Marissa R. Moss
View all posts by Marissa R. Moss October 19, 2026 Add us as a Google Preferred Source
Add us as a Google Preferred Source 
James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate from Texas, was a special guest at one of Kacey Musgraves' Texas concert dates. Rich Polk/Dick Clark Productions/Getty Images; Callaghan O'Hare/The Washington Post/Getty Images Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico may not have any musical talents (that we know of, at least), but he’s become the most coveted special guest in country music of late. On Oct. 17, Talarico joined the Chicks at their San Antonio date, following appearances in the crowd at Kacey Musgraves‘ Dallas show earlier this month and backstage at Willie Nelson’s annual 4th of July Picnic (the legendary artist also just gave the candidate his official endorsement). All three artists are from Texas, naturally, where Talarico currently holds a very slight lead over Attorney General Ken Paxton, in an extremely tight race. But if country cred were on the ballot, he’d have this in the bag.
Talarico’s appearance in San Antonio with the Chicks was particularly special, he told the crowd, since he used to teach sixth grade at a local middle school. He is also apparently a big Chicks fan. “I have loved the Chicks for as long as I can remember,” Talarico said as he joined the band onstage to massive applause. “Their music, their songwriting, their harmonies. But also what they represent. First and foremost, Texas excellence. We are so proud that the Chicks are from Texas. But also courage, conviction and a willingness to speak truth to power. In a time when too many artists sell out, the Chicks remind us when given a voice, we have a responsibility to use it…. They are the best of country music. They are the best of Texas. They are the best of us.”
By saying “we are so proud that the Chicks are from Texas,” Talarico wasn’t just lobbing praise. He was likely nodding to the famous incident onstage in London in 2003, when the Chicks’ Natalie Maines proclaimed during a show that she was “ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” Though the group was immediately pushed off country radio and even became subject to death threats, they have never backed down from their passionate activism and beliefs. On their Taking the Long Way anniversary tour, they’ve been rallying concertgoers to vote in the upcoming midterms.
