A trailblazing figure in country music for a little over a decade, Mickey Guyton is not only known for her powerful voice but also for the meaningful ways she approaches advocacy as a Black woman in a genre historically dominated by white men. The Arlington, Texas native spent years trying to make headway within the genre, from living in Los Angeles to trying out for American Idol, among other things, before a chance meeting with a producer led to a move to Nashville. 

By 2011, Guyton’s career in country music had reached new heights following a special White House concert with Lyle Lovett, James Taylor, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, and Kris Kristofferson and signing to Capitol Records Nashville. She reflected on a time when there wasn’t a large community of Black artists within the genre. 

“When I first started, there was just me,” explained Guyton to BET.com. “There was Darius [Rucker] but he also had notoriety from being in Hootie & the Blowfish and I didn’t have a relationship with him. Kane Brown wasn’t even around yet. It was lonely for me.”

Guyton steadily built her presence in country music since making her debut with the 2015 single “Better Than You Left Me” from her self-titled debut EP. That came with a nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. She followed up with steady releases, including tracks like "Nice Things" and "Crazy." However, by the decade's end, Guyton took a bold turn in her artistic direction, leading to her breakout moment in 2020. 

It was then that she released the powerful anthem “Black Like Me,” which went viral amid the racial justice protests of that year. Alongside this, she also delivered the poignant “What Are You Gonna Tell Her,” a song addressing gender discrimination and inequality, further solidifying her place as a voice for change in country music. 

Both singles were later included on Guyton’s 2021 debut album, Remember Her Name. Her song “Black Like Me” earned her a Best Country Solo Performance nomination at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, marking the first time a Black woman had been nominated. However, she revealed that this groundbreaking achievement came with its challenges. Since 2021, a lot has changed for her, with emotional challenges and hardships She faced cyberbullying and racism while advocating for Black voices in country music and challenging the predominantly white, male-dominated industry.

“I went through some cyberbullying because of the racism I experienced trying to stand up for Black people in country music,” she explained. “I’ve been in this industry a long time and I wanted to show there’s another way. But being a trailblazer and an activist comes at a price, and that price can be your mental health. I was also going through a management change, and it was really difficult for me.”

Despite that, Guyton has become a well-respected artist within country music. This also includes working with artists who inspired her from the beginning. LeAnn Rimes, for example, was the reason Guyton pursued country music in the first place, making their collaboration on Rimes' 2022 God's Work album a full-circle moment. Sharing a story from their time in the studio, Guyton recalled Rimes’ quiet but nurturing nature. 

“LeAnn is not an overly bubbly person because she’s obviously gone through a lot in her life,” explained Guyton. “I remember her coming into the studio and I was super nervous and she didn’t say much. And then about 30, 45 minutes later, there was a knock on the door at the studio and they came in and brought all these boxes of some of the best food, and she put the plate of food in front of me and she goes, ‘you need to eat.’”

Another standout moment came when she teamed up with Michael Bolton for the holiday-themed “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.”  Despite not being a "Christmas person" initially, she shared, "After I had my son, it was just kind of like the stars were aligned, and it was so fun."

Guyton also collaborated with Kane Brown on the track "Nothing Compares to You," written by Bebe Rexha and Tyler Hubbard. This was a significant moment for Guyton: "It was my first real country duet in the US marketplace, and what better way to do that than with my brother Kane Brown." 

2024 saw Guyton dropping several singles, including “Woman,” “My Side Of The Country,” “Make It Me,” and “Scary Love.” She explained that these songs offer a taste of what’s to come when she drops her House on Fire album on September 27. Guyton noted that the song "My Side of the Country" reflects her goal to showcase the diversity within country music. She credits artists like Beyoncé for sparking a new conversation about country music's inclusivity. 

"It’s been really my goal since 2020 to show the world how multifaceted country music is," Guyton shared. "Country music is not just one-dimensional... It's all different walks of life. This is something that I've been writing for a really long time and that really is what it is. You get the fun side of me, but then you also get the relationship of who I am and House on Fire is that I am the house and I am on fire. And it takes a very beautiful person to love this house."

House on Fire delves into her relationship with her husband, her struggles with self-worth, and her journey as a mother. Guyton shared a heart-wrenching story about her son’s health scare, which left an indelible mark on her as a parent. "Being a parent is one of the most difficult, beautiful, hardest mind-f***s that you could ever go through in your life," she said with raw honesty.

Guyton shared that the album is filled with uplifting, feel-good music, showcasing a new side of her artistry. She noted that while she unintentionally became an activist who recently performed during this year’s Democratic National Convention, this album focuses on her life and the beauty of what’s in front of her.

“We need joy,” Guyton explained. “We need a release. And that's what this album is.”