Kacey Musgraves’ new album, star-crossed, might be all about her high-profile divorce. But I can’t think of a better way to spend my Valentine’s Day than jamming out to the East Texas native’s latest hits tonight at American Airlines Center.
Musgraves, who was born and raised in the town of Golden (population: 200), won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2019 with Golden Hour. The critically acclaimed record chronicles falling in love and getting married to her then husband and fellow singer-songwriter, Ruston Kelly. The two were the “it” country couple, writing music together about their whirlwind romance and storybook wedding.
But, alas, all things come to an end. The couple divorced in early 2020. Musgraves was pretty mum on details, until the release of her star-crossed album in 2021. Here’s a quick glimpse at some lyrics from the album—and some insights into what might’ve gone sour in their relationship:
“He wants a breadwinner
He wants your dinner
Until he ain’t hungry anymore
He wants your shimmer
To make him feel bigger
Until he starts feeling insecure
I wish somebody would’ve told me the truth
See, he’s never gonna know what to do
With a woman like you.”
I remember back to 2019 when Musgraves won Album of the Year—and I ugly cried for her that night. As a gay man growing up in a small town and listening to country music, there weren’t a lot of tunes that reflected me or the kind of love that I felt. One of Musgraves’ first singles, “Follow Your Arrow,” with its lines “make lots of noise (hey), kiss lots of boys (yup), or kiss lots of girls if that’s what you’re into” was among the first country songs that felt affirming.
It’s no surprise that Musgraves has been cast as a rebel by mainstream (and conservative) country radio. Though real fans like me know she’s always been a queer ally from the beginning, her rise to full-on gay icon was solidified with a 2018 appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars and the release of the song “Rainbow,” with its light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel “It Gets Better” message:
“If you could see what I see
You’d be blinded by the colors
Yellow, red, and orange, and green
And at least a million others….
Yeah, there’s always been a rainbow
Hangin’ over your head.”
So if you see me tonight at the AAC, say hi. I’ll be the guy in the rainbow shirt screaming Kacey Musgraves lyrics at the top of my lungs. If you ask nicely, I might even show you my Musgraves-inspired “Follow Your Arrow” tattoo.
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