Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Kacey Musgraves performs at the 2019 GRAMMYs.
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For The Record: Why Kacey Musgraves' Timeless Album 'Golden Hour' Still Shines 5 Years Later
After winning the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year in 2019, Musgraves' country pop revelation 'Golden Hour' continues to shimmer years later with its universal reflections on love.
GRAMMYs/Mar 30, 2023 - 07:06 pm
In March 2018, Kacey Musgraves heralded the start of springtime with her third studio album Golden Hour — and in turn, the world crowned her a new level of stardom. Brimming with a glorious honeymoon tenderness, the record resonated deeply with listeners and became an instant country pop classic.
In fact, one of the most common Google searches for the album is simply, "Why is Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves so good?" It also won over her famous peers: Golden Hour is Justin Bieber's go-to photoshoot soundtrack, and just its mention on the red carpet earned a gasp from Beanie Feldstein.
The album's magic was equally apparent at the 2019 GRAMMY Awards, where Golden Hour became the fourth country album to win Album Of The Year. It also won Best Country Album, and two of its singles (the starry-eyed "Butterflies" and the wistful "Space Cowboy") won for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, respectively — meaning Musgraves swept every category she was nominated in that year.
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Her inspiration for Golden Hour came to light upon meeting Ruston Kelly, her now ex-husband (more on that later), when he played a set at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe in 2016. "I had just cleared my schedule to get back to writing when I went to that show and I met him," Musgraves said in an interview. "Songs just immediately started pouring out."
This rush of falling in love saturates Golden Hour. ("It was nice to know that you didn't have to suffer to create good art," she said in a 2021 interview with The Guardian.) A free-falling, saccharine infatuation colors the album's prismatic perimeter, and it's tinged with a distinct warmth that crawls over your skin and fills your heart. Buzzy with pink-orange comfort, its cohesion is satisfying and enveloping, from the affectionate nostalgia of "Slow Burn" to the soft solace of "Rainbow."
But what makes Musgraves' Golden Hour so monumental is its pure acceptance of love's ephemerality — and ironically, this embrace of fleetingness is what makes the album beautifully timeless. The grand album offers 46 minutes of sunlight before fading into the horizon.
In theme with its apt springtime to summer ambiance, Golden Hour magnificently captures the seasonality of love, romantic or not. Musgraves finds self-love in isolation on "Lonely Weekend," a song that feels like a shrug with a sad smile. Later, the singer accepts distance from a lover in the cinematic "Space Cowboy," and she watches precious time slip away in her one-minute heart wrenching ballad "Mother."
Yet, as Musgraves gently confronts her grief, she also taps into a resonant relief. Drawing meaning from this duality, Golden Hour honors how the beauty of life and love is found in the recognition of their inevitable conclusions.
For some, this is most deeply felt in the soaring ballad "Happy & Sad," in which Musgraves exquisitely details the joys and fears that come with falling in love. "Is there a word for the way that I'm feeling tonight?/ Happy and sad at the same time," she sings. "You got me smilin' with tears in my eyes."
On "Happy & Sad," she searches for the exact term to pin down the striking emotion — but Golden Hour encapsulates the feeling so much more powerfully than a singular word could ever achieve. "They say everything that goes up/ Goes up, must come down," Musgraves sings on the track, "And I don't wanna come down."
The album blossoms with such radiance that it's difficult to believe that it's Musgraves' first album about love. It comes after Musgraves' Same Trailer Different Park (2013) and Pageant Material (2015), which each spin stories of small-town life, its challenges, and her favored smoky forms of escapism. Musgraves grew up in Golden, Texas — a town of just 200 people — and through the open-mindedness of her music, she grew out of it.
"Undeniably, I'm a country singer, I'm a country songwriter. But I feel like I make country music for people who like country music, and for people who don't," she explained in an Entertainment Weekly interview shortly after her first album release. "It's a blend of being inspired by super-traditional country roots and then all these other kinds of music: Cake, Weezer, Electric Light Orchestra, the Beatles, Glen Campbell. I don't really see genre boxes."
Though Musgraves' roots are undeniably country, her versatile approach to music allows her to break conventions in what is often viewed as a traditional genre. While slide guitar, banjo, and pedal steel guitar whirl across Golden Hour, a perky vocoder and vibraphone also make appearances in a way that Musgraves described to Refinery 29 as "futurism meeting traditionalism."
This contemporary style applies not just to her work's technical production, but also to her sharp — and what some deemed characteristic of a "liberal misfit" — lyricism. Pageant Material saw her shoot down the "good ol boys' club," and on Same Trailer Different Park's "Follow Your Arrow," Musgraves sings, "Kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into/ When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight, roll up a joint, or don't."
A variation of the label "The country star for people who hate country music" began to follow her around: Musgraves was determinedly making country "cool" again, taking down bro-country one joint at a time.
On Golden Hour, the standout free-spirited anthem is "Rainbow" — even despite its more somber tone. The piano-driven track sees her brush past a swirling storm, and she tenderly reminds listeners that "there's always been a rainbow hangin' over your head." With its endearing message of hope, many fans in the LGBTQ+ community embraced the song's beaming chorus.
"I feel a kinship and a friendship with that community. They really opened my eyes up to a lot of different things that I wasn't aware of growing up in a small town in Texas," Musgraves said of the LGBTQ+ community. "'Rainbow' is something that I can dedicate to that community, but also to anyone who has any kind of a weight on their shoulders."
As much as the song resonates with members of the queer community, "Rainbow" escapes one singular meaning. Co-writer and producer Shane McAnally described it as a "sort of a chameleon," as many people took the song and shaped special meaning out of it for themselves, whether it be in relation to the challenges of the pandemic, accepting one's identity, or simply everyday life.
This is the inherent, irresistible magic of Golden Hour: universality. Along with Musgraves' pivotal embrace of love's transience, the album's timelessness also stems from its fluid meaning — even for Musgraves herself. In September 2020, the golden hour had faded completely: Musgraves and Kelly split, and she momentarily found herself despising her widely beloved masterpiece.
"There was a time where I was like, 'OK, Golden Hour is trash, I'm not ever singing it again," she admitted in an interview with Zane Lowe, just a few days ahead of dropping her 2021 breakup album star-crossed. "It's like, I never want to see another butterfly ever f—ing again."
Musgraves went on to say, however, that she was eventually able to redefine and rediscover what the album meant to her. "As I've gone on and found some more stable ground and personal happiness, I'm like, 'You know what? No: the magic of Golden Hour does not have to die with that relationship. It can live on and I will relate to it again,'" she told Lowe..
As Musgraves has seemingly discovered herself, Golden Hour is the kind of album that can take the shape of whatever listeners need it to be. And while love may often be impermanent, Golden Hour reminds us to cherish our time in the sun.
Kacey Musgraves' Road To 'Star-Crossed': How The Breakup Album Fits Right Into Her Glowing Catalog
Kacey Musgraves performs during the "Deeper Well" tour in Newark, New Jersey in September 2024.
Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for ABA
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20 Live Events At The GRAMMY Museum This October: Experience Kacey Musgraves, Khalid, Tems, Samara Joy & More
This month, join the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and New York City for live discussions and performances from Travis Barker, Will Smith, Arooj Aftab, and other incredible artists.
GRAMMYs/Sep 30, 2024 - 10:25 pm
As October rolls in, the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and New York City is set to host an exciting lineup of live discussions and performances. This month’s programming features a diverse array of artists, including Kacey Musgraves, Khalid, Tems, Samara Joy, and Shelby Lynne, along with icons like Slash and Laurie Anderson.
Whether you're a fan of soulful jazz, indie pop, or rock legends, these events offer an intimate look into the creative processes of some of the industry's most compelling artists. From Travis Barker to Will Smith, the GRAMMY Museum continues to be a hub for music lovers to experience one-of-a-kind performances and discussions with their favorite artists.
Check out the comprehensive list of must-attend GRAMMY Museum public programs for October 2024:
The Drop: Shelby Lynne
Oct. 1, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Shelby Lynne joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening discussing her latest music, her career, and creative process, with a performance to follow.
Inside Deeper Well: An Evening with Kacey Musgraves
Oct. 2, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome seven-time GRAMMY-winning artist Kacey Musgraves to the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing her latest album, Deeper Well, and her creative process and career, with a performance to follow. The discussion will be moderated by Melena Ryzik. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enjoy rooftop views and a cash bar prior to the program.
Read more: Why 2024 Is The Year Women In Country Music Will Finally Have Their Moment
An Evening With Will Smith
Oct. 3, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome 4-time GRAMMY-winning artist Will Smith to the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing his upcoming music, creative process, and legendary career, with a performance to follow. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enjoy the rooftop and a cash bar prior to the program.
An Evening With Slash & Mike Clink
Oct. 4, 2024 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
Slash, the iconic, GRAMMY-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist, and songwriter will join guests at the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing his latest album Orgy of the Damned, a star-studded, vibrant homage to the blues. GRAMMY Hall of Fame Producer and longtime Slash collaborator Mike Clink will join the conversation to discuss the creative process for the album, and an intimate acoustic performance will follow. Attendees can enjoy rooftop views and a cash bar prior to the program.
A New York Evening With Arooj Aftab
Oct. 4, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Arooj Aftab joins GRAMMY Museum guests at The Greene Space in NYC to celebrate her latest album, Night Reign. Aftab will detail her creative process and more in discussion with Jem Aswad, with a special performance to follow.
Watch: Run The World: How Pakistani Singer Arooj Aftab Reimagined Genre & Made GRAMMY History
Spotlight: Jessica Pratt
Oct. 8, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Jessica Pratt joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating her career and discussing her latest album, Here in the Pitch, creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
A New York Evening With Samara Joy
Oct. 8, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome three-time GRAMMY-winning artist Samara Joy to The Greene Space in NYC to celebrate her latest album, Portrait, her creative process and more. Joy will be in discussion with the author and music journalist Marcus J. Moore, with a special performance to follow.
Read more: Samara Joy Won Best New Artist At The 2023 GRAMMYs. What Could It Mean For The Wider Jazz Community?
Spotlight: Tems
Oct. 9, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
Nigeria-based singer/songwriter, and producer Tems will join guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening moderated by Billboard’s Gail Mitchell. Tems will discuss her debut album, Born in the Wild, her career, and creative process. A performance will follow her talk.
Learn more:Tems On How 'Born In The Wild' Represents Her Story Of "Survival" & Embracing Every Part Of Herself
A New York Evening With Ben Platt
Oct. 10, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Ben Platt joins GRAMMY Museum guests at National Sawdust in Brooklyn to talk about his album Honeymind, his creative process behind the project, his career, and more, with a special performance to follow. Platt is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast. "A New York Evening With" is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.
A Conversation With Deryck Whibley of Sum 41
Oct. 10, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 to the Clive Davis Theater for an evening of conversation discussing the stories behind his memoir, Walking Disaster" the creative process behind writing the book, and more with Matt Pinfield. Tickets to this event include admission and a signed copy of the memoir.
Read more: Sum 41 Says Farewell: Deryck Whibley Shares His Favorite Memories With The Pop-Punk Icons
Sensory Friendly Saturdays
Oct. 12, 2024 from 9 to 11 a.m.
L.A.
Experience Sensory Friendly Saturday on the second Saturday of every month. Families can enjoy our space with less crowding, quieter sound levels and lower lighting on the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Guests can purchase tickets when they arrive at the Museum or they can purchase online for the applicable Saturday.
Reel to Reel: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It
Oct.13, 2024 from 3 to 5 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to host the Los Angeles premiere of Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It in the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater. There will be a post-screening panel discussion featuring Director Paris Barclay, artist Cory Henry and Producers Stephanie Allain and Jeanne Elfant Festa.
Spotlight: Khalid
Oct. 14, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
Khalid joins guests at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his latest release, Sincere, in discussion about his career and creative process, with a performance to follow.
Spotlight: FLETCHER
Oct. 14, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
FLETCHER joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating her latest sophomore album, In Search Of The Antidote, her creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
Read more: FLETCHER Is "F—ing Unhinged" & Proud Of It On 'In Search Of The Antidote'
A New York Evening With Laurie Anderson
Oct. 16, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Laurie Anderson joins GRAMMY Museum guests for an intimate conversation moderated by Anderson Cooper about her latest album, Amelia, with a performance to follow, at City Winery in New York City. Anderson is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast. "A New York Evening With…" is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.
A Conversation With Travis Barker
Oct. 16, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Iconic drummer and producer Travis Barker joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating and discussing his career, latest music with blink-182 and others and a conversation about creative process, and more.
Read more: Blink-182 Essentials: 15 Songs That Prove They're Rock's Most Serious Unserious Band
The Drop: Pete Yorn
(Moderated By Matt Pinfield)
Oct. 17, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Pete Yorn joins guests at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his career and discussing his latest album, The Hard Way, his creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
An Evening With Vampire Weekend
Oct. 21, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Vampire Weekend will be in discussion at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater to celebrate their latest album, Only God Was Above Us. Band members will also discuss their creative process, tour, and more, with a performance to follow.
A New York Evening With Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Oct. 22, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
In partnership with Americana Music Association, the GRAMMY Museum will host an intimate conversation with GRAMMY Award-winning artist Dave Alvin and GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Jimmie Dale Gilmore followed by a performance at The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR in New York City. The conversation will include a discussion moderated by Warren Zane about the making of their new album, TexiCali, their collaboration, creative process, and more.
A New York Evening With Kelsea Ballerini
Oct. 25, 2024 from 8 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
The GRAMMY Museum and Collective by 92NY will host four-time GRAMMY nominee Kelsea Ballerini for an intimate conversation about her album, Patterns, her creative process, and more, followed by a special performance at The 92nd Street Y: David Geffen Stage at Kaufman Concert Hall.
Kelsea Ballerini is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast.
Film Screening – A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater
Oct. 26, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to present a special screening of A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater, followed by a discussion with the film’s directors, legendary Wu-Tang Clan Founder RZA and Gerald K. Barclay (Gee-Bee), and moderated by Raqiyah Mays. The post-screening discussion will also spotlight RZA’s new classical music album, A Ballet Through Mud.
This free program will be hosted by Schyler O’Neal, Senior Manager of Education & Community Engagement at the GRAMMY Museum, and is presented in partnership with the Hip-Hop Education Center.
Reel To Reel: Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Oct. 28, 2024 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to host a special screening of Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus and a panel discussion about the legacy of Sakamoto with award-winning musician Flying Lotus and award-winning director Barry Jenkins.
The Drop: Andy Grammer
Oct. 30, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome award-winning artist Andy Grammer to the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his latest album, Monster, with a discussion about his creative process behind the project and a performance.
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(L-R) Billie Eilish and Charli XCX
Photo: Courtesy of High Rise PR
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New Music Friday: Listen To New Songs From Charli XCX And Billie Eilish, Saweetie, Sam Smith & More
As August begins, the summer jams prove to continue thanks to new music from Kacey Musgraves, Sam Smith, Jack White, and many more. Check out some of the most exciting Aug. 2 releases here.
GRAMMYs/Aug 2, 2024 - 12:54 pm
Another month has passed us by, and August brings us closer to the end of the season. However, several new tracks and albums have dropped to lift our spirits. With brand new projects like Khalid's Sincere, Maren Morris' Intermission, and 49 Winchester's Leavin' This Holler, the beginning of August promises bright things ahead.
A slew of singles dropped, too, from exciting collaborations like Charli XCX's "Guess" remix with Billie Eilish and Jessie Murph's new track with Teddy Swims to new offerings from Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, Jelly Roll, Suki Waterhouse, and more. Whether you're looking for full projects or a few new playlist additions, you will not be disappointed.
As you prepare to close out summer, be sure to check out these 10 new songs and albums.
Charli XCX & Billie Eilish — "Guess"
Just 24 hours after Charli XCX set the internet ablaze with a tease of her next collaboration, she not only unveiled the special guest, but she also dropped the track as a New Music Friday-eve gift: a remix of "Guess" with her fellow pop queen, Billie Eilish.
The pulsating song keeps the same club-ready aesthetic of the original from Charli XCX's brat, but taps into the sexual fluidity of Eilish's HIT ME HARD AND SOFT with the "LUNCH" singer adding a new verse (fans particularly went into a frenzy over Eilish's line "Charli likes boys but she knows I'd hit it"). The track offers a raunchy brand of girl power, further emphasized by the underwear-strewn video, as the unworn undergarments will be donated to survivors of domestic violence through I Support the Girls.
Kacey Musgraves — 'Deeper into the Well'
Seven-time GRAMMY-winner Kacey Musgraves is expanding the well she first introduced in March. With the release of Deeper Well, Musgraves showcased a softer side of herself that she discovered during periods of self-introspection following significant changes in her life.
Now, with Deeper into the Well, she takes us further along on her journey. Musgraves gave a taste of the additional seven songs with the release of her single "Irish Goodbye," which narrates the tale of someone struggling to find forgiveness for someone who abruptly left. The extended edition also includes two new features, "Perfection" with Tiny Habits and "Superbloom" with Leon Bridges.
The release comes one month before Musgraves is set to kick off her Deeper Well World Tour in Pennsylvania; she'll hit cities on both coasts, and conclude in Nashville in December.
Read More: For The Record: Why Kacey Musgraves' Timeless Album Golden Hour Still Shines 5 Years Later
Saweetie — "My Best"
Maintaining her message of confidence and self-worth, Saweetie releases "My Best," an unapologetic anthem that emphasizes knowing your worth and surrounding yourself with people who prioritize your best interests.
The music video visually represents Saweetie's personal growth, both as an individual and as an artist. Shot at hometown landmarks like her high school and childhood neighborhood, she invites fans on a nostalgic journey of introspection — while also reminding them to stay true to themselves.
Learn More: Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Saweetie On Her Long-Awaited Album Pretty B^^^^ Music & Why Women Rappers "No Longer Need A Co-Sign"
Tones and I — 'Beautifully Ordinary'
Four years after her smash "Dance Monkey" took over the world, Tones and I releases her second studio album, Beautifully Ordinary. The follow-up to 2021's Welcome to the Madhouse, the 16-song project reflects the artist's growth, exploring themes of nostalgia, love, and self-acceptance. Each song invites listeners to embark on an emotional, personal journey with Tones and I, offering a source of catharsis for those who relate to her experiences.
Tones and I first gave listeners a taste of the project in June with lead single "Dance With Me," a track that delves into themes of heartbreak and desperation. Despite its underlying message of loneliness, the track retains Tones and I's signature upbeat rhythms and vibrant instrumentals — and the rest of Beautifully Ordinary follows suit, offering intimate and heartfelt narratives through her radiant musicality.
Sam Smith — 'In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition)'
Celebrating the six-times-platinum debut album that catapulted them to stardom, Sam Smith is releasing the 10th anniversary edition of In The Lonely Hour. This special edition features a reimagined version of their classic "Stay With Me," and a brand new track, "Little Sailor."
The original project launched Smith's career into the stratosphere, receiving critical acclaim and earning them four golden gramophones at the 2015 GRAMMYs, including Best New Artist.
"I feel so incredibly lucky to be celebrating this milestone with you," Smith wrote on Instagram. "My team and I have created this beautiful anniversary edition for us all, and for the last 10 years."
Killer Mike — 'Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs For Sinners & Saints'
Fresh off going three-for-three at the 2024 GRAMMYs, Killer Mike delivers another potent project, Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs For Sinners & Saints. A follow-up to his autobiographical album 'MICHAEL', the 10-song collection dives deeper into his personal narrative, offering an epilogue filled with introspection and celebration — including the poignant track "HUMBLE ME," which reflects on his arrest after winning his GRAMMYs in February.
Killer Mike provided fans with a gift, releasing the album as a free download for the first 48 hours. In support of the release, Killer Mike electrified audiences with six performances over three nights at the legendary Blue Note jazz club in NYC, including a live-streamed show that attracted nearly 100,000 viewers. This project is a testament to Killer Mike's ongoing dialogue with his audience, addressing both tribulations and triumphs. As the tour continues with a stop at Lollapalooza just one day after the album's release, fans can engage further with tracks like "NOBODY KNOWS" and "HIGHER LEVEL," which offer a glimpse into the rapper’s evolving journey and continued impact on hip-hop.
Tiera Kennedy — "Cry"
Still riding high from her vocals featured on Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER, country star Tiera Kennedy releases her latest single, "Cry," which samples Justin Timberlake's 2002 Timbaland-produced hit "Cry Me A River." It's another taste of Kennedy's forthcoming debut album, which she dubs "R&B/country."
"I've been really inspired by the music I grew up listening to," Kennedy shared in an Instagram video. "Timbaland had a hand in a lot of those songs."
Known for her distinctive approach to blending genres, Kennedy invites listeners to immerse themselves in her world of creative storytelling with her latest track. "Cry" explores the narrative of someone who has made their bed and has to lie in it, while Kennedy has already moved on.
Explore More: A Brief History Of Black Country Music: 11 Important Tracks From DeFord Bailey, Kane Brown & More
Gryffin — 'PULSE'
Returning with his third studio album, electronic artist Gryffin embarks on a new era and unveils a fresh side of his artistry with PULSE. The 14-track album features collaborations with a range of artists, including Rita Ora, Disco Lines, MAX, and more.
"PULSE is a return to why I fell in love with dance music in the first place, and this is the most creatively inspired I've felt in years," said Gryffin on Instagram. "I can't wait for you all to hear the new sound and feel the passion I've put into these tracks."
John K — "Lost"
After more than a year of not releasing music, John K is back with a new single, "Lost." It's a song that vulnerably reveals feelings of completeness after finding the right person — a fitting narrative for the happily married singer, who is expecting his second child with his wife, Lenée. . Becoming a father is one of the several major life changes John K has experienced in the past few years, all of which have shaped his upcoming music and brought his musical artistry to the next stage.
"I was writing with the aim of challenging myself to do something I hadn't done before," John K said in a press statement. "I shattered the box of what I thought I had to be, and it allowed me to get to deeper levels of honesty and really gain even more confidence. I took risks, and I honestly expressed myself.
Jack White — 'No Name'
After releasing two albums within four months in 2022, Jack White has essentially gone silent since — until now. Just two days after announcing his sixth studio album, No Name, the rock icon unveils his latest masterpiece.
The 13-track album stays true to White's DIY philosophy, with the recording, production, and mixing all handled by the artist himself at his own Third Man Studio. Even before the album dropped on Aug. 2, reviews were already glowing, with Variety calling it the album "fans have been lusting for" due to its parallels to the rip-roaring rock of his former band the White Stripes — but "without seeming retro or leaning too heavily on nostalgia."
Explore More: Songbook: A Guide To Jack White's Musical Outlets, From The White Stripes To The Dead Weather & Beyond
Bootsy Collins — "Pure Perfection"
Ahead of his forthcoming album, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, Bootsy Collins has released "Pure Perfection," a smooth, sultry track featuring German rapper FANTAAZMA and rapper Giz. The track also features one of the funk icon's legendary alter-egos, "Bedroom Bootsy," who brings a sultry tone to the tune.
Due Oct. 25 (the day before Collins' 73rd birthday), Album of the Year #1 Funkateer includes an 18-song track list with contributions from Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and more. And if the smooth, thumping vibe of "Pure Perfection" is any indication, the funk vet is ready to take fans on a trippy musical journey — one that only Bootsy Collins can moderate.
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Kacey Musgraves
Photo: Kelly Christine Sutton
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Everything We Know About Kacey Musgraves' New Album 'Deeper Well': Release Date, Cover Art & More
On the heels of a history-making GRAMMY win, Kacey Musgraves announced that her fifth studio album is on the way. Take a look at all of the details she's unveiled so far.
GRAMMYs/Feb 9, 2024 - 05:48 pm
A new Kacey Musgraves era is upon us! The country superstar teased the news with a cryptic social media post on Feb. 4: "I'm saying goodbye to the people that I feel are real good at wasting my time," she wrote in the caption. "No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe you go your way and I'll go mine."
That teaser coincided with a historic win at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards. The seven-time GRAMMY winner took home the golden gramophone for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "I Remember Everything," her 2023 collab with Zach Bryan; with that victory, she became the first artist to win in all four Country Field Categories. (She won Best Country Album and Best Country Song in 2014 and 2019 — for Same Trailer Different Park and "Merry Go Round," and Golden Hour and "Space Cowboy," respectively — and "Space Cowboy" also took home Best Country Solo Performance in 2019.)
Fresh off that achievement, Musgraves announced her forthcoming album, Deeper Well,and shared its folksy, introspective title track. As fans eagerly await its release, GRAMMY.com has rounded up everything to be found about the singer/songwriter's fifth studio set so far.
The Album Drops Sooner Than You Think
We're quickly coming up on three years since Musgraves released her fourth full-length, star-crossed, and suddenly, the release of Deeper Well is just around the corner. Just a few days after her GRAMMYs teaser, the country star revealed that her sixth album will be released in just a matter of weeks.
"My new album, Deeper Well, is arriving March 15th," Musgraves wrote on social media. "It's a collection of songs I hold very dear to my heart. I hope it makes a home in all of your hearts, too."
There Are Two Different Covers
In her social post, Musgraves shared that Deeper Well will have not one, but two different covers — both shot by the singer's younger sister Kelly.
The standard cover features the superstar gazing wistfully into the camera as she cradles a crimson clover in her hand. The limited edition cover is more evocative (and NSFW), with Musgraves laying nude, curled up in a verdant field with her back turned to the camera.
The Lead Single Is Also the Title Track
Ahead of the album's full unveiling, Musgraves dropped "Deeper Well" as its lead single. The gentle, finger-plucked track finds the singer/songwriter outgrowing relationships and choices that no longer serve her, blazing a new trail for herself and finding peace in the process: "I just think that maybe/ It's natural when things lose their shine/ So other things can glow," she sings.
"Sometimes you reach a crossroads. Winds change direction. What you once felt drawn to doesn't hold the same allure," Musgraves dished in a statement about the song's themes. "You get blown off course but eventually find your footing and forage for new inspiration, new insight and deeper love somewhere else."
She's Serving Cottagecore Space Witch In The First Music Video
Along with the song and album announcement, Musgraves shared the "Deeper Well" music video on Thursday — and the cinematic visual is a trip.
Helmed by A-list director Hannah Lux Davis and shot in Iceland, the clip finds the singer holed up in a picturesque cabin and wandering a stunning coastline strewn with giant, levitating boulders.
The costuming, meanwhile, leans more "homestead chic" as Musgraves rocks patchwork pioneer dresses, work bandanas and a cozily oversized shearling coat as she tends to a menagerie of farm animals, hangs laundry, gathers crops and, oh yeah, gets swallowed up by a magical, glowing orb by the video's end.
From the looks of Musgraves' Instagram — and her newly minted profile name, Kacey Mossgraves — it seems the farmcore aesthetic might ring throughout Deeper Well.
The Album Will Showcase The Singer's "Softer Side"
Musgraves teased the creative direction of Deeper Well in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. "I've found more of a connection to my softer side, my roots, like some of the Americana, the folk, the country, some of the stuff, really the warmth of that. I felt drawn to that.
"I felt like I was in a softer place myself after star-crossed and going through a divorce and doing a lot of therapy and honestly falling in love again and opening myself back up to the human experience," she continued. "These songs just kind of started coming out."
She's Releasing A Coffee Table Book
For another way to experience Musgraves' Deeper Well era, the singer/songwriter whipped up an 84-page 'zine with photos, lyrics, and stories behind the songs. Fans can purchase the soft-cover book — which comes with a CD — on her website, or at Barnes & Noble and indie record stores.
As Musgraves' punny Instagram caption notes, the book is another indication that she's "onto the next chapter (literally)."
The Track List Is Already Here
Musgraves is no stranger to delivering bodies of work upwards of a dozen-plus songs, and it looks like Deeper Well will be no exception. The 14-song track list was unveiled on Instagram, with song titles like "Giver / Taker" and "Jade Green" fitting both the theme of letting go as well as the cottagecore aesthetic seamlessly.
She's Working with Some Familiar Collaborators
According to her announcement, Deeper Well was co-produced by Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, both of whom worked with Musgraves on 2018's Golden Hour — which won Album Of The Year at the 61st GRAMMY Awards — and 2021's star-crossed. If those albums are any indication, Deeper Well is bound to be another Kacey masterpiece.
Big First Wins At The 2024 GRAMMYs: Karol G, Lainey Wilson, Victoria Monét & More
(L-R) Brittney Spencer, Mickey Guyton and Maren Morris perform on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in November 2023.
Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
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Why 2024 Is The Year Women In Country Music Will Finally Have Their Moment
Between Lainey Wilson's first-ever GRAMMY nominations and Brittney Spencer's highly-anticipated album arriving Jan. 19, female country artists are making bigger statements and waves than they have in decades — and there's plenty more where that came from.
GRAMMYs/Jan 18, 2024 - 06:46 pm
Country music has long felt like a boy's club.
From the genre's humble beginnings of Hank Williams, Roy Acuff and Jimmie Rodgers, through the outlaw movement of Johnny Cash, George Jones and Merle Haggard, to more modern day giants like Garth Brooks, George Strait and Tim McGraw, men have been dominating the genre for nearly a century.
Even now, megastars like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and Zach Bryan have comfortably inherited the position, virtually ruling the airwaves of country music and beyond for the majority of 2023. Those three have almost single-handedly helped the genre become arguably the biggest it's ever been — and it's finally opening the door for women to join in.
As the genre has boomed over the last year or so, it's created an opportunity for female artists to get in on a bigger slice of the pie. While the guys were out there wooing the mainstream, a handful of ladies were making their own fair share of noise with superstars Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves and Carly Pearce showing the genre what girl power is all about, and representing at the 2024 GRAMMYs as a result.
Of course, a handful of female artists have been able to push through the cracks through the years, from Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. But historically, women have largely been chasing equal stature in the country music limelight. The genre's gender gap came to a head with 2015's "Tomato-gate" controversy, when radio consultant Keith Hill compared radio airplay to a salad, with the men as the lettuce and women as a tomato garnish.
Although airplay hasn't necessarily grown (a recent study found that female artists received an abysmal 11 percent of airplay in 2022), that hasn't stopped women in the genre from making an impact. In the last few years, a growing group of women have been rewriting the rules, nabbing major award nominations and wins, selling out headlining tours, notching No. 1s and breaking records — and they only seem to be gaining speed.
As a new year begins, take a look at a few of the ways women are breaking through in country music.
GRAMMY Representation
For the past few GRAMMYs ceremonies, we've been seeing more and more female names in country music listed among the nominees.
The shift was first really felt at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards in 2021, when women dominated the nominations thanks to the colossal successes of Best New Artist nominee Ingrid Andress, country stalwart Miranda Lambert and female supergroup the Highwomen (comprised of previous GRAMMY winners Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires).
Female artists have continued to carve out their spot in GRAMMY history with nominations and wins. One of the most notable wins came in 2023, when Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde's history-making duet, "Never Wanted To Be That Girl," claimed Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Pearce is once again nominated in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category at the 2024 GRAMMYs, this year for her chilling duet with decorated tunesmith Chris Stapleton, "We Don't Fight Anymore," which could find her claiming the prize for a second consecutive year.
While women don't dominate the Country Field nominees at the 2024 GRAMMYs, Pearce isn't alone. There's plenty of success stories throughout the categories, and one of the people leading that charge is Lainey Wilson.
More than a decade after moving to Nashville, Wilson's fourth studio album, Bell Bottom Country, has been propelling her to the forefront of the genre. The album helped earn Wilson a nomination for Best Country Album — one of her first two career GRAMMY nominations, the other for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Save Me," her evocative collaboration with country-rap trailblazer (and 2024 Best New Artist nominee), Jelly Roll.
One of the genre's most enduring duets of 2023, Zach Bryan and Kacey Muscgraves' "I Remember Everything," is also in the running for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Along with debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reigning atop Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart for 16 weeks as of press time, the collab continued Musgraves' GRAMMY success. Also nominated for Best Country Song, "I Remember Everything" brings Musgraves' nomination total to 13; as of press time, she's won 6 GRAMMYs, including the coveted Album Of The Year in 2019 for Golden Hour.
Seasoned singer/songwriter Brandy Clark secured the most nominations of all the female country artists, with 6 nods across the Musical Theater, Americana and Country categories. Notably, her twice-nominated "Buried," included on her self-titled LP, nabbed nominations for both Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.
Dolly Parton earned her 54th GRAMMY nomination this year, for Best Country Solo Performance for her solo version of one of her earliest hits, "The Last Thing On My Mind." First released in 1967 as her debut duet with Porter Wagoner, the 2023 version of the song features Parton's signature, soulful vocals and was included in the I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 tribute album.
Elsewhere in the 2024 GRAMMY nominations, pop-country darling Kelsea Ballerini is nominated alongside Wilson in the Best Country Album category with her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP. The triumphant and soul-bearing project led to one of her most commercially and critically successful years to date (more on that later).
Growing Success At Country Radio & Beyond
As her two GRAMMY nominations indicate, Lainey Wilson was arguably country music's woman of 2023. Notching four trips to the top of the Mediabase Country Airplay chart in 2023, she set two records: most No. 1s by a female country artist in a calendar year and most No. 1's on Billboard's Country Airplay chart by a female artist this decade. This was thanks to her own "Heart Like A Truck" and "Watermelon Moonshine," as well as her HARDY collaboration "wait in the truck" and the aforementioned Jelly Roll team-up "Save Me."
Beyond her profound radio success, 2023 also saw Wilson nab four ACM Awards and five CMA trophies; at the latter, she won Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and the coveted Entertainer of the Year, whose last female winner came in 2011 with country-turned-pop superstar, Taylor Swift.
Wilson's fellow Best Country Album nominee, Kelsea Ballerini, also had a banner year. While her nominated Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP didn't spawn a radio hit, it made quite an impression on streaming and social media. Due to its raw account of her public divorce from singer Morgan Evans, Ballerini's latest project helped her sell out her headlining tour, receive an invite to perform on Saturday Night Live, and earn an array of major award nominations.
Another proven hitmaker, Carly Pearce, nabbed her fourth No. 1 with her heartbreak anthem, "What He Didn't Do," which reached the top of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart last March. Newcomer Megan Moroney topped the same chart in June with her 2022 debut single, "Tennessee Orange," which helped her have a remarkable breakout year including her first award and a sold-out tour.
Rising country star Priscilla Block also secured a No. 1 on Mediabase's Country Airplay chart with her Justin Moore duet, "You, Me, and Whiskey," while more veteran act Gabby Barrett — who scored back-to-back No. 1 hits on Billboard's Country Airplay chart in 2020 and 2021 — reached the top 10 of the chart in 2023 with her single "Pick Me Up."
Female Artists On the Horizon
In the last 12 months, rising female country artists hit their stride, bringing a lot of promise to tackling the genre's gender gap. Hailey Whitters landed her first chart entry on both Billboard's Country Airplay and Hot 100 charts with her breakthrough single, "Everything She Ain't," which broke the top 20 on the former tally. Sister duo Tigirlily Gold saw their debut single, "Shoot Tequila," surge into the top 40 on country radio while they also juggled making their Opry debut, a loaded touring schedule and the release of their acclaimed Blonde EP.
Aside from the radio dial, women also had massive years on the road, earning major touring slots with some of the genre's big hitters. Big Loud prodigy Ashley Cooke put out her debut effort, Shot in the Dark, which propelled her onto Luke Bryan's Country Again Tour and Jordan Davis' Damn Good Time Tour. Meanwhile, Ella Langley, a country-rocker in the making, spent her year alongside Riley Green and Jon Pardi, as songs from her debut EP, Excuse the Mess, garnered millions of streams.
Beyond commercial success, there are a slew of burgeoning female singer/songwriters who are also poised to break through. Alana Springsteen, who released her three-part twenty something project in 2023, is establishing herself as one of the newest (and most relatable) voices in the country-pop world. Meanwhile, Lauren Watkins — who doubled down in 2023 with two EPs, Introducing: Lauren Watkins and Introducing: The Heartbreak — is reinventing the neo-traditional, retro country music of generations past.
Similarly, "The Voice" alum Emily Ann Roberts is out to make traditional country cool again as demonstrated on her debut LP, Can't Hide Country, while Catie Offerman, a powerhouse multi-instrumentalist, is bringing her Texas charm and clever turns of phrase into the country mainstream one infectious single at a time.
Next up is Brittney Spencer, who will release her debut album, My Stupid Life, on Jan. 19. As her glistening, genre-bending music continues to gain commercial traction, she's already loved by critics and artists alike; Maren Morris just recruited her for a dynamic performance of "The Tree" on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" alongside Mickey Guyton.
While it's impossible to mention all of the country women out there making moves, it's more than evident that female artists are ready to take up more of the country music landscape than ever before — and 2024 might just be the year that women finally get their due.