While driving down an East Texas country road I spotted this scene. The autumn trees and the late afternoon sun made these golden bales of hay shine just a little bit more. Fortunately I had my camera with me. (c) James Q. Eddy Jr.

The Four States NPR News Source 2025 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Award Winner 2nd Place for Website in a Medium Market

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Stream and Listen To KRPS's Weekday Morning & Afternoon Newscasts In The NPR App

Kacey Musgraves' new album pairs well with a biography of '70s singer Gary Stewart

NPR | By Ken Tucker

Published June 9, 2026 at 11:37 AM CDT

Musgraves' album Middle of Nowhere has the dramatic detail of good fiction. The same is true of Gary Stewart: I Am From the Honky-Tonks, Jimmy McDonough's portrait of a gifted but tragic performer.

Ken Tucker

Ken Tucker reviews rock, country, hip-hop and pop music for Fresh Air. He is a cultural critic who has been the editor-at-large at Entertainment Weekly, and a film critic for New York Magazine. His work has won two National Magazine Awards and two ASCAP-Deems Taylor Awards. He has written book reviews for The New York Times Book Review and other publications.