LISTEN: Kacey Musgraves Embraces Her Silly Side With ‘Middle of Nowhere’ Album and Tour

On a recent installment of the "Daily Variety" podcast, the publication's chief music critic, Chris Willman, sat down to discuss his in-depth interview with country music sensation Kacey Musgraves. The conversation, featured in the podcast's Cover Story segment, arrives as Musgraves embarks on a fresh chapter in both her personal life and professional trajectory. Willman, who has cultivated a long-standing rapport with iconic figures such as Taylor Swift, John Williams, and Elvis Costello, first encountered Musgraves at a Nashville songwriters showcase in 2013. He recalls being immediately impressed by her raw talent and has since chronicled her evolution from a budding singer-songwriter into one of country music's most prominent stars.

Reflecting on Musgraves' current creative state, Willman notes a distinct shift toward artistic playfulness. "She's remarkably at ease with herself right now," he explains. "I also spoke with some of her collaborators for the story, and they emphasized that Kacey is prioritizing fun at this stage." This lighter tone contrasts sharply with her recent output. Willman points out that her 2018 album "Golden Hour" marked a turn toward a dreamy, folk-pop romantic direction—more introspective and less humorous than her earlier work. Following her subsequent divorce, she released the somber "Star-Crossed" in 2021, which Willman describes as a divorce album. Last year's "Deeper Well" continued this serious vein, focusing on themes of wellness and self-care. "I genuinely appreciated all of those projects," Willman says, "but it's refreshing to hear her embracing humor again—cracking jokes on record and in interviews, and wholeheartedly re-embracing country music, even though she insists she never left the genre."

Willman's interview coincides with the upcoming release of Musgraves' new album, "Middle of Nowhere," set to debut on May 1. The title itself hints at a thematic exploration of liminal spaces, both physically and emotionally. Industry insiders speculate that the album could mark a return to the witty, self-aware songwriting that first earned her critical acclaim in the early 2010s. For context, Musgraves' debut album "Same Trailer Different Park" won a Grammy for Best Country Album in 2014, cementing her reputation for blending sharp social commentary with traditional country instrumentation. As Willman's discussion underscores, this new chapter appears to be as much about rediscovering joy as it is about musical reinvention.

Listeners can access the full "Daily Variety" podcast episode, including the complete interview with Willman, on platforms such as iHeartPodcasts, Apple Podcasts, Variety's YouTube Podcast channel, Amazon Music, Spotify, and other major podcast providers. The episode offers a deeper dive into Musgraves' creative process and the collaborators who have helped shape her evolving sound. As Willman notes, this moment feels like a homecoming of sorts—one where Musgraves is not only revisiting her roots but also redefining what it means to have fun within the country music landscape.