Kacey Musgraves is back with a new single and a new album announcement… I must be dreaming. Today, she announced her sixth studio album Middle of Nowhere, which was produced by Kacey alongside longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. Kacey is a proud Texas girl, and so the album draws on plenty of inspiration from her home state, and considering there’s a sign in her tiny, unincorporated, no-stoplight hometown of Golden, Texas, with a population of under 300 that reads “Golden, TX: Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere,” that sparked the idea for the title track and much of the theme for the entire album. Kacey wrote this album during what she calls “the longest single period” of her life, which is more than apparent on the lead single “Dry Spell,” which we’ll get to, and in a press release about the new record, this collection of songs will find: “Musgraves leaning intentionally into open space and traditional western elements. Pedal steel, accordion, and Texas dancehall rhythms provide a nostalgic framework that she flips on its head in signature fashion. It is a sonic love letter to the musical borders of Country, echoing influence from adjacent genres such as bluegrass, pop, and even bits of Norteño and Zydeco.” She has my attention, but that’s nothing new… Kacey says the title “middle of nowhere” comes from both a literal and more abstract idea of that line: “The bulk of this record was made during the longest single period of my life, 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.” Middle of Nowhere features collaborations with icon Willie Nelson, bluegrass phenom Billy Strings, and South African musician Gregory Alan Isakov, and yes, that long-awaited, seemingly improbable duet with Miranda Lambert is coming on a song called “Horses and Divorces,” and I think my life is about to be changed… I cannot wait to hear that song. The fact this is even happening means everything to me… I’m sure everyone is tired of reading me saying that. Middle of Nowhere is due out everywhere on May 1st, and considering she’s back with her label Lost Highway, which Kacey recently signed to as their flagship artist after they relaunched last year, which was a full-circle moment for her considering she returned to the label that first signed her in 2011, before it was previously absorbed by Mercury Nashville. The name “Lost Highway” was of course inspired by the classic Hank Williams song, and tends to lean towards signing more traditional country artists, and I’m sure there will be a fusion of sounds on this record which is apparent by the early descriptions, but I can’t wait. I really enjoyed her 2024 album Deeper Well, but this one is so exciting sheerly because of the collaborations on the tracklist and I will have the release date circled on my calendar, that’s for sure. You can see the album cover here, which is very Texas, indeed: View this post on Instagram Alongside the album announcement, Kacey released “Dry Spell,” which is a hilarious track written with Shane McAnally, Luke Laird and Josh Osborne, people she wrote a ton of her earlier stuff with, which I am so here for. Like she mentioned, she wrote a lot of this music during a time she was very much single, and the music video is a really funny representation of what kind of “dry spell” she was really in. Only Kacey could write a song like this and make it so witty and entertaining… she’s so back. Check it out: “Dry Spell” Middle of Nowhere Tracklist: 1.Middle of Nowhere 2.Dry Spell 3.Back on the Wagon 4.I Believe in Ghosts 5.Abilene 6.Coyote feat. Gregory Alan Isakov 7.Loneliest Girl 8.Everybody Wants To Be a Cowboy feat. Billy Strings 9.Horses and Divorces feat. Miranda Lambert 10.Uncertain, Texas feat. Willie Nelson 11.Rhinestoned 12.Mexico Honey 13.Hell on MeThe post Kacey Musgraves Announces New Album ‘Middle Of Nowhere,’ Featuring Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, & Billy Strings first appeared on Whiskey Riff.