Star-Crossed

Album: Star-Crossed (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kacey Musgraves first met her future husband Ruston Kelly when she attended a showcase for songwriters at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe in March 2016. As soon as Kelly started performing, Musgraves knew she wanted to write with him. They set a writing appointment for that May, and when they got together the pair immediately connected. They talked and laughed and enjoyed each other's company so much, Kelly didn't leave until about 3 a.m.

    Musgraves soon fell in love and penned "Butterflies" about Kelly coming into her life. The pair married on October 14, 2017, but sadly, theirs isn't a happily-ever-after story. Their marriage hit the rocks, and the two filed for divorce in July 2020.

    This song is the title track of Star-Crossed, an album inspired by Musgraves' process of heartache and healing following the breakdown of her marriage.
  • "Star-Crossed" is the opening song and sets the scene for the rest of the album. Over a Latin guitar, Musgraves mournfully recounts signing the divorce papers and Kelly moving out of the home they'd made together. Unlike many songs that deal with divorce, in this one there's no blame attached.
  • Recorded in Nashville in early 2021 in under three weeks, Star-Crossed is an epic concept album structured as a three-act tragedy in the style of classic Greek theater and Shakespeare. Musgraves accompanied the record with a 50-minute film version, also called Star-Crossed,, directed by Barbia Zeinali and co-written with the director and Musgraves herself. Actors Eugene Levy and Victoria Pedretti, singer-songwriter Princess Nokia, RuPaul's Drag Race winner Symone, and comedian Megan Stalter all make cameos.
  • Some of Musgraves' country music friends contribute background vocals. They include T.J. and John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne, their sister Natalie, John Osborne's wife, Lucie Silvas, The Black Keys backup singer Leisa Hans, and Daniel Tashian.
  • The instrumentation is:

    12 String Acoustic Guitar: Todd Lombardo
    Acoustic Guitar: Todd Lombardo
    Nylon String Guitar: Todd Lombardo
    Baritone Guitar: Daniel Tashian
    Bass: Ian Fitchuk
    Harp: Daniel Tashian and Kirsten Agresta Copely
    Keyboards: Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk
    Piano: Ian Fitchuk
    Percussion: Ian Fitchuk

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.