Jessie James Decker Shares Video of ‘Exploding Trees’ Amid Ice Storm

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If you follow Jessie James Decker on Instagram, you already know she keeps it real with her followers. 

But her latest posts aren’t about family recipes or fitness routines—they’re raw, unfiltered footage of absolute chaos unfolding right outside her Nashville home.

And it’s unlike anything she’s ever shared before.

The country music star and lifestyle influencer posted videos that have her millions of followers genuinely shaken, showing the devastating ice storm that’s been wreaking havoc across Tennessee. 

And she’s far from the only celebrity documenting this nightmare in real-time. 

From Bachelor Nation’s Kaitlyn Bristowe to actress Melissa Joan Hart, Nashville’s celebrity residents are giving us an unprecedented look at just how scary this situation really is.

Jessie James Decker’s Video Captures the Terrifying Reality

Let’s talk about Jessie’s footage first, because it’s genuinely jaw-dropping.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. Trees just falling everywhere. You can just hear it — it’s just crack, crack crack,” she said in the video.

The clip shows dozens of trees literally cracking apart as massive branches crash to the ground. Some of those branches are hanging precariously on power lines, creating an incredibly dangerous situation. 

Throughout the video, you can hear Jessie saying “Oh my God” over and over.

“Trees are falling now on the neighbors’ cars,” she continued, her voice filled with disbelief.

Eric Decker, the former NFL wide receiver and Jessie’s husband, was out there with a chainsaw in his hands, cutting fallen branches into smaller pieces as they came crashing down. 

Jessie James Decker’s video sparked plenty of reactions online

Her followers couldn’t help but notice how he immediately stepped up during the crisis.

“Eric seems to be in his element! We’ve had it -40 or more with windchill here in northern Minnesota the last week. Scary to see it like that in the more southern states! Praying for everyone down that way!” one commenter wrote.

In the caption of her video, Jessie got emotional about what she was witnessing.

“I’ve lived here since 2007, and I’ve never seen anything like this ( and this is just clips I took from our home, I know it’s even worse out there). To all the line workers and first responders thank you. We can’t even imagine what you’re going through or how tirelessly you’re working to help our community,” she wrote on Instagram.

Her comment section quickly filled with reactions from fans who were either experiencing the same nightmare or had lived through similar ice storms before.

“This is common with ice storms. We get the in Oklahoma all the time. The weight of the ice accumulates and takes everything down with it. It’s beautiful and terrifying,” one user explained.

“It’s absolutely insane here! When the trees fall it sounds like a bomb is going off,” another Nashville resident confirmed.

“It’s so scary! The sound is indescribable! We had this in central Texas in ‘23. Praying for our linemen!” shared another follower.

“It’s crazy. Going on 3 days with no power with a toddler. Praying for everyone out there!!!” one mom wrote.

And one comment really stood out for recognizing the unsung heroes: “As a Linewife, thanks for recognizing the Lineman. They are always overlooked.”

Nashville Ice Storm: The devastating numbers behind the videos

The videos circulating on social media aren’t just dramatic content—they represent a genuine emergency affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

According to The Tennessean, the winter ice storm in Tennessee—where the Deckers and many other celebrities make their home in Nashville—“has left more than 150,000 Tennesseans without power and caused at least five deaths,” as of Jan. 27.

Those numbers are staggering to process. And the situation was even more dire on Jan. 26, when as many as 200,000 residents were left without power, per The Tennessean.

This isn’t just an inconvenience or a dramatic backdrop for social media content. Real families are struggling, some without heat in dangerous temperatures, and the recovery effort is going to take significant time and resources.

The “Exploding Trees” Phenomenon Taking Over Social Media

If you’ve been scrolling through your feeds lately, you’ve probably noticed the term “exploding trees” trending everywhere. 

Decker’s video is part of a much larger wave of similar footage flooding social media platforms, with people across the affected areas capturing these shocking moments.

But here’s the thing—the trees aren’t actually exploding in the way you might imagine. So what’s really happening?

The science behind it is actually fascinating, even if the results are terrifying. The sap and water inside the trees freezes during these extreme conditions. When water freezes, it expands, and that expansion creates immense pressure inside the tree.

“That water expands as it freezes, and it can happen usually under very, very drastic drops in temperature,” explained Doug Aubrey, a professor at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, per CNN.

For those who’ve never experienced an ice storm of this magnitude, the videos provide a visceral understanding of just how dangerous and unpredictable these conditions can be.

Other Nashville celebrities share their own reactions

Jessie James Decker isn’t the only famous Nashville resident documenting this disaster. 

Several other celebrities have taken to social media to share their experiences, and some of the posts are genuinely heartbreaking.

Country music legend Tim McGraw posted a message that perfectly captured the Nashville spirit of community support.

“Woke up to the damage across Nashville this morning and my heart sank. So grateful our family is safe, but I know a lot of folks are hurting—homes damaged, power out, trees down. If you need help, ask. If you can help, go. That’s how Nashville works. We take care of our own,” the country singer wrote on Instagram.

Singer-songwriter Gillian Welch gave followers an update on her situation that highlighted just how long some residents have been suffering.

“Day 3 no power,” she wrote. “Hopeful that we will get it back today. Hang in there everybody. Stay safe. Help your neighbors,” Welch wrote on Instagram.

“I think I have a neighbor coming to help me and I think I’m going to have to go to a hotel,” Bachelor Nation alum Kaitlyn Bristowe said in an Instagram Story. “I’m having such pity party for one. I’m just cold and scared and I feel alone. And I’m going to be okay but I’m also thinking about how lucky I am for being able to get into a hotel. The world is a scary place.”

And then there’s Melissa Joan Hart, who put the destruction in perspective by comparing it to some of the worst weather events she’s experienced in her life.

“In all my years of growing up in NY, tahoe for 20 years, Connecticut for 12 years including surviving Hurricane Sandy without power for 8 days with a newborn and two toddlers, I’ve never seen devastation and damage like this!” the actress wrote on Instagram. 

“We thought this would be minor and for some of our friends it was, but for us it’s gonna a week at least of no power and months of clean up. We are fine with a small generator and some working fireplaces but pray and/or send help for those who are without heat and power,” she added.