Kacey Musgraves turned her tour opener into a fundraising appeal for immigrant children.
The eight-time Grammy winner, 36, interrupted Friday night’s show at Chicago’s United Center — the launch of her “Middle of Nowhere” arena tour — to ask the crowd to donate to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights as her birthday wish. The appeal came on the opening night of a North American run scheduled to continue through October with Midland as support.
“It’s a wonderful organization, and they help give aid — legal aid — and money to children whose parents have been deported unfairly,” Musgraves said from the stage. “It’s not a political thing. It’s just, these kids need help.”
The Chicago-based Young Center pairs volunteers with attorneys and social workers to advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in government custody. Family unity, release from custody, fair proceedings and children’s best interests rank among its stated priorities on its website.
The nonprofit reported serving 1,975 children from 53 countries in 2024 and opening 1,388 new cases, according to its 2025 annual report. The same document showed children’s average detention time spiking from 30 to 198 days and requests for assistance from detained parents quadrupling from the previous year.
Friday’s onstage plea extended a pattern of support Musgraves has shown the charity throughout the year. In April, resale platform Depop announced that 20 pieces from her wardrobe — including clothing from music videos and past tours — would be sold in capsule drops. Women’s Wear Daily reported that all proceeds would benefit the Young Center.
“I also adore the fact that the sales are supporting a really beautiful cause,” Musgraves said in announcing the sale, describing the beneficiary without mentioning immigration enforcement.
Musgraves has also connected the Young Center’s mission directly to young performers. She invited three brothers — ages 18, 14 and 12 — to open three Texas shows in May after their family was released from ICE custody. The mariachi performers’ family said they entered through the now-defunct CBP One appointment system in 2023 and sought asylum after fleeing violence in Mexico, KSAT reported.
DHS countered that the family entered illegally and had been released into the country by the Biden administration. “The law requires illegal aliens who show up at a port of entry without valid entry to be detained while all their claims are heard. You can look it up in the statute,” a DHS spokesperson told KSAT. “Unlike the previous administration, the Trump administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.”
The department added that federal law required custody while immigration claims were heard. “Every day, the brave men and women of ICE are arresting and DEPORTING dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including gang members, from our country,” DHS said.
Musgraves’ latest remarks landed as ICE enforcement hit record levels. Federal sources said agents made about 51,000 immigration arrests in July, exceeding the previous record of roughly 43,000 in June.
The “Middle of Nowhere” tour continues with arena dates across North America.