Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves’ fourth studio album, released March 30, 2018, a psychedelic country-pop masterpiece about falling in love that won 2019 Grammy Album of the Year and became the first country album to win since 2010.
The Album
Kacey shed traditional country for dreamy, disco-influenced pop-country produced by Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. 13 tracks of optimistic, weed-laced romance recorded in Nashville. Inspired by her relationship with Ruston Kelly (married 2017, divorced 2020).
Key tracks: “Slow Burn,” “Lonely Weekend,” “Butterflies,” “Space Cowboy,” “Happy & Sad,” “Velvet Elvis,” “Wonder Woman,” “High Horse” (disco-country bop), “Golden Hour” (title track), “Rainbow” (gay anthem adopted by LGBTQ+ community).
Chart performance: Debuted #4 Billboard 200 with 46,000 units. Peaked at #1 on Top Country Albums for 21 weeks. Certified Platinum. “Space Cowboy” and “Rainbow” became wedding/breakup staples.
Grammy Sweep
2019 Grammy Album of the Year — shocked everyone by beating Drake (Scorpion), Cardi B (Invasion of Privacy), Post Malone (Beerbongs & Bentleys), and Kendrick’s Black Panther soundtrack. First country album to win AOTY since Taylor Swift’s Fearless (2010).
Also won Best Country Album, Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”), Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”). 4 Grammys total.
Country radio largely ignored Golden Hour for being “too pop,” but critics and peers embraced it.
Cultural Impact
Golden Hour made Kacey a critical darling and LGBTQ+ icon (she’s long been pro-gay in conservative country). “Rainbow” became the soundtrack to queer acceptance and pride celebrations.
“High Horse” was an unlikely disco-country crossover hit. The album’s warm, psychedelic vibes influenced pop-country (Maren Morris, Ingrid Andress).
#GoldenHour #KaceyMusgraves trended during Grammy wins. The album’s accessible optimism contrasted with Kacey’s earlier sassy country sass (Follow Your Arrow).
Sources:
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kacey-musgraves-golden-hour/
https://www.grammy.com/