After making history as the first female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country music category, Mickey Guyton’s star is about to soar even further.
On Sunday, Guyton will again make history as the first black woman to host the Academy of Country Music Awards, along with Keith Urban, which airs on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern.
“I hope I will bring positive light and love and acceptance into this job,” Guyton told NBC News.
Although Guyton is hosting an awards ceremony for the first time on Sunday, she promises a good performance and several outfit changes. She noted that having the support of co-host Urban during the preparation for the show has proven to be fun and valuable.
“You know, Keith Urban is from Australia and he had an affinity for country music,” she said. ‘I’m sure when he first started he wasn’t getting the most hospitable arms and now he’s here. He uses his platform to cheer me up, and that means so much. “
Lately, country music has witnessed a cultural shift in terms of representation. With artists like Rissi Palmer, Jimmie Allen, Willie Jones and Kane Brown, many people see that country artists don’t have to fit in any particular mold.
When Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ started to gain traction in 2019, it hit number 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard then removed the single from Hot Country Songs because it didn’t fit the genre, according to Rolling Stone. Eventually Billy Ray Cyrus joined Lil Nas X on the remix of “Old Town Road,” which went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 “Old Town Road” never made it to the country music list.
This showed that country music, like the rest of the world, has a long way to go to fully embrace what it means to be inclusive.
“Well, a lot of people, especially today, just see Lil Nas X or think country music is just white guys, beers and trucks, and that’s not the case,” Guyton said. “There are all kinds of country music. There have been many black people in country music banging on the sidewalk for a long time. “
Historically, black performers have been pushed out of traditionally white music spaces, even if they had an important hand in creating the music. Before Guyton, there was Linda Martell. While her contributions went largely unnoticed, Martell found success with the 1969 release of “Color Him Father”, paving the way for the Black country artists to follow her.
Guyton wants to continue to dispel outdated stereotypes and misconceptions by showing other aspiring black artists that they can “ sing country, pursue it and love it too. ”
Despite the barriers and discrimination she faces from critics, Guyton remains the sweet Southern girl she has always been.
Guyton sings as if talking directly to those who felt marginalized – especially black women.
“We grew up so many times – especially young little black girls who grew up without loving themselves because we didn’t see ourselves in anything. Now we see ourselves, ”she said.
Her passion for country music started in Texas when, as a little girl, she listened to LeAnn Rimes, Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans and her favorite, Dolly Parton.
Guyton said her admiration for Parton has only grown in recent years, especially after the star asked Tennessee lawmakers in February not to erect a statue of her after showing their support. Parton said the pandemic and the current social justice movements were more important.
“I mean, Dolly Parton is a national treasure, an international treasure in my personal opinion, and she’s been preaching love and acceptance long before it was a thing to do,” Guyton said. “She loved her big boobs, and no matter how many people talk about that, she was like, ‘I’m who I am and you take it or leave it,’ and she’s that person to this day.”
“She really stands by her truth, and she thinks black lives matter, and she’s amazing and I just love her,” she added.
Guyton carries the same responsibility and serves as an inspiration to young fans who will look up to her and will see her host the ACM Awards on Sunday.
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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