The Return of Saturn in Pop Culture 

Hey guys, K+L here! 

Lately, it feels like the Saturn Return is everywhere—and not just because of our book launch. We’re hearing it in podcasts, social media conversations, and even in some huge pop culture moments.

As your go-to guides for all things Saturn Return, we couldn’t resist diving into the topic ourselves. 

It’s such a powerful + transformative moment in life, and it’s exciting to see how much attention it’s getting right now. So naturally, we had to jump in and explore what makes this cosmic milestone so relevant + relatable today.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is a Netflix docuseries that follows the intense world of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders—from grueling auditions to the pressures of performing at the highest level of professional sports entertainment.

The final episode of the latest season is titled “Saturn Returns,” capturing a pivotal moment when the squad faces multiple challenges that force them to confront who they are + who they’re becoming. The episode culminates with several squad members performing alongside country star Kacey Musgraves on her Deeper Well World Tour, where a giant Saturn hangs overhead on stage—while Saturn itself was visible in the night sky above Dallas that same night.

For Coach Keli + the cheerleaders, the Saturn imagery became a powerful symbol of transformation + finding your authentic self, perfectly capturing the essence of what a Saturn Return represents.

Kacey Musgraves album Deeper Well

The country star’s most recent album, Deeper Well, dives into the transformative energy of her Saturn Return during her late 20s, which led her to reassess her relationships, priorities, and how she invests her emotional energy.

“Deeper Well is an ode to ruthlessly removing resistance to growth,” Musgraves explains in an interview with American Songwriter. 

We loved Kacey already, but the fact that she’s exploring the Saturn Return period is just the cherry on top. With themes of embracing change, rediscovering your purpose, or growing into a more authentic version of yourself, this album can quite literally be the soundtrack to your transformation. 

Ariana Grande’s song “Saturn Returns Interlude”

Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, opens with “Saturn Returns Interlude,” a 42-second track featuring astrologer Diana Gardner, who reflects on the significance of the Saturn Return—all set against a dreamy, melodic backdrop.

As Gardner puts it: “Saturn comes along and hits you over the head, hits you over the head, hits you over the head, and says, ‘Wake up!’”

It’s hard to argue with that assessment—Saturn doesn’t take no for an answer.

Parlour Magic’s Album Saturn Return

While creating the album, Parlour Magic’s producer Luc Bokor-Smith found himself in the midst of his own Saturn Return, grappling with questions of time, memory, and mortality that would come to define the record’s emotional core.

When asked by WBRU why they named the album Saturn Return, the act out of NYC responded, “making this album took a really long time. It took three years. And there were periods of intense work. There were periods when I wasn’t doing anything. And then there were periods where I was completely focused on other things, and it was this weird kind of experience. Time felt fluid throughout the making of this album.”

Meaningful projects often take time to unfold, and that’s okay! Creative processes can be unpredictable, evolving through moments of inspiration, revision, and even doubt. Think of it like your Saturn Return—the most transformative periods require patience + trust in the process. Giving yourself the space to grow alongside your work is part of what makes the final result truly worth it.

SZA’s “Saturn”

It wouldn’t be a complete list without including SZA’s 2x Platinum hit “Saturn.” 

SZA sings, “life’s better on Saturn, got to break this pattern of floating away,” because the real magic happens when we face our challenges head-on instead of drifting away. It’s about breaking old patterns, grounding ourselves, and embracing the growth that comes with those tough but transformative moments.

Are there any other Saturn return references that we missed? Make sure to check out our book, Almost 30: A Definitive Guide to a Life You Love For the Next Decade and Beyond, to learn more about your Saturn Return + all of the magic it has to offer you!