Kacey Musgraves Turns SZA’s “Kill Bill” Into a Sweet-and-Sour Ballad on BBC Radio 1

Kacey Musgraves stopped by BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge this week and did something that could have felt gimmicky but didn’t. She covered SZA’s “Kill Bill,” the 2022 hit about wanting to kill an ex, and turned it into a country murder ballad.

Backed by a slide guitar and acoustic six-strings, Musgraves sang the lyrics in her sweetest register. Wearing a black cowboy hat and matching top, she let the contrast do the work. The original is cold and precise. Her version is syrupy and slow, which makes the violence in the lyrics land differently. It’s sweet and sour at once.

She also performed “Dry Spell,” the lead single from her upcoming album Middle of Nowhere. The live version held up well against the recorded one, with Musgraves leaning into the wry humor of the lyrics. The album comes out later this year.

Watch both performances below.