Ruston Kelly and Kacey Musgraves at the Grammys and Cole Schafer and Kacey Musgraves at the Met Gala.Photo:Timothy Norris/Getty; Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty
Timothy Norris/Getty; Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty
Since her debut album,the Grammy-winning singerhas had a few romances in the spotlight, and some of those experiences have inspired music.
Most recently, Musgraves was in a relationship with writerCole Schafer, whom she dated for two years followingher divorcefrom country singerRuston Kelly.
Speaking with PEOPLE about her albumDeeper Well, Musgraves noted her new music reflects her current state of mind on love and life in her 30s.
“Ultimately, [Deeper Well] sums up where I’m at in my mid-30s and really evaluating what love means to me, what friendships mean to me, what are the things that I need, what is really serving me and not serving me,” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s [about] taking stock and making room for the things that actually do really matter.”
Here’s a look back at Musgraves’ dating history.
Misa Arriaga
Kacey Musgraves and Misa Arriaga at the CMA Awards in 2015.Taylor Hill/Getty
Taylor Hill/Getty
One of Musgraves’ first public relationships was with Misa Arriaga, who previously played guitar in her band. The two had known each other for a few years before they started dating.
“We just kind of became best friends,”Musgraves toldThe Faderof her spark with Arriaga. “It was cool that we had a chance to really get to know each other before everything kind of got crazy.”
Musgraves and Arriago went public with their romance in 2014 as they were photographed cuddling up together at the Academy Of Country Music Awards. A year later, they made their red carpet as a couple as they attended the CMA Awards in November 2015 (above), where they were photographed holding hands, and at the afterparty, they coordinated in cowboy hats.
The two split in the months following, and Musgraves began dating Ruston Kelly in early 2016.
Ruston Kelly
Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly at the CMA Awards in 2016.Rick Diamond/Getty
Rick Diamond/Getty
After a fateful meeting at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe in March 2016 (which inspired Musgraves’ hit love song “Butterflies")the two made plans to co-write together— and that songwriting session ended up being their first unofficial date.
In July 2020, Musgraves and Kelly announcedthey were getting divorcedafter two years of marriage, noting that they made the “painful decision together” after “a very long period of trying the best we can.” Their divorce was finalized in September 2020.
In February 2021,Musgraves opened up about her split, noting that their marriage “just simply didn’t work out.”
“It’s nothing more than that. It’s two people who love each other so much, but for so many reasons, it just didn’t work,” she toldRolling Stone. “I mean, seasons change. Our season changed.”
Gerald Onuoha
Dr. Gerald Onuhoa and Kacey Musgraves posing for a selfie.kacey musgraves/instagram
Cole Schafer
Cole Schafer and Kacey Musgraves at the Met Gala in 2022.Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty
Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty
In June 2021,Musgraves was linked to writer Cole Schaferwhen they were photographed holding hands around New York City. Musgraves later revealed that they first met in a restaurant when they happened to lock eyes, adding thatSchafer didn’t know who she wasinitially, which she “loved.”
In May 2022, Musgraves and Schafer made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala, sharing a kiss on the Met steps. Though they didn’t make many public appearances together, they shared several sweet moments on social media.
After dating for two years, the couple split. At that time, Musgraves was recording her new albumDeeper Wellin N.Y.C.She opened up about their breakupduring an interview withThe Cutpublished in March 2024, noting that she doesn’t have any regrets.
“Whenever I’m in a relationship, I’m all f—ing in,” she told the publication. “After divorce, it’s like: On one hand I do want to self-protect, but at the same time, if your heart is feeling open, I think you have to just show up for it. I’m still trying to figure out the balance of that.”
source: people.com
