Kasey Musgraves-Movin' On

"Movin’ On", the first solo CD of young Kacey Musgraves was pure delight. I was very surprised that the musical styling of this collection focused on this young lady’s yodeling ability. I didn’t realize that anybody, let alone an eighth grader, still knew how to yodel like that. Obviously, not a yodeling connoisseur, I was completely under the misconception that yodeling was more or less a dying art practiced only by geriatric cowboy ballad artists. Not that that isn’t just fine, just had no idea they came in so many diverse packages. Whoops, better practice a little cultural diversity and expand my own horizons, and get myself educated. But first I just had to listen to the tracks again.

This thirteen-year-old girl from Mineola, Texas has one of the purest and crystalline singing voices I have heard. The voice is young, but not juvenile; surprisingly mature for one so young. Obviously not this girl’s first rodeo! Matter of fact, this CD has already won her the honor of Teen Album of the Year by the Lone Star Music Association. She’s been racking up quite a few honors lately. In November of 2001, she nailed the Western Music Association’s title of International Youth Yodeling Champion in Tucson, Arizona. Kacey also just returned from performances with the Wild West show at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as appearing on NBC’s Today Show with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer during the Olympic coverage by that network. She also won first place at the Lone Star Music Association Vocal competition at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth and will progress to the grand finals in November, 2002.

As expected from one so young, Kacey’s musical career is very much a family affair. Almost half the selections on this CD are products of her musically talented family. Kacey, her mother, Karen Musgraves, and her grandfather, Darrell Musgraves, authored or co-authored in various combinations, six of the fourteen tracks. Her grandmother, Barbara Musgraves, handles all the PR and bookings, and father, Craig, is the financial wizard that finds the means to finance all the performance travel and expenses. Even eleven-year-old sister, Kelly, “listens to excessive amounts of yodeling and singing when she’d rather not.” This certainly sounds like a united family all lovingly dedicated to music and the career of this charming young lady.

The tracks themselves are fairly well chosen to showcase Kacey’s strengths. Several old time favorites like "I’ve Been Everywhere" and "The Auctioneer" and, of course, the Musgraves family contributions. Olympic Yodel is a whimsical selection about Kacey’s recent exposure to the 2002 Olympics and is one of my favorites. The most appealing is the "Cowboy Moon" track, authored by grandfather, Darrell, and mom, Karen, and is sheer listening pleasure.

I found only two things I felt detracted from the experience, both of which I have every confidence she will outgrow with a little more experience. The first was Kacey’s narration in several tracks. Her singing voice is so crystalline and weaves such a mystic magic that is absolutely shattered when the over-rehearsed beauty pageant voice reminds you that she really is just thirteen. The second was the choice of "Rainbow Connection" (Kermit the frog song) as a part of the collection. Every young performer has a rendition of this one, and Kacey disappointed me by not being an exception. But then again, maybe we need to be reminded of how young she still is, to put it all into perspective.

This is definitely a CD that is worth a listen, whether you are a yodeling aficionado or not. Kacey definitely is going somewhere in this world with her wonderful talent. I think it’s time for Billy Gillman to scoot over and give this fellow young talent a little time in the spotlight. He’s no longer in this goat rope by himself!

Kacey’s CD is available at Ernest Tubbs Record Shop in the Fort Worth Stockyards; and Kitchen’s Hardware & Deli and M Prints Printing, both in Mineola. Kacey is also an occasional performer at the monthly Buckaroos Gathering at Cowtown Opry in the Fort Worth Stockyards. For more information about Kacey or to check her schedule, visit her web site at http://www.yodelinggirl.com

Written by Cheryl Arthur, March 2002

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