Kacey Musgraves Kicks Off Her Middle of Nowhere Tour in Chicago With a Spectacular Show and Plenty of Texas Flair
By Website Content Manager
The packed, sold-out audience came together to celebrate Kacey Musgraves’ latest album while also marking her 38th birthday during the unforgettable evening.
Kacey Musgraves launched the opening night of her Middle of Nowhere Tour in Chicago with a larger-than-life production that lived up to the spirit of the occasion. From her dramatic entrance and dazzling visuals to a rotating 360-degree stage and plenty of rhinestone-covered style, the country star made sure the sold-out crowd got a memorable show.
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” filled the United Center as a countdown appeared on the massive screen, signaling that Musgraves was about to take the stage. Moments later, she appeared on top of a weathered metal structure marked with a huge “Middle of Nowhere” sign. Surrounded by bright beams of light, she opened the concert with “Everybody Wants to Be a Cowboy,” while American and Chicago flags provided the backdrop.
Musgraves later moved through a section of the audience before arriving at the main stage, where a massive star served as its centerpiece. She immediately kept the momentum going with several crowd favorites, including “Dry Spell,” “justified,” and “High Horse.”
The singer then moved toward the front portion of the stage to connect with the packed audience. She took a moment to recognize the special timing of the concert, as the tour opener also happened to coincide with her 38th birthday.
“Tonight is the very first show of this entire era, right here in Chicago,” she told the crowd, before excitedly pointing out that it was also her birthday.
Fans had clearly prepared for the occasion, raising birthday-themed signs and joining together to sing “Happy Birthday” multiple times. The celebration reached another highlight when a member of her team brought out a birthday cake complete with candles. Reflecting on the enthusiastic response, Musgraves remarked that it might have been the biggest birthday celebration she had ever experienced.
She also gave the Chicago audience a playful message about the evening, joking that the venue was completely packed and encouraging everyone to simply enjoy themselves and have a great time.
The show then took a nostalgic turn as Musgraves brought fans back to the beginning of her career. Introducing the moment as a trip back to 2012, she performed “Merry Go ‘Round.” The song also introduced one of the concert’s standout visual elements: Musgraves began circling the arena on the rotating 360-degree stage, allowing audience members throughout the United Center to enjoy different views of the performance.