What Does Benson Boone's Song "In the Stars" Mean?

Discover the story behind Boone’s emotional track

Co-authored by Corey Andrew and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: January 6, 2026 Fact Checked

Song Meaning

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Lyrical Breakdown

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Public Response

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Song Facts

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Why It Resonates

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Video

Hey there, Benson Boone fans! If you’ve listened to “In the Stars,” you’ve probably already figured out that it’s a sad song—but what is it really about? We talked to pop culture commentator Corey Andrew to learn more about Benson Boone, and we dug deep into the song to find the meanings behind Boone’s lyrics and who he’s singing about. So, without further ado, read on for a complete guide to “In the Stars,” including a breakdown of the lyrics in each verse and more fun facts about the song itself.

The Story Behind “In the Stars” by Benson Boone

“In the Stars” was written about the death of Benson Boone’s great-grandmother, who passed away at the age of 96. In the song, Boone sings about the pain of losing her and his experience with grief. He has stated that writing the song helped him process the loss and left him in a better mental headspace.

Section 1 of 5:

“In the Stars” Song Meaning

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“In the Stars” is a song about the death of Boone’s great-grandmother. “I wanted to write about something real,” Boone explained in a video for Genius. “My great-grandma—I just called her ‘GG’…she passed away a couple of years ago, and I was very, very close with her.” Boone wrote the song to honor her, as well as process his own grief over the loss.^{[1]
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- In the song, Boone sings about the difficulty of his great-grandmother’s loss and how it affects his outlook on life.
- Through writing and performing the song, Boone was able to come to terms with his great-grandmother’s passing.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Corey Andrew is a pop culture commentator who co-hosts the celebrity gossip podcast “Naughty but Nice.” Corey is also a stand-up comic and songwriter.
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The song is an honest portrayal of grief and pain. “In the Stars” is specifically written about Boone’s grief for his great-grandmother, but it’s also an emotional and vulnerable song that explores how grief has affected him, and what it feels like to grieve someone so deeply. Thus, “In the Stars” is meant for anyone who has lost someone and wants a little reassurance that, despite their grief, that person is still with them in some way.
- In his “about the lyrics” video for Genius, Boone also stated that the loss of a loved one can be even more devastating than the loss of a romantic relationship.^{[2]
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“In the Stars” Lyric Breakdown & Explanation

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Verse 1In the first verse, Boone sings about key memories of his great-grandmother. “Sunday mornings were your favorite,” he sings at the beginning of the verse, before describing how his great-grandmother did her hair “like you were famous” and met him for church. “Now Sunday mornings, I just sleep in,” he sings later, emphasizing that those mornings feel empty without his great-grandmother there.^{[3]
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- At the end of the verse, Boone adds that he’s “screaming at a god I don’t know if I believe in,” implying that his great-grandmother’s passing has left him shaken and feeling at a loss over how to cope.
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Verse 2In the second verse, Boone brings up more memories of his great-grandmother, singing about the birthday letters she’d write for him with “a crumpled twenty still in the box.” When his great-grandmother would write him a birthday letter, she’d always put a $20 bill with it; Boone’s lyrics emphasize how much more meaningful the actual letter is than the money, especially after her passing.
- “I don’t think that I could ever find a way to spend it,” Boone sings (about the $20 bill), “Even if it’s the last twenty that I’ve got.”
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ChorusIn the chorus, Boone explores two different perspectives: one, the grief over his great-grandmother’s passing and how it felt like she had left him, and two, the idea that his great-grandmother is still with him through all the cherished memories he still has of her. In his Genius video, Boone explained that he didn’t want people to listen to the song and walk away feeling like their loved ones were gone forever.
- The first line in the chorus is “I’m still holding on to everything that’s dead and gone,” conveying the idea that Boone still has memories and mementos of his great-grandmother, even if he doesn’t have her.
- The song’s title comes from the line, “Now you’re in the stars and six feet’s never felt so far / Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers.”
- The final line in the chorus is, “You took the best of my heart and left the rest in pieces,” a reminder of how deeply Boone feels the loss of his great-grandmother.
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BridgeThe bridge for “In the Stars” is very simple, consisting of the lyrics “I’m still holding (on), holding (on), holding on,” repeated several times. It conveys Boone’s determination to hold onto the memories he has—and cherish them—because he doesn’t have his great-grandmother anymore.

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Success & Public Response to “In the Stars”

“In the Stars” became Benson Boone’s first Platinum single in the U.S. All in all, “In the Stars” became super successful for Boone. It was popular among both U.S. and European audiences and was certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) in January 2023, then certified Platinum in October 2023. As of December 2024, it has officially been certified double Platinum.^{[4]
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- “Certified Platinum” means a song or album has sold 1 million units; 2x (double) Platinum means it has sold 2 million units.
- Meanwhile, “certified Gold” applies to songs or albums that have sold 500,000 units.

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“In the Stars” Song Facts

As popular as “In the Stars” was in America, it was an even bigger hit in Europe! More specifically, it really resonated with audiences in the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, reaching the top 10 in all three countries. Beyond its impact on fans, Boone has also stated that the song has helped him find peace in the wake of his loss—and that he hopes it can do the same for others.
- Boone co-wrote “In the Stars” with Jason Evigan and Michael Pollack. Pollack also produced.
- “In the Stars” was featured in Boone’s Walk Me Home EP, then later in his 2024 debut studio album, Fireworks & Rollerblades.
- “In the Stars” peaked at 82 on the Billboard Hot 100, 36 on the US Pop Airplay, and 24 on the US Adult Pop Airplay.
- Originally, Boone didn’t like the song—but his mother encouraged him to keep working at it. After collaborating with Evigan and Pollack, the “In the Stars” we know and love was born.^{[5]
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Why does “In the Stars” resonate with listeners?

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The lyrics of “In the Stars” are raw and deeply emotional. Even though Boone wrote the song about his great-grandmother, it’s also for anyone who has experienced loss. Because Boone’s lyrics are so honest and personal, they’re also very relatable for other people dealing with grief. Knowing that more people are out there feeling the same things is comforting, as is the idea that pieces of your loved ones can stay with you and aren’t lost forever.
- Andrew explains that “In the Stars” appeals to listeners because “it’s an inspirational song about moving forward and not being tied down to … normal constructs because he’s so the opposite of normal constructs himself.”^{[6]
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Boone resonates with his audience because of his authenticity. Andrew says that Boone “is a breath of fresh air” in “a sea of cookie-cutter, formulaic artists.” Andrew says that Boone’s look has a “weird kind of 1970s energy, which I think kids find fun and interesting. He’s lean, got the old-school rock star look, like Robert Plant [or] Mick Jagger, wearing skin-tight bell-bottoms.”^{[7]
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Corey Andrew
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- Andrew says that Boone’s performances have a similarly unique energy: “Who else is doing backflips off of speakers 20 feet off the ground and sticking the landing like Simone Biles?”^{[8]
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- Andrew says that the combination of Boone’s exciting performances, killer voice, and great songwriting make him the whole package. “He is a person who completely has his most authentic self. [He] just said, ‘This is what I’m going to show up as. And if they like it, they like it; if they don’t, they don’t.’ … I think he showed up as himself. That’s the biggest asset that he has going on right now.”^{[9]
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