I have to get myself ready from the ground up a lot. But I have fun doing big, mod eyes, cut-crease, big lashes, the cat eyeliner, and I keep a nude or pink mouth.
This is a weird question: Do you feel famous?
It's weird: I'm always kind of caught off guard when someone knows who I am in a random situation. I'm just like, Really? I don't feel famous. That word makes me laugh ... Maybe it's a good thing I don't feel that way.
And most of your friends are back in Nashville and Texas?
Yeah. And I do my best to stay in touch. Instagram helps out with that a lot.
It's been two years since you were last here at 9:30 Club.
It was on Valentine's Day, we opened for Little Big Town. It feels like it was 100 years ago.
That reminds me, have you been following the Little Big Town controversy? Country radio stations are pulling their song "Girl Crush" because listeners are complaining that it "promotes a gay agenda."
Yes! I just found out about it yesterday, and I'm a little confused by everything about it. They're saying it was promoting a lesbian agenda, which doesn't even make sense. It's like, get with the times! Haven't you ever heard of Man Crush Monday or Woman Crush Wednesday? I mean, that's just simply a girl crush, they're just singing about being jealous of another woman who is in love with the man that they're in love with — and how is that not the most country thing you've ever heard? That's every country song! People are always going to find something to bitch about.
Is it getting harder or easier to deal with that fact: that people are always going to have an opinion on your music and everything else you do?
Yes and no. There's more of it out there coming at me. But because of that, I try not to take it with as much heart. My mom and grandma will sit there and read every single comment and review, and they'll respond to them, and I'm like, "Don't do that!" But I'm saying it as I'm probably reading some of it myself. But in the words of Beyoncé: Don't scroll down. Don't read about yourself! Because you know what you know, your reality is your reality, and if it makes you happy, the rest really shouldn't matter, to a point.
Do you have a release date for the album yet?
Early June. Maybe June 9.
You could just Kendrick Lamar it and put it out there with no warning.
If I did that, like, two people would buy it.
What do you think about Taylor Swift pulling her catalog from Spotify? Do you have a side in the streaming/buying battle?
That's hard. I wish I knew more about the technicalities of it all. Bottom line, I think music is important and is worth paying for. I buy something when I like it. That's all I know.
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