Kacey Musgraves released her sixth studio album, Middle of Nowhere, on Friday, a 13-track project exploring post-breakup solitude and self-discovery.
The album follows her 2024 release Deeper Well, her fifth consecutive No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and is home to “The Architect,” which won the Grammy Award for best country song.
Rooted in traditional Western sounds, Middle of Nowhere incorporates elements of Mexican music alongside accordion, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and Texas dancehall percussion.
“The bulk of this record was made during the longest single period of my life,” Musgraves said in a press release. “And I found that for the first time, it actually felt incredible being alone and existing in a space not defined by anyone else. I became fascinated with the concept of liminal space, both geographical and emotional. We don’t linger in these transitional, empty spaces long enough and rush to define where or whatever is next. I became so at ease with being in the ‘middle of nowhere’ in many senses and sitting in the un-comfort of the undefined. I had a lot of time for creative ambling and leaning into myself in different ways; horses, humor, writing with my early collaborators again, and living out my very simple, inspired life between Texas, Tennessee, and Mexico.”
She told Texas Monthly the album period coincided with her “getting more comfortable being alone, not as isolation, but as sovereignty.”
The album features collaborations with Willie Nelson on “Uncertain, TX,” Miranda Lambert on “Horses & Divorces,” Billy Strings on “Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy,” and Gregory Alan Isakov on “Coyote.” Musgraves produced the album alongside longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk.
In support of the release, Musgraves will launch the Middle of Nowhere Tour on Aug. 21 in Chicago, wrapping Oct. 27 in Seattle. Carter Faith, Midland, and William Beckmann will serve as openers on select dates. Musgraves also recently performed at Coachella, where she debuted music from the new album.
Musgraves is also set to perform at the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards, airing live on Prime Video on May 17th.
