The beef started in the pits
Sometimes, you really shouldn't poke the bear—or in this case, a country superstar with a legendary wit. Kristi Noem, the former Secretary of Homeland Security, decided to take a swipe at Kacey Musgraves on X this weekend. Why? Because Texas senatorial candidate James Talarico, a Democrat currently leading in the polls, dared to attend a Kacey Musgraves concert.
Talarico shared a photo of himself with the singer, captioning it, “Thank you for having me last night, Kacey Musgraves!” This seemingly innocuous post sent Noem into a spiral. She tweeted, “I’ll take Ella Langley over Kacey Musgraves any day. And if I’m choosin’ Texas, I’ll take Ken Paxton over James Talarico.”
The savage comeback
Musgraves saw the shade and responded with a line that has officially entered the hall of fame for online clapbacks: “I don’t think you have a dog in this fight but if you did you would have shot it.”
If you’re wondering why that hits so hard, it’s a direct reference to the infamous anecdote in Noem’s own memoir, where she admitted to killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, in a gravel pit. The story was a massive L for her public image and arguably tanked her chances of becoming Donald Trump’s VP pick back in 2024.
The fallout
As for Ella Langley, who Noem tried to drag into the mess? She wasn't having it. Langley or her team quickly untagged her handle from the politician’s post, clearly not wanting to be part of the drama. Since Musgraves dropped that mic, Noem has been radio silent on the app.
Musgraves is no stranger to being outspoken, having previously advocated for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at her shows. Meanwhile, Talarico continues to secure the bag in terms of support, recently landing an endorsement from Willie Nelson as he challenges Ken Paxton in a race that is lowkey making history in Texas.
Why it matters
This interaction highlights how quickly political tensions can bleed into pop culture, and proves that Kacey Musgraves has main character energy when it comes to defending her platform. No cap, it’s a reminder that internet receipts—especially ones involving a memoir about shooting a puppy—are forever.
