After making history as the first black solo female artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country music category, Mickey Guyton’s star will rise even further.
On Sunday, Guyton will once again make history as the first black woman to host the Academy of Country Music Awards, alongside Keith Urban, which airs at 8pm on CBS.
“My hope is to give positive light and love and acceptance in this work,” Guyton told NBC News.
Although Guyton is hosting an awards show for the first time on Sunday, she promises a great performance and several outfits. She noted that the support of co-presenter Urban during the preparation for the show was fun and valuable.
“You know, Keith Urban is from Australia and he loved country music,” she said. ‘I’m sure when he first started, he did not get the welcome arms, and now he’s here. He uses his platform to uplift me, and that means so much. ‘
From late on, country music has seen a cultural change in terms of representation. With artists like Rissi Palmer, Jimmie Allen, Willie Jones and Kane Brown, many people see that country artists do not have to fit in a certain form.
When Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” started to gain a foothold in 2019, the song reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard quotes the single from Hot Country Songs because it does not fit the genre, according to Rolling Stone. Eventually, Billy Ray Cyrus joined Lil Nas X on the remix “Old Town Road”, and it is number 1 on Billboard Hot 100. “Old Town Road” never entered the country music chart again.
It has shown that country music, like the rest of the world, still has a long way to go in understanding what it means to be inclusive.
“A lot of people, especially today, just see Lil Lil X or think that country music is just white guys, beers and trucks, and that’s not the case,” Guyton said. ‘There is all kinds of country music. There were a lot of black people in country music who stomped on the sidewalk for a very long time. ”
Historically, black artists were pushed out of traditional white music spaces, even though they had an important hand in creating the music. Before Guyton, there was Linda Martell. Although her contributions largely went unnoticed, Martell achieved success in the release of ‘Color Him Father’ in 1969, which paved the way for the artists of the Black countries who would follow her.
Guyton wants to perpetuate outdated stereotypes and misconceptions by showing other black artists that they can ‘sing country, pursue it and love it too’.
Despite the barriers and discrimination critics face, Guyton remains the sweet, southern girl she’s always been.
Guyton sings as if speaking directly to those who feel marginalized – especially black women.
‘So often we grew up – especially young little black girls who grew up and did not love themselves because we saw ourselves in nothing. Now we see ourselves, ”she said.
Her passion for country music began in Texas when she was a little girl listening to LeAnn Rimes, Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans and her everyday favorite, Dolly Parton.
Guyton said her admiration for Parton has only increased over the past few years, especially after the star in February asked Tennessee lawmakers not to erect a statue of her after they showed support for it. Parton said the pandemic and current social justice are more important.
“I mean, Dolly Parton is a national treasure, an international treasure in my personal opinion, and she’s already preached a lot of love and acceptance before it was the thing to do,” Guyton said. “She loved her big breasts, and as much as people talk about it, she was like, ‘I am who I am and you’re going to take it or leave it,’ and she’s still the person to this day. “
“She really stands by her truth, and she thinks Black life matters, and that she’s all wonderful and I just love her,” she added.
Guyton bears the same responsibility and serves as an inspiration to young fans who look up to her and will see on Sunday how she presents the ACM Awards.
The message she wants to convey to those fans – and everyone else – when she graces the stage? Simply put, she said, “We’re here.”
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