Kacey Musgraves Pauses Fort Lauderdale Show To Point Out Her “First Love” Sitting in the Crowd—and Why It Didn’t Work Out

While hoping to get her start in country music by winning the singing competition Nashville Star, Kacey Musgraves left the show in seventh place. Although her plan didn’t work out, she eventually found her footing in the music industry as she won several Grammy Awards and even Country Music Association Awards. Releasing her newest album, Deeper Well, back in March, the singer also hit the road for her Deeper Well World Tour. And recently, performing in Fort Lauderdale, Musgraves opened up about her first love and the reason it didn’t work out. 

With a sea of fans excited to see her perform, Musgraves took the stage for another concert on her world tour. But unlike concerts in the past, the singer noticed a special person in the audience. She paused the show, explaining to fans, “I actually have one of my longest friends, one of my hometown friends, here tonight. And, uh, he was my first crush; he was my first love. And he is 100% here with his husband tonight.”

Although Musgraves found her heart wanting to expand her relationship with her friend, that friend found love in the arms of another. And to make it even more shocking, Musgraves added, “That’s happened to me twice; I don’t know what that means. But whatever, happy to be a beard I guess.” 

Adding nothing more to the story, Musgraves jumped right back into her set as fans digested what just happened. With the video shared online, fans commented, “I’m always the beard too!!” Another person joked, “‘That happened to me twice.’ She’s so me.” 

[RELATED: American Songwriter November/December Cover Story: Kacey Musgraves Reflects on Her Life, Sisterhood, and John Prine—“It Can Be Really Intimidating to Put Your Most Intimate Thoughts Out There”]

Kacey Musgrave Holds No Anger Towards Former Husband

Outside of Musgraves falling for a gay man, the singer watched her marriage to Ruston Kelly play out in headlines. Divorcing in 2020, Musgraves detailed what happened, telling Elle that while her professional life was booming, “ In my personal life. I felt like I was dying inside. I was crumbling. I was sad. I felt lonely. I felt broken.”

With the marriage coming to an end, Musgraves struggled with questions of doubt. “Why did I make these decisions? How did I get here? How can I prevent myself from getting there again? Why do I keep choosing the same kind of people?”

Although Musgraves and Kelly ended their marriage, the singer insisted, “We hold no blame, anger, or contempt for each other and we ask for privacy and positive wishes for us both as we learn how to navigate through this.”

(Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)