https://time.com/collection/women-of-the-year/6150542/kacey-musgraves/
Kacey Musgraves is one of Time’s Women of The Year covers along with Amal Clooney, Zahra Joy (Afghan journalist) and Kerry Washington. Kacey always impresses me with how wise and deep she is, and this interview was just as good as I’ve come to expect from her. She’s in therapy and she’s working on self acceptance, setting boundaries and having a work life balance. She’s candid and open, it doesn’t come across as performative, and you get the sense that this is just who she is. That’s why her music resonates with people too, along with being memorable and catchy it’s relatable. Here’s some of what she told Time and there’s more at the source:

I want to talk about “Breadwinner,” your song about being with a man who can’t tolerate your financial success. That’s not an easy topic to write about. How did you muster the courage?
I’m not the only one who’s experienced that, and I’m not going to be the last. It always makes it easier to put vulnerable thoughts out there when you know they’re going to be met with connection. As more women have moved into power, it’s been interesting to see the effects. It’s important for men to know there are so many things you can bring to the table other than money. If you’re with a woman who earns more than you, maybe look at what you can bring emotionally, mentally, or around the house. I feel really lucky to be with someone who is so secure and is a champion of me reaching for every star possible. It’s a really beautiful thing for a man to be able to support a woman in that way and not take it personally.

What is it like to share your new relationship after going through a public divorce?
I don’t really want to keep things private, because I’m proud of the love that I have. I’m very happy. It’s natural to want to share that. And I don’t want to come across like a robot—I think people like me because I share who I am. But you also have to remember that you are under a magnifying glass, and it can get picked apart.

I think that’s hard for everyone, public figure or not—the internet is ugly.
You’re going to hear from the trolls. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me. People forget that there are real feelings there. But it also makes me feel sorry for people—I can’t imagine being so miserable that I have to spread that negativity. I would very much welcome anyone to say some of the things they have said online to my face. I guarantee they wouldn’t.

I appreciate that you can admit it gets to you. It helps to hear from successful women that sometimes things don’t feel good.
Are you kidding? If people only knew. Everyone presents their highlight reel to the world. When I come out onstage and you see me put together, I’ve had a team of people helping me. There’s the side of me that doesn’t feel confident about my body, that feels bloated and gross and doesn’t want to go on stage in these outfits. I have days where I’m analyzing every section of my body and not feeling good about it. I have other days where I’m like, “Damn, I look pretty good.” It’s just as up and down as anyone else, and anyone who says it’s not like that is lying.

[From Time]

It’s reassuring, if a bit sad, that Kacey says she has moments where she’s not confident in her body and doesn’t want to perform. She’s so young and beautiful. My mom always told me that you should appreciate where you are now because you’ll look back and wish you were there again someday.

Honestly I don’t know much of Kacey’s music but I listened to Breadwinner and Camera Roll, which were mentioned in the article. Breadwinner in particular was spot on. Around Kacey’s age I was with a man who lost his job and quickly withdrew. He wouldn’t even let me pay for dinner because it was like an insult to him even though I was the one who was working. Kacey and her husband, Ruston Kelly, announced their split in June, 2020. I think she’s telling us what happened. She’s been with writer Cole Schafer for almost a year from what we know. They gush about each other on social media and it’s sweet.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by K A C E Y (@spaceykacey)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by K A C E Y (@spaceykacey)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cole Schafer (@cole_schafer)