....Brandy Clark, an openly gay artist who sings, among other things, about pot-smoking housewives, had almost given up on becoming an artist herself, despite writing hits for The Band Perry, Miranda Lambert and others. But her debut album, "12 Stories," which peaked at number 23 on Billboard's Top Country chart, took her on a slow-burning path to this year's nomination for new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday..... "I feel so fortunate to be in a time where I am embraced completely as who I am and I don't have to hide who I...