Overview
Golden Hour is Kacey Musgraves’ fourth studio album, released March 30, 2018. The album won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys (becoming only the third country album to win in the modern era) and is credited with bringing progressive country to mainstream audiences.
Critical Acclaim
The album received universal acclaim for blending country, disco, psychedelic pop, and cosmic Americana. Singles “Butterflies,” “Space Cowboy,” and “Rainbow” showcased Musgraves’ songwriting maturity. The album’s pro-LGBTQ+ messages (“Follow Your Arrow” from previous album) and themes of acceptance challenged country music’s conservative reputation.
Commercial Success
Golden Hour debuted at #4 on Billboard 200 and won four Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”), and Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”). The album’s warm, optimistic sound made it a crossover success beyond traditional country audiences.