Kacey Musgraves brought the heat to the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 12 with a striking performance of ‘Star-Crossed,’ the title track from her album released on September 10. The singer’s debut performance on the show began with a solo guitar intro after which Musgraves’ voice rang out with the opening line, “Let me set the scene, two lovers ripped right at the seams.” Dressed in a white gown with her long flowing hair, Musgraves continued to sing the Romeo & Juliet inspired tune as she walked around the stage, revealing candles and neon hearts with swords through them surrounding her on the stage.
At the end of the first chorus, the stage lit up with a giant heart on fire directly behind the singer. The energy of the song and the fire continued through the end of the lonesome tune. In addition to performing, Musgraves stunned on the red carpet with a purple dress, purple feathered headdress and red gloves.
Musgraves announced plans to release star-crossed on August 23 after hinting at the project on social media. The 15-track album was co-produced by the singer along with Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, who also produced her GRAMMY-winning album, Golden Hour. Musgraves also released an accompanying film, star-crossed: the film, which played at theaters in 25 cities on September 8. The film is now available to stream on Paramount+.
“Everything about the making of star-crossed has been bone-chillingly synchronistic and serendipitous,” wrote Musgraves of the album, which is largely influenced by her divorce from fellow star Ruston Kelly. “The muse was handing it to me almost faster than I could keep up. And as quickly as things had seemed to fall apart for me personally, all these other things, creatively and spiritually, started culminating in a way I’ve never experienced before. A flow of energy so powerful I know it does not come FROM me but through me. This chapter was a challenge and a thrill. A sword and a gift. A f*ing plummet and a climb.” Musgraves will set out on her Star-Crossed: Unveiled tour in January 2022.