Lyle Lovett has built an eclectic and literate body of work steeped in the folk, country, and Western swing traditions of his home state of Texas. Born in 1957 and raised on a ranch in Klein, Lovett started writing songs while attending Texas A&M in the late ‘70s. A few years later, Guy Clark passed on Lovett’s demo tape to MCA Records, which resulted in Lovett’s self-titled 1986 debut, a poetic, often witty collection rooted in classic country (“God Will”) that also offered glimpses of stylistic diversity (the upbeat pop of “Why I Don’t Know”). In 1987, Pontiac provided more insightful lyricism, expanding on Lovett’s sound with wistful folk (“If I Had a Boat”), jazzy numbers, and slinking rock. He moved toward jazz with 1989’s Lyle Lovett & His Large Band; explored R&B and gospel on 1992’s Joshua Judges Ruth; and returned to twangier fare with 1996’s The Road to Ensenada. Though he’s never stopped working—he’s also an actor—Lovett took a 10-year hiatus from studio albums in the 2010s, returning with 2022’s swinging 12th of June.