Nanci Griffith got an early start on her path to performing and songwriting. At the age of 14, a campfire turn at the Kerrville Folk Festival caught the ear of singer-songwriter Tom Russell and she was on her way. Having recorded 18 albums and performed concerts all over the world, it's safe to say that she's never looked back.

Nanci's latest album, The Loving Kind, finds her at the top of her game as a songwriter, interpreter, and singer. Featuring nine songs written by Griffith and her collaborators, and four well-chosen covers, the album takes its place alongside the consistently acclaimed work of this Grammy Award-winning, genre-defying artist.

The Loving Kind skillfully touches on newsworthy issues as well as matters of the heart, proving that such a writing style can capture life at its most complex.

Perhaps the most striking song on The Loving Kind is Not Innocent Enough - a poignant statement against the death penalty. The song deals with the story of Philip Workman, accused of murdering a police officer, and convicted - with tainted testimony. "I started writing this song long before Philip was executed but just couldn't finish it until that final injustice took place," Griffith explains. In the song, the focus is on human imperfection - and the finality of the looming punishment. "I am a total abolitionist on the death penalty. I just hope [the song] makes a difference."

When the cause is championed with the eloquence Nanci Griffith brings to it, it just might.