Kacey Musgraves Revealed Why She Chose to Make Her Divorce Public: ‘I Wouldn’t Take It Back’
In a world where bad press and negativity infiltrate every nook and cranny of our lives thanks to social media, Kacey Musgraves chooses not to hide, but to broadcast her flaws and failures. Following her massively successful album Golden Hour which earned multiple Grammys, the genre-defying singer went through a divorce and, as is always the case, found the details of her life under the heavy judgment of the press and public alike. Musgraves, however, has fought back with vulnerability and honesty—a tactic that has seen her named one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year.
Kacey Musgraves’ album ‘Star-Crossed’ channels growth into good business
Musgraves’ 2018 album, Golden Hour, is a collection of songs about falling in love, and the album certainly wooed music lovers. Winner of Album of the Year, Golden Hour chronicled Musgraves’ romance with Ruston Kelly, whom she married in 2017, but the album would soon be followed by another, very different album, Star-Crossed, about falling out of love. Musgraves’ short-lived love story with now ex-husband Kelly drew public criticism, but Musgraves has approached the public by being public, a growth tactic that seems to be working for her.
In 2021, Musgraves revealed the real reason her relationship ended, claiming she and Kelly were simply ill-matched for growth and change. And while the public was busy breaking down her breakup, Musgraves channeled the end of her marriage into a new album, Star-Crossed, which has been deemed ineligible for the Grammy Awards 2022’s Best Country Album due to its genre-bending tracks.
Musgraves does not seem to be dwelling on the decision, however, and is instead putting her energy into her personal growth. In her interview with Time magazine, Musgraves says, “I’ve done so much processing. At the end of the day, knowing that you did all you could gives you permission to move forward. Sometimes the universe just has other plans. I wouldn’t take it back. I’ve learned a lot from all the chapters I’ve experienced. And I do think it’s made me a better person, a better lover, a better friend, and even kinder to myself. I’m learning how to give myself a break.”
Time Magazine recognized Kacey Musgraves as a Woman of the Year
Musgraves’ honesty despite public scrutiny caught the attention of Time magazine and won the singer/songwriter one of the coveted spots in the publication’s roundup of 2022’s Women of the Year. When asked about her approach to the public, Musgraves told Time:
“I don’t really want to keep things private, because I’m proud of the love that I have. I’m very happy. It’s natural to want to share that. And I don’t want to come across like a robot—I think people like me because I share who I am. But you also have to remember that you are under a magnifying glass, and it can get picked apart.”
Kacey Musgraves on dating and marriage
Musgraves was also very public about her dating life following her divorce, sharing her disappointment at the lack of real connection offered via dating apps with her fans. The star seems to have found a match in poet Cole Schafer, however, and the pair have been dating since 2021.
On the subject of marriage, Musgraves, who is in her 30s, seems to be leaning away from the idea, claiming that while marriage may be a successful and fulfilling endeavor for some, marriage may not be right for everyone. This idea is the through-line of her recent album, Star-Crossed, which Musgraves claims is a dose of realism in response to the more fanciful Golden Hour. And, while Musgraves’ fans may be hoping for a happily-ever-after for the artist, Musgraves seems to be onto something by tapping into happiness and fulfillment within herself.
