Kacey Musgraves had one of country music's biggest albums of 2018, but it came only after she shrugged off any lingering obligation to pursue radio airplay. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Stagecoach hide caption
Ashley McBryde Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde
St. Vincent performs at O2 Apollo Manchester in October 2017 in Manchester, England. Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage/Getty Images hide caption
Hayley Kiyoko's debut album Expectations is out now on Atlantic. Amanda Charchian/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
"The thing about bikers and truckers is they're just regular folks, and that's definitely my demographic," Ashley McBryde tells NPR. "I'm never looking for a pedestal." John Peets/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
NPR Music's best 100 songs of 2017. (Clockwise from upper left) Goldlink, Margo Price, IBEYI, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Tyler The Creator, Big Thief, SZA and Sharon Jones. Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Ashley McBryde Courtesy of the artist hide caption