Kacey Musgraves performed her new single "Dry Spell" for the first time Sunday at the Academy of Country Music Awards [1].
The appearance marks a significant milestone for the singer-songwriter, who has won seven ACM awards [6] but had never performed at the ceremony until now. By debuting the track, Musgraves aimed to break her own "dry spell" of ACM performances [3].
The event took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada [4]. Musgraves delivered the performance with a washing-machine-themed stage act to introduce the song from her album, "Middle of Nowhere" [5].
While most reports indicate the performance occurred on May 17, 2026 [1], one source cited the date as May 27, 2026 [2]. The 61st edition of the awards show served as the platform for this debut [7].
Musgraves used the high-profile stage to transition her career into a new era with the release of "Middle of Nowhere" [5]. The production design of the performance mirrored the lyrical themes of the single, blending humor with the singer's established country aesthetic.
“Kacey Musgraves performed her new single "Dry Spell" for the first time Sunday”
This performance represents a strategic branding move for Musgraves, aligning the literal meaning of her new song with her historical absence from the ACM stage. By debuting a track from 'Middle of Nowhere' at the 61st ACM Awards, she leverages a major industry platform to generate momentum for her latest album while finally closing a gap in her professional relationship with the academy.
