Interview: Kacey Musgraves on her new album, 'Middle of Nowhere' - NPR Music

NPR Music: Interview with Kacey Musgraves on ‘Middle of Nowhere’

Date: March 14, 2026
Host: Ann Powers (NPR Music)
Guest: Kacey Musgraves
Interviewer: Julie Height

Episode Overview

This special episode features an in-depth, exclusive interview with Kacey Musgraves, Grammy-winning country artist, on the announcement of her upcoming sixth album, Middle of Nowhere (out May 1). Musgraves talks candidly with NPR reporter Julie Height about creative rebirth, her renewed embrace of traditional country sound, life transitions, and the Texan and Mexican influences that shaped both her worldview and her music. The conversation is rich with humor, introspection, and insights into Musgraves’s songwriting and artistic process.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Writing “Dry Spell” and Embracing Humor Again

Musgraves’s single “Dry Spell” launches the conversation.
Kacey reflects on her time alone following a breakup, embracing singleness for the first time (“really, really loving my singledom” – 02:02).
The song originated from her period of celibacy and uses wry humor and double entendres typical of classic country.
She recounts working with old friends and collaborators (“Shane, Josh Osborne, Luke Laird… nobody does humor better than those guys” – 03:03).
Musgraves acknowledges intentionally steering away from humor after her early albums, and how returning to it felt revitalizing.

“I was craving humor again… I think that was a big part of like earlier albums. And then I maybe purposefully steered away from that just so I didn't paint myself into some sort of like bumper sticker lane.” – Kacey Musgraves, 03:18

2. Kacey’s Songwriting Voice and Delivery

Julie notes Musgraves’s knack for delivering transgressive subject matter in a uniquely matter-of-fact, relatable way (04:29).
Kacey discusses finding the human condition “pretty hilarious” and highlights influence from songwriter John Prine.

“I find the human condition pretty hilarious… One of my all-time favorite writers did it best, John Prine. Also, I can be quite introspective… but I really love anchoring something with (humor).” – Kacey Musgraves, 05:22
Musgraves describes the importance of subtlety, restraint, and breathing room in art, both lyrically and sonically:

“I love restraint in art. And I think it’s hard to do… I love for there to be room to breathe, think, and like some negative space in there.” – Kacey Musgraves, 06:27

3. Themes of Aloneness, Liminality, and Self-Sovereignty

Musgraves explores “middle of nowhere” both literally (her Texas hometown) and metaphorically (life's transitional or liminal spaces) (07:59).
Kacey delves into the concept of liminal spaces and the value in existing between defined phases.

“Liminal spaces are defined as the transitional space in between like a point A and a point B... I got really obsessed with the idea of liminal. … I was just totally fine with that. I found a lot of clarity there and a lot of… fertile breeding ground for anything that's coming next.” – Kacey Musgraves, 09:05
She shares how her recent experiences have redefined loneliness as something empowering:

“It’s powerful to know now that I don’t need anyone to be happy. Because now whatever I do choose to put back into my life… can be because it actually really serves me.” – Kacey Musgraves, 11:05

4. Reconnecting with Traditional Country Sound

Musgraves explains her intentional, nuanced return to traditional country sonics, embedded with emotional complexity and ambiguity (12:09).
She discusses the recording process and her selective, subtractive approach to production (“They call me the Axeman in the studio… my favorite thing is to… start muting things” – 13:23).

“It’s always about finding the balance… I love the eraser tool. It’s almost like I can feel the balance, like in my body, like when I’m hearing something.” – Kacey Musgraves, 13:48

5. Collaboration and Musical Community

Kacey talks about drawing from two creative teams: her long-time Nashville collaborators (Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, Brandy Clark, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne) and the musicians she worked with on Golden Hour (Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian) (14:08).
She found renewed creative energy by bringing these circles together:

“Both crews… bring different things to the table… There was no pressing deadline or anything. So I was just like, hey, would you guys want to get together and write some, like, super country shit?” – Kacey Musgraves, 14:47
Musgraves clarifies she’s never left country music, despite others framing it as a “return”:

“It's a return for me in a lot of ways. But I would also like to say… I never left that, you know… It's a huge part of me. I don't think I could shake it if I even wanted to.” – 15:29

6. Industry, Tradition, and Staying True to Herself

Reflects on moving to Nashville and the tension between industry pressure and personal artistic compass (17:02).
Discusses the dangers artists face by molding themselves to the ever-shifting demands of the music industry (17:51).

“I’ve seen people try and pretzel themselves into every ideal of the moving target… it just does not bode well for them.” – Kacey Musgraves, 17:51

7. Geography, Identity, and Sonics: Texas and Mexico

Musgraves examines how small-town Texas remains a wellspring of inspiration, but she also probes the intersection between country and bordering genres—bluegrass, Tejano, Mexican regional music, and zydeco (19:17).

“Sonically, it’s always about exploring the borders of country music. I think this album has a lot to do with borders… I'm really interested in where those two meet and them making something new.” – Kacey Musgraves, 19:17
Musgraves discusses her deep connection to Mexican culture (“Texas would not be Texas without Mexico”). She shares her life split between Texas and Mexico, and the influence of mariachi and Norteño music on her latest work (20:22).

“There's such a shared kinship with the subject matter… traditional mariachi music is their version of our traditional country music… It’s so passionate and colorful and beautiful…” – Kacey Musgraves, 22:50
This exposure pushed her to experiment vocally and stylistically (“learning some of those songs has, like, pushed me to tap back into… singing with a bit more zest…” – 23:40).

8. Duets & Texas Country Icons (Willie Nelson & Miranda Lambert)

The album features a new duet with Willie Nelson (“Uncertain Texas”), and a highly anticipated collaboration with Miranda Lambert (“Horses and Divorces”).

“Country music is very eager to accept people from other genres partaking in our world. And the same lenience is not shown for people who have started or been rooted in country and are inspired to explore some of those same other genres—especially if those artists happen to be women.” – Kacey Musgraves, 25:25-25:47
On “Uncertain Texas”: Willie serves as a narrator, bringing humor and gravitas to a song exploring modern dating and indecision.
On working with Miranda Lambert: Revisits their complicated history over the song “Mama’s Broken Heart,” finding closure and humor in their duet:

“We ain't friends, but I guess we have two things in common. Horses and divorces. That's for sure. ...I was like, wait, that could be a really funny song… we aired out any old past laundry. We, you know, had some laughs and wrote the song in, like, a matter of a few hours.” – Kacey Musgraves, 27:44–30:07

9. Visuals, Album Aesthetics, and Inspiration

The album cover's creation involved Musgraves’s sister, a real Texas bull, and a guerilla Dallas photoshoot (31:23).
Inspiration comes from the everyday, overlooked details of Texas and country life, striving for authenticity over stereotype:

“It's about taking these very intrinsic things… Those pieces of Texas and I guess country life that often get overlooked because it’s so mundane.” – Kacey Musgraves, 30:44
A night at a Texas dance hall rekindled Musgraves’s appreciation for dance music as a force for cross-cultural connection:

“America needs a two step together… it’s a great equalizer and it’s where your differences sort of melt away.” – Kacey Musgraves, 32:38

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On “Dry Spell” and sex:

"A lot of songs, people are trying to convince you of how sexy they are. And I'm telling you how I have not been getting any. You know, even the chickens are getting laid and I’m not." – Kacey Musgraves, 04:11
On embracing liminal space:

“I got really obsessed with the idea of liminal. … I was just totally fine with that. I found a lot of clarity there…” – Kacey Musgraves, 09:05
On evolving but not abandoning country:

“While I agree with some of that [calling this a “return”], I also want to say that I never left that… It's a huge part of me. I don't think I could shake it if I even wanted to.” – 15:29
On creative partnerships:

“Both sets of both crews are… just bring different things to the table… it was just fun. I had the time to amble.” – Kacey Musgraves, 14:47
On reconnection with Miranda Lambert:

“We’d lost touch for years and wouldn’t consider each other friends. …I saw her on Instagram… and I was like, ‘Well, we ain't friends, but I guess we have two things in common. Horses and divorces. That’s for sure.’ … So I was like, fuck it, I just randomly reached out to her…” – Kacey Musgraves, 27:44–30:07
On genre boundaries:

“Country shares fence lines with so many other styles… I’m really interested in where those two meet and them making something new.” – Kacey Musgraves, 19:17
On her vision for America (and country music):

“America needs a two step together… the one goal is to connect via music and have fun and move your body.” – Kacey Musgraves, 32:38

Timestamps for Key Segments

[01:04] – Excerpt of “Dry Spell” (musical performance)
[02:02] – Musgraves on single life and writing “Dry Spell”
[05:22] – On humor and John Prine’s influence in songwriting
[07:59] – Embracing "middle of nowhere" and liminality
[11:05] – Self-worth and sovereignty through aloneness
[12:09] – On returning to traditional country sounds
[14:47] – Combining different collaborator circles
[17:02] – Industry dynamics vs. musical lineage
[19:17] – Musical borders between country & other genres
[20:22] – Influence of Texas and Mexican regional sounds
[25:25] – On working with Willie Nelson; genre gender bias
[27:44] – The backstory and making of “Horses and Divorces” with Miranda Lambert
[30:44] – Visual aesthetic and album cover story
[32:38] – Texas dance hall inspiration and community

In Summary

This episode offers a candid and often witty window into Kacey Musgraves’s creative process and personal evolution during the making of Middle of Nowhere. It’s a portrait of an artist circling back to her roots while defying expectations—leaning into humor, mining the richness of Texan and Mexican culture, and finding profound freedom in in-betweenness. The interview is peppered with sharp observations on the music industry, memorable anecdotes, and much warmth, humor, and self-assurance. For fans and newcomers alike, it’s a revealing primer before the arrival of Musgraves’s new album.