NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country music star Kacey Musgraves recounted a chilling encounter with unidentified flying objects during a recent commercial flight from Fort Worth, Texas, to Nashville, Tennessee, describing it as the 'craziest f---ing orb, UFO experience' she's ever had.
The incident unfolded last week as Musgraves was aboard the plane, preparing to nap after takeoff. According to her Instagram Stories, she spotted unusual lights outside the window that 'just didn’t look normal.' She watched them for about 45 minutes, estimating the aircraft was cruising at around 50,000 feet. 'I've seen many crazy things. I've seen fire burning in the sky, things that I can't explain, so this is not the first time,' Musgraves said in the posts.
Musgraves detailed the orbs as floating entities that shifted in appearance. They appeared 'an orange-ish color' at times, then 'would get extremely bright and change color, change size.' She emphasized their erratic movements: 'These orbs were not moving like any craft that we can control. They were intermittently coming and going, forming triangle patterns.' The singer noted that the lights began trailing the plane near Little Rock, Arkansas, and followed it all the way to Nashville.
Upon landing at Nashville International Airport, the pilots emerged from the cockpit, laughing as they addressed the passengers. According to Musgraves, they revealed that 'we've seen these every single night and all the other pilots are seeing them too and nobody knows what they are.' One pilot mentioned spotting similar orbs recently while flying over New York, while the other recalled an encounter near Dallas. Musgraves captured videos of the phenomenon but lamented their quality, saying they looked like they were shot 'on a f---ing toaster' due to the distance and nighttime conditions.
'S--- is weird, but um, here for it! I am open to it, I'm here for it,' Musgraves concluded in her posts, adding that the orbs 'were changing direction with us, [and] they were following the plane.' Her account has sparked intrigue among fans and the entertainment world, coming at a time when UFO sightings — or unidentified aerial phenomena, as they're officially termed — have gained renewed attention from government investigations.
The Federal Aviation Administration has received numerous reports of unusual aerial sightings in recent years, though officials have not commented specifically on Musgraves' experience. In 2023, the Pentagon released a report acknowledging over 500 UAP incidents since 2004, many involving pilots, but concluded most were explainable as drones, balloons, or natural phenomena. Musgraves' story aligns with anecdotal reports from aviators, though no official confirmation has emerged regarding her flight.
This isn't the first time Musgraves has delved into the mysterious. Her 2018 album Same Trailer Different Park featured the hit 'Space Cowboy,' which evokes cosmic themes, and she's long expressed fascination with the unexplained. The timing of her UFO tale coincides with preparations for her upcoming album, Middle of Nowhere, slated for release in early May.
In a March interview with NPR, Musgraves discussed the new project, highlighting a surprise collaboration with fellow country star Miranda Lambert. The duo, whose relationship has been the subject of industry rumors for over a decade, co-wrote a track together. 'Wait, that could be a really funny song. What if it's a duet with her? What if I got her to write on it?' Musgraves recalled thinking after seeing Lambert's Instagram posts of her riding horses.
Musgraves reached out to Lambert despite their rocky history. 'I just randomly reached out to her and I was like, 'I know we've had our s--- over the years, but listen, we've at least got two things in common. I'm not trying to be your friend. You got your life, I have mine. But I think this would be a pretty f---ing funny song, and we should write it with Shane [McAnally].' And she was like, 'Hell yeah, I'm in, let's do it,'' she told NPR.
The two powerhouse country singers were rumored to have been feuding since 2013, when the song 'Mama's Broken Heart' was included on Lambert's album 'Four the Record,' when it was originally intended to be Musgraves' first single.
The tension dates back to 2013, when 'Mama's Broken Heart' — initially pitched as Musgraves' debut single — was recorded by Lambert without Musgraves' prior knowledge or consent. Lambert 'ended up loving the song, and she really wanted it,' Musgraves explained. Though initially disappointing, the situation proved fortuitous; Musgraves channeled her energy into writing 'Merry Go Round,' which became a breakout hit and earned her a Grammy nomination.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Musgraves described it as a 'full-circle' moment. 'We aired out any of the old laundry' and completed the song in just a few hours, she said. The NPR interview painted a picture of reconciliation, with Musgraves noting they 'wouldn't consider each other friends' but found common ground in their shared industry experiences and love for horses — a detail that inspired the outreach.
Musgraves' career has been marked by such personal and artistic pivots. Since her 2013 debut, she's won multiple Grammys, including Album of the Year for Golden Hour in 2019, and explored genres beyond traditional country. Her openness about the UFO sighting and past feuds underscores a willingness to embrace vulnerability, a theme central to her music.
As Middle of Nowhere approaches, fans are buzzing not just about the Lambert duet but also the album's broader themes. Musgraves has teased introspective tracks influenced by her life in Nashville and travels, potentially including nods to her recent aerial adventure. Meanwhile, the UFO community online has latched onto her story, with some speculating about increased UAP activity over the Midwest flight path.
Whether the orbs were extraterrestrial, experimental aircraft, or something mundane remains unknown. Aviation experts have suggested possibilities like satellite flares or military tests in the region, but pilots' repeated sightings, as reported by Musgraves, add an layer of mystery. For now, the singer remains unfazed, embracing the weirdness as part of her journey.
In the world of country music, where stars often share glimpses of their lives on social media, Musgraves' posts have blended the extraordinary with the everyday. As she promotes her new album, this UFO encounter could become another chapter in her narrative of pushing boundaries, much like her reconciliation with Lambert. The Appleton Times reached out to Musgraves' representatives for further comment but has not received a response at press time.