From one of the genre’s fastest-rising stars taking home an iconic Moon Person to a country-rap crossover onstage and multiple reminders of Parton’s influence far beyond Nashville, here are five country moments you might have missed at the 2026 VMAs.

The 2026 CMA Awards nominations arrived Thursday, Sept. 10, and country music wasted no time reacting. Celebration videos hit social media almost immediately, followed by shocked reactions and the inevitable “Where is ___?” comments.

Musgraves paused the concert to share a birthday request with fans, asking them to donate to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.

Middle of Nowhere, released May 1, gives listeners a collection of 13 songs that explore Musgraves’ growth through independence and escape. If you haven’t yet heard these tracks, then your new homework is to dedicate 44 minutes of your week to giving them a listen. After experiencing the album in its entirety, here is a ranking of the songs one by one, so feel free to read below as you listen!

Kacey Musgraves will be performing a surprise set at this year’s Coachella festival.

Kacey Musgraves pranked a packed Robert’s Western World on Saturday night, arriving in a full-on Ronnie Dunn costume to perform the Brooks & Dunn hit “Neon Moon.”

Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert are still not friends, but have bonded over mutual interests.