For over a decade now, Kacey Musgraves has been among the most critically-praised —and musically consistent— singer-songwriters to emerge from country music.
After over a decade as an independent artist (both solo and in the duo Texas Two Bits), Musgraves made an instant splash with her debut mainstream album, 2013's Same Trailer Different Park. It topped Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and climbed to No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. It won the ACM's Best Country Album prize as well as the Grammy award for Best Country Album. Singles-wise, "Merry Go 'Round" and "Follow Your Arrow" added to Musgraves' awards nomination haul while upping her commercial viability.
In addition, Musgraves co-wrote Miranda Lambert hit "Mama's Broken Heart," which also defined country music in 2013.
Musgraves avoided a sophomore slump in 2015 with follow-up album Pageant Material. After two albums of traditional country stunners, Musgraves began a pivot toward a less genre-bound sound on 2018's Golden Hour. The latter sealed Musgraves' status as a critical favorite when it won her the Grammys' top prize, Album of the Year.
Since then, Musgraves has further explored new sounds —be it solo or as a featured vocalist— without that watering down her undeniable gift as a Texas-bred, country-raised storyteller.
Read on for her 25 best songs, so far.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for SiriusXM Musgraves is as skilled at penning small-town world-building lyrics as Brandy Clark or anyone else. Here, it's easy to picture the Anytown, USA that's caught the singer-songwriter's ire. Plus, the string arrangement beckons back to Bobbie Gentry. Erika Goldring/FilmMagic, A benchmark so far of Musgraves' departure from the constraints of country music, "Justified" finds her holding her own in the same retro-yet-modern pop space as Dua Lipa and other heavy-hitters. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Billboard Although Musgraves' more recent material is dominated by danceable tunes, she's also toyed with chiller, more atmospheric soundscapes. For a taste of how her lyrical talents mesh with something less country and pop, give this one a listen. Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic Speaking of movies and atmospheric soundscapes, Musgaves' voice never sounded more gorgeous than it did on this soundtrack to "Frozen II." FilmMagic/FilmMagic On Musgraves' first mainstream album hides a deep cut that's a sick diss track with banjo accompaniment. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images More recently, Musgraves' best work has come as a collaborator. Here, she joins voices with another rootsy songwriter who doesn't drive in one genre lane. Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images Another example of Musgraves as a top-tier featured vocalist, here her voice suits a disco dancescape starring Troye Sivan and produced by Mark Ronson. Michael Tran/FilmMagic A light-hearted country shuffle, "Silver Lining" finds just that while acknowledging that "if you want to fill your bottle up with lightning, you're going to have to stand in the rain." FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival One of the better hard country tunes penned by Musgraves, this one's filled with enough puns about a certain smokable substance that it would've made an ideal Willie Nelson deep cut. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images Funny yet poignant, this title track's the closest Musgraves ever got to replicating the sarcastic and realistic magic of her hero-turned-friend Loretta Lynn. Erika Goldring/FilmMagic, With a title like that, this one needed to properly capture emotional ups and downs in a four-minute pop song. Musgraves skillfully takes us on that roller coaster on one of her best pop-tinged compositions. Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic A dream team-up of generational talents, "I Remember Everything" was co-written and sung by Musgraves and Zach Bryan. The tale of lost love from both exes' perspectives became both artists' first No. 1 pop hit. Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images From her debut album Same Trailer Different Park, "Keep it to Yourself" is one of Musgraves' all-time great heartbreakers. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS A peak of Musgraves' pivot from rootsy country music to a more genre-free approach, "Breadwinner" is as scorching a 21st century breakup anthem as you'll find. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Turner While "Breadwinner" is a sick burn packaged as a pop song, "Late to the Party" is the opposite. It's as sweet a love song as you'll stream, and it's stone-cold classic country. Rick Kern/Getty Images An anthem for fed up waitresses (or anyone who's ever dreamed of quitting their job), "Blowin' Smoke" is one of Musgraves's best songs. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Musgraves blends disco beats with country attitude on this irresistible track from Golden Hour. Along with "Space Cowboy," it was a sign of pop-accessible things to come. Roger Kisby/Getty Images Although it's an acoustic-driven tune that suited Musgraves' more typically country sound in 2015, the themes and tone of "Die Fun" would've worked on her later, more pop-accessible albums. Either way, it's among her catchiest and most uplifting songs. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Stagecoach The album opener from Golden Hour, "Slow Burn" serves as an autobiographical track for yet another singer-songwriter who juggled multiple gigs for years while seeing through their lofty creative goals. Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Musgraves best summed up her personal ethos with the line "mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy." And the song's delightful music video might be her very best. Burak Cingi/Redferns From her stellar album Golden Hour, the stirring, cosmic "Space Cowboy" brought the brilliance we've come to expect from Musgraves. Gina Wetzler/Redferns An anchor of a Grammy Album of the Year honoree, "Rainbow" is a gorgeous ray of hope for anyone with a crushing weight on their shoulders. Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images Maybe no song better illustrates Kacey Musgraves' music: classic country style with a 21st-century attitude. She announced her presence with authority on her debut album and with this song. Rick Diamond/Getty Images Something always evident in Musgraves' music is that she deeply respects where she's from and who she represents. However, she'll just as quickly question the small town mentality as she'll celebrate it. Nowhere is that theme more clear than in "Merry Go 'Round." Christie Goodwin/Redferns This one blends just about every quality that made Musgraves a star. It's charming and funny at times yet serious about flaunting the singer-songwriter's Texas country bonafides."This Town" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Justified" (Star-Crossed, 2021)
"If This Was a Movie..." (Star-Crossed, 2021)
"All is Found" ("Frozen II" Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition), 2019)
"Step Off" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"She Calls Me Back" (with Noah Kahan) (Single, 2023)
"Easy" (with Troye Sivan and Mark Ronson) (Single, 2020)
"Silver Lining" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"High Time" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Pageant Material" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Happy & Sad" (Golden Hour, 2018)
"I Remember Everything" (Feat. Zach Bryan) (Zach Bryan, 2023)
"Keep it to Yourself" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"Breadwinner" (Star-Crossed, 2021)
"Late to the Party" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Blowin' Smoke" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"High Horse" (Golden Hour, 2018)
"Die Fun" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Slow Burn" (Golden Hour, 2018)
"Biscuits" (Pageant Material, 2015)
"Space Cowboy" (Golden Hour, 2018)
"Rainbow" (Golden Hour, 2018)
"Follow Your Arrow" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"Merry Go 'Round" (Same Trailer Different Park, 2013)
"Dime Store Cowgirl" (Pageant Material, 2015)
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