NPR Music Interview: Kacey Musgraves on her new album, 'Middle of Nowhere'
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Mar 14, 2026 Kacey Musgraves, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who blends country with pop and alt influences, talks about her sixth album Middle of Nowhere. She explains writing the single “Dry Spell” from solitude. She describes returning to traditional country sounds, Tejano and mariachi textures, collaborations with Willie Nelson and Miranda Lambert, and finding creative clarity in small-town liminal spaces.
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Writing Dry Spell During Longest Single Stretch
- Kacey Musgraves wrote "Dry Spell" during her longest period of singledom after a breakup and used humor to process loneliness.
- She reunited with longtime collaborators Shane, Josh, and Luke to craft a witty cowboy shuffle reflecting newfound comfort in being alone.
Embracing Liminal Middle Of Nowhere
- The album title Middle of Nowhere came from embracing liminal space and finding clarity in being between points A and B.
- Musgraves describes Golden, Texas as proudly small and sees the middle-of-nowhere as fertile ground for what's next.
Aloneness As Sovereignty And Choice
- Musgraves reframes aloneness as sovereignty and power, not pining or wallowing.
- She emphasizes knowing she can be "freaking good" alone so future additions to life must truly serve her.