Jewly Hight

With sophisticated song arrangements and dashing interpretations, the Nashville singer recognizes the importance of artfulness even to raw, Southern soul expression.

In the eyes of bluegrass musician and advocate Jon Weisberger, the fight for his music's survival is not one between preservation and progress, but to ensure that both have a home in the genre.

This week, NPR Music is speaking to creators whose work in 2017 captured something unique about a chaotic year. We begin with two musicians whose intertwined careers are a statement in themselves.

The bluegrass group Osborne Brothers released their version of "Rocky Top" on Christmas Day 50 years ago. Sonny Osborne retired in 2005, but Bobby is still going strong. The singer released his latest album 'Original' in June.

Based on true accounts, the song is a devastating testimony to the quiet suffering of the partners and spouses who welcome soldiers home.

Once a teenage winner of The Voice, the country singer has begun to personalize her craft, with new textures to her big delivery and diaristic self-disclosure in her lyrics.

At the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night, light political farce and wide-angle expressions of empathy were the vehicles for addressing violence, toxic politics and sexual assault.

Beathard, who has family connections in the country music industry and an edgier, angstier sound than Nashville is used to, will release his debut album, Dear Someone, on November 17.

The contemporary R&B singer collaborates with her father — blues and soul legend Syl Johnson — to craft a consciously retro-sounding album which feels both vital and knowing.

He's was one of the most recognizable voices in acoustic music, thanks to work with Alison Krauss and on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Then he got a call from Avicii.