Kacey Musgraves Remembers John Prine on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ 

Photo: Kelly Christine Sutton

Earlier this week, Kacey Musgraves stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to chat with the program’s host prior to offering on-air performances. The pair spoke about Musgraves’ five Grammy award nominations, her latest record, Deeper Well, and interactions with the late John Prine.

Discussing the Deeper Well single “Cardinal,” Musgraves elaborated on the symbol of the bird as a “messenger from the other side,” adding that it was written in the wake of her “hero” and “mentor” John Prine’s passing in 2020. She explained that a cardinal would come and visit her house “almost every day,” which felt like Prine was “speaking” to her from beyond.

After Colbert asked Musgraves how old she was when she wrote “(Burn One With) John Prine,” she responded that it was right when she moved to Nashville. However, she never got to “burn one” with him, which Prine attributed to being a throat cancer survivor; Musgraves recalled fond memories of being with the late musician. Though the singer-songwriter got to share the stage with Prine at Cayamo in 2015, she added that she never ended up writing a song with Prine as she was so invested in his dogmatic teachings and stories that she wanted to soak up the moment. 

Musgraves is currently on the Deeper Well World Tour, which continues this Thursday, Nov. 21, at Houston’s Toyota Center with support from Lord Huron and Nickel Creek. After a number of additional stops across the southern United States, the Deeper Well World Tour will come to a close with back-to-back stagings at Nashville, Tenn.’s Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 6 and 7.