Kacey Musgraves has been an interesting artist to watch. She writes her own songs and marches to her own drummer. Her music is essentially country, although she's never really been embraced by the Nashville country scene. She has built a strong and rabid fan base by being herself and following her own arrow.

True to form, Musgraves appears to be following her own arrow on her first-ever holiday album. A Very Kacey Christmas is a real charmer. This sweet-as-a-candy-cane mix of her new tunes and old holiday faves sounds as comfy as your favorite "ugly sweater."

You can tell Musgraves is from The Lone Star State the way she incorporates the Texas- and Mexico-styled waltz. For example, she revives that old Chipmunks number, "Christmas Don't Be Late," and turns it into a sort of a Texas waltz — that one will bring back the Christmas memories! Later, she waltzes South-of-the-Border style on the Latin fave, "Feliz Navidad."

But A Very Kacey Christmas isn't just about Texas. Musgraves covers the Hawaiian chestnut, "Mele Kalikimaka," lending a bit of an Andrews Sisters twist. And speaking of our 50th state, the Kacey-penned "A Willie Nice Christmas" features (you guessed it!) Willie Nelson. Together, Kacey and Willie sing, "May we all stay higher than the angel on top of the tree!" You'll like this one whether you're in Luckenbach or Waikiki! And Nelson isn't the only guest Texan. Leon Bridges adds some soul to another of the album highlights, "Present Without a Bow."

You know when an artist has arrived when they make a Christmas album, and A Very Kacey Christmas might be the holiday album this season. Put this one in your player and serve up the eggnog; you'll have a hard time hitting the "eject" button. A Very Kacey Christmas might even cheer up Ebenezer Scrooge!

Resources

Kacey Musgraves - official site

Related

• Watch Kacey Musgraves Play NPR's Tiny Desk (2015)