Kacey Musgraves Bridges Tejano, Norteño, and Country on ‘Tex Mex Tapes’

Kacey Musgraves is taking her musical connection to Texas and Mexico a step further with Middle of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes, a 16-track collection that puts Spanish-language music, Norteño influences and classic Tex-Mex favorites in the spotlight.

The eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter announced that the album will arrive January 15, 2027, through Lost Highway Records. Expanding on the musical direction of her latest album, Middle of Nowhere, the new collection features 11 original songs and five covers, exploring the shared cultural traditions and musical heritage that connect Texas and Mexico.

Two tracks, “Weekend In Texas” and “Mi Tesoro,” were released today (October 23), giving listeners an early taste of the upcoming project. Of particular interest to Tejano and música mexicana fans is Musgraves’ rendition of “Mi Tesoro,” a Norteño classic that brings her distinctive country sensibility to a song rooted in regional Mexican music.

The album also features a newly recorded Spanish-language version of “Uncertain, TX” with Intocable, a live mariachi rendition of “Tú Solo Tú” recorded in Mexico City, and two familiar Tex-Mex classics: “(Hey Baby) Qué Pasó?” and “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”

‘Mi Tesoro’ Brings Norteño Music Into Musgraves’ Country World

Among the first two songs released from Middle of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes, “Mi Tesoro” stands out as a significant connection between Musgraves’ country roots and the regional Mexican sounds that have long been part of Texas music.

Her rendition of the Norteño classic highlights the musical relationship between country and música mexicana, two traditions that share storytelling, emotional expression and generations of cross-border influence.

Paired with the newly released “Weekend In Texas,” “Mi Tesoro” introduces a project that goes beyond simply revisiting the sounds of Musgraves’ home state. The collection embraces the music and cultural traditions that have shaped the Texas musical landscape, including the Mexican influences that have helped define its identity.

For Tejano and Norteño listeners, “Mi Tesoro” is among the album’s most notable selections, placing a familiar regional Mexican sound within the catalog of one of country music’s most prominent contemporary artists.

Intocable Joins Musgraves for Spanish Version of ‘Uncertain, TX’

Another major highlight is the Spanish-language version of “Uncertain, TX,” featuring Intocable, the influential Texas-based group whose sound blends Norteño, Tejano and contemporary regional Mexican influences.

The original “Uncertain, TX” became a fan favorite and reached No. 1 at Texas radio with Willie Nelson. The new Spanish-language recording gives the song a different dimension while bringing Musgraves and Intocable together in a collaboration that reflects the musical connections at the heart of the project.

The pairing is especially meaningful in a Texas music landscape where Tejano, Norteño and country have influenced one another for generations. With Intocable involved, the Spanish version brings an established regional Mexican voice into Musgraves’ exploration of those shared traditions.

Rather than treating Spanish-language music as an occasional crossover, the collaboration makes it a central part of the album’s identity.

‘Tú Solo Tú’ Adds a Mariachi Classic to the Collection

Musgraves also revisits “Tú Solo Tú,” the beloved Mexican standard that was also famously recorded by the late Queen of Tex-Mex, Selena Quintanilla-Perez.

The track listing identifies the recording as “Tú Solo Tú” featuring Mariachi Oro De América, captured live in Mexico City. The performance adds a mariachi dimension to a collection that draws from multiple musical traditions on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border.

The song has a long history in Mexican music, also recorded by Linda Ronstadt, whose interpretations helped introduce traditional Mexican songs to broader audiences. Musgraves’ live version with Mariachi Oro De América continues that tradition of bringing classic Mexican repertoire to listeners across genres.

Together, “Mi Tesoro,” “Uncertain, TX” and “Tú Solo Tú” give the project a strong Spanish-language presence, reflecting Musgraves’ interest in the sounds and traditions that have shaped her musical perspective.

‘Hey Baby, Qué Pasó?’ and ‘Before the Next Teardrop Falls’ Celebrate Tex-Mex History

The collection also pays tribute to two songs deeply associated with the Texas-Mexico musical connection.

“(Hey Baby) Qué Pasó?” was originally recorded by the Texas Tornados, the groundbreaking group featuring Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jiménez and Augie Meyers. Blending conjunto, Tex-Mex, country, rock and other influences, the Texas Tornados helped bring the borderlands’ musical identity to audiences around the world.

The song remains one of the group’s signature recordings and an enduring favorite in Texas music. Its inclusion on Tex Mex Tapes places Musgraves in conversation with a group whose sound embodied the cultural and musical crossover she is exploring.

The album also includes “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” the classic made famous by Freddy Fender. Fender’s 1974 recording became a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the country chart in 1975. Its blend of English and Spanish helped make the song a defining example of the crossover between country music and the Mexican-American musical experience.

Fender’s legacy is particularly significant to Texas music, where his success demonstrated how songs drawing from both English- and Spanish-language traditions could reach a broad audience without losing their cultural identity.

By including these two classics, Musgraves acknowledges the artists and recordings that helped establish the musical bridge between country, Tejano and Tex-Mex.

Musgraves: ‘There’s Such a Natural Friendship’ Between Mexican Music and Texas Country

Musgraves has previously spoken about her connection to Mexican music and the cultural influences that have shaped her perspective as a Texas-born artist.

During an interview with Rolling Stone on the red carpet at the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards, Musgraves described the relationship between Mexican music, Tejano and country as a natural one.

“I mean, I grew up in Texas, and I think there’s such a natural friendship between, you know, Mexican music and Tejano, Texas music, country,” Musgraves said.

She also explained how mariachi and traditional Mexican music connect with her country background.

“And, like, when I hear, like, traditional, like mariachi classics, it reminds me of country music so much. So I feel right at home listening to that.”

Musgraves went on to express her affection for Mexico and its people, adding, “I’m in love with Mexican people, the culture, and there’s just so much heart and passion. And I’m just, like, I just love them so much.”

Those comments provide context for Middle of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes, a project that explores a musical relationship Musgraves has described as a natural extension of growing up in Texas.

A Continuation of ‘Middle of Nowhere’

Released in May 2026, Middle of Nowhere debuted at No. 1 on the Top Album chart and earned recognition from publications including Billboard, Rolling Stone, NPR, Variety and The New Yorker.

The album draws from the rhythms of Texas dance halls and classic country, incorporating elements of Norteño, bluegrass and pop. Tex Mex Tapes continues that exploration while placing a greater emphasis on the music and traditions shared between Texas and Mexico.

The 16-track album includes “Pretty Horses,” “Weekend In Texas,” “Hard Conversations,” “Denim On Denim,” “Figure Out My Life,” “Caballero,” “The Vacation Song,” “(Hey Baby) Qué Pasó?,” “Uncertain, TX” featuring Intocable, “Mi Tesoro,” “Rodeo,” “Tú Solo Tú” featuring Mariachi Oro De América, “All My Exes (Kacey’s Version),” “Desert Eyes,” “Pity Party” and “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”

Musgraves is also continuing her Middle of Nowhere Tour, which launched August 21 and includes sold-out performances at major venues across the country.

With Middle of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes, Musgraves is bringing Spanish-language songs, Norteño influences, mariachi and Tex-Mex standards into a new chapter of her musical journey. The emphasis on “Mi Tesoro,” the Spanish version of “Uncertain, TX” with Intocable, and the classic recordings from the Texas Tornados and Freddy Fender makes the collection particularly relevant to audiences who recognize the enduring connection between country, Tejano and música mexicana.

Middle of Nowhere Vol. 2: Tex Mex Tapes arrives January 15, 2027, via Lost Highway Records. Pre-save the album here.

Follow Tejano Nation on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our Spotify playlists and iHeartRadio podcast.

Copyright 2026 Tejano Nation. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the expressed written permission from Tejano Nation.

---

---