k.d. lang

k.d. lang did the unimaginable in 1992 by coming out in The Advocate. Her bravery paved the way for stars like Chely Wright, who can now live openly and, in some states, marry freely.

The first minute of k.d. lang's new disc, Watershed, feels like a quick trip through her musical life. The song ''I Dream of Spring'' features a Brazilian beat, background strings, and that soaring voice. Then, almost startlingly, comes the entrance of a pedal-steel guitar -- an echo of the country music she was known for at the beginning of her career. It wasn't intentional, she said. But perhaps because it is the first album she produced herself and wasn't answerable to another person's vision, Watershed draws together the styles she has touched on over the past 25 years.