Country music star Kacey Musgraves has fired back at former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after Noem took a musical swipe at her in a social media post endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate bid.
On Monday, Noem posted on X, voicing support for Paxton, the Republican candidate, over Democratic challenger James Talarico. The post came after Talarico attended one of Musgraves's concerts over the weekend and shared photos of himself smiling alongside the Grammy-winning artist.
“I’ll take @elllangleymsic over Kacey Musgraves any day,” Noem wrote, tagging country singer Ella Langley, whose hit song “Choosin' Texas” has topped the charts for months. “And if I'm choosin' Texas, I'll take Ken Paxton over James Talarico,” the former South Dakota governor added.
Musgraves, who has over 950,000 followers on X, responded directly: “I don't think you have a dog in this fight, but if you did you would have shot it.” The jab was a clear reference to Noem's 2024 book, No Going Back, in which she described killing her 14-month-old German wirehaired pointer named Cricket at a gravel pit on her property. Noem, who was dismissed as Homeland Security secretary by President Trump in March, later described the dog as “extremely dangerous.”
Langley, 27, also appeared to untag herself from Noem's post, signaling she did not want to be part of the political spat.
The exchange underscores the cultural and political stakes in the Texas Senate race, where Paxton, a controversial figure, is facing a spirited challenge from Talarico, a state representative and former schoolteacher. The race has drawn national attention, with Republicans showing anxiety about Paxton's viability despite Texas's conservative leanings. Meanwhile, Talarico's campaign has pressed forward, even as he recently dealt with a bout of flu that Paxton used as a line of attack.
Noem's endorsement is the latest in a series of high-profile GOP figures backing Paxton, but the attention on Musgraves's retort has shifted focus to the former secretary's controversial past. The incident also highlights the intersection of pop culture and politics, with artists like Musgraves and Langley becoming unlikely proxies in a heated electoral contest.
Musgraves's sharp response quickly went viral, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics. Some praised her wit, while others defended Noem. The exchange is unlikely to sway voters in the race, but it has added a new layer of intrigue to an already closely watched contest.
As the campaign continues, Talarico has sought to contrast his public school teaching background with Paxton's legal troubles, including an ongoing securities fraud case. Paxton has denied wrongdoing and casts himself as a conservative fighter. The race is set for November, with early voting beginning in October.
