Kacey Musgraves used the opening night of her "Middle of Nowhere" tourto advocate for children affected by deportation, encouraging fans to support a nonprofit that protects the rights of immigrant children.
Performing at Chicago's United Center on Aug. 21, which was also the singer's 38th birthday, Musgraves positioned her advocacy as a birthday wish. The nonprofit Musgraves took a moment to highlight is the Young Center, a Chicago-based advocacy group for immigrant children.
This is not the first time Musgraveshas used her platform to express her political and humanitarian beliefs, as she has spoken out about LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence and, now, immigration.
What did Kacey Musgraves say during her tour opener?
"There is a nonprofit here and it's called the 'Young Center'… It is a wonderful organization,"
said Musgraves. "They help give legal aid and money to children whose parents have been deported unfairly.
"It would mean a lot to me. It's not even a political thing, it's just these kids need help and they're literally left with no guidance and no way to get through this without their home base or their parents," she continued.
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"So, anyway, 50 cents, whatever the hell, whatever you want to do, but that would mean a lot to me. If you don't want to, that would be totally fine too," she concluded.
What is the Young Center?
The Chicago-based nonprofit advocates for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in immigration proceedings by pairing them with volunteer advocates, attorneys, social workers and other staff members to help ensure their needs, safety and best interests are represented.
The group also works on family reunification, fair legal proceedings and broader policy changes surrounding immigrant children.
Kacey Musgraves' plea draws complaints from conservative figures
Musgraves' fan base has reacted to her plea with an overwhelming amount of support. However, a handful of conservative voices have spoken out against the singer.
"Ugh, this is so refreshing. So many country artists aren’t using their power to do stuff like this," one fan wrote on a post from Musgraveshq.
"Not only beautiful, talented, but most of all, kind-hearted! Go Kacey! I love you!" another added in the same post.
Conservative political commentator and television personality Tomi Lahren pushed back against Musgraves' remarks by posting a clip of the singer's speech on X and writing, "What is an unfair deportation?"
Newsmax's Rob Schmitt shared a similar comment in response to Musgraves' comments and a New York Post story about them. "Nowhere is safe from libtards. Not even country music," he wrote on X.
Other times Kacey Musgraves has spoken out on political and social issues
Musgraves has long been one of country music's more left-leaning figureheads, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, firearm regulations and opposition to President Donald Trump.
In 2013, Musgraves released her hit single "Follow Your Arrow," which included lyrics supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, a rare message in mainstream country music.
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Following several mass shootings in 2019, Musgraves took to X to voice her stance on firearms. "Let me be clear - I’m from Texas. I grew up around hunting and guns. There’s a time and place for that and even self-protection at times," she wrote.
"But this is different. The system is majorly flawed, and NOBODY NEEDS ANYTHING REMOTELY AUTOMATIC. PERIOD. They’re mass-killing machines."
"Don’t you hear us, @realDonaldTrump," Musgraves also wrote regarding the matter, according to Variety. "Don’t you hear our pain? You have the power to become a hero. Why don’t you take it?"
Ahead of the 2020 election, Musgraves shared a graphic on X that stated, "If you love an LGBTQ+ person and you're planning on voting for Donald Trump in November, that's an act of violence against them."
"To each their own, but know what your vote means," she wrote in the post.
Peter Burditt covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact him at PBurditt@nashvill.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kacey Musgraves defends immigrant children at tour opener: 'It's not even political'
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