Kacey Musgraves ends her fans' music drought with "Dry Spell"

For Kacey Musgraves fans, the wait is finally over — the country-pop queen is back with “Dry Spell,” the lead single off of her upcoming sixth studio album, Middle of Nowhere.

Musgraves has always been open about her life in her music, but this single may be her most honest yet. Singing about a feeling that’s all too relatable but somehow still feels like uncharted artistic territory, she delves into her experience during a period of extended singlehood. With that, Musgraves laments about being “lonely with a capital ‘H,’ if you know what I mean.” If you don’t quite catch her drift the first time around, you’ll figure it out soon enough.

Filled with double entendres and innuendos that hold their own next to the lyrics of fellow music darling Sabrina Carpenter, Musgraves addresses the extended time since her last hookup (335 days, to be exact). The cheeky turn of phrases showcases Musgrave’s lyrical prowess in a way that still cuts against the grain of typical country music and helped put her on the map years ago. Rather than feeling like self-pity, Musgrave’s nonchalant tone and the song’s upbeat tempo make lyrics like “nobody but the chickens are getting laid” feel like quips you’d share with a friend over dinner and drinks.

The accompanying music video leans even more into the comedy of it all, squeezing in every possible visual wink-wink for the viewer (pro tip: would definitely skip watching this while at work). As Musgraves sings while perusing the aisles of her local grocery store, mundane items like orange juice and limes suddenly feel a lot more suggestive. The video toes the line between crude and comedic, but by fully playing into the joke (and with shots of Musgraves looking longingly at different fruits), it lands firmly in the latter.

The song’s cover art also reflects Musgraves’ relationship drought; gone are the lush green aesthetics of Musgraves’ 2024 album Deeper Well in favor of washed-out white walls and beige concrete, with Musgraves standing next to a pale-colored bull. You can almost feel the dry heat and see the tumbleweed blowing by.

Sonically, “Dry Spell” feels like a return to Musgraves’ Western roots and some of her earlier work, likely inspired by her extended stint on the Texas-Mexico border. This song feels perfectly at home in a Texas honky tonk, with lilting Spanish guitars and a strong bass line complemented by Musgraves’ natural twang.

Despite the cheekiness, the emotional layers running underneath the beat along with the deadpan humor show the depth of Musgraves’ music. Being in a place of extended singledom and not knowing when, or if, you’ll find that connection again can feel a lot like being in the “middle of nowhere.” And yet, no matter the emotion, Musgraves continues to put out music that makes you feel like coming home.

Middle of Nowhere comes out May 1.