What a year it’s been for Washington - born and bred singer - songwriter Brandy Clark. N amed Music Row Magazine 's 2014 Breakthrough Artist of the Year , Clark signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2014 after her debut album 12 Stories was released by Texas indie label Slate Creek Records to widespread critical acclaim in October 2013 . It was named the best album of 2013 by New York Magazine (which called her “ a brisk, vivid, witty storyteller ”), NPR , The New York Post , and The Boston Globe , whose critic wrote that “i n a bountiful year for female country singer - songwriters, Clark was at the head of the class, mining deep veins and yielding lyrical insights from the smallest moments in life that bind us together . ” 12 Stories also appeared on year - end best - of lists in Rolling Stone , The New Yorker , and The Los Angeles Times . The latter called it “ the country debut of the year, ” which indeed it was.
In the fall, Clark was nominated for two CMA Awards, for New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year , winning Song of the Year for co - writing Kacey Musgraves’ hit “Follow Your Arrow” with Musgraves and Shane McAnally . With the win, Clark and Musgraves joined an exclusive club of only 14 women who have written a CMA Song of the Year . A mon th later, Clark was nominated for two 2015 Grammy Awar d s, for Best New Artist and Best Country Album of the Year for 12 Stories . Clark has also been nominated for two 2015 ACM Awards, for “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for co - writing Kacey Musgraves’ hit “Follow Your Arrow” with Musgraves and Shane McAnally. Clark was also busy on the live front. She opened f or Loretta Lynn at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium , performed with Lee Ann Womack, and toured with Eric Church on his “The Outsiders World Tour” (including a sold - out show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden) and Jennifer Nettles on her “That Girl” tour . She will hit the road with Alan Jackson in January 2015 on his 25 th Anniversary Tour.