Phylicia JL Munn
Mickey Guyton’s music has always taken fans on an emotional journey.
In 2015 she released her debut single “Better Than You Left Me,” a ballad that was equal parts tear jerking and empowering. But in the last year Guyton’s music has created a new kind of emotional connection. In March she released “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?,” a stark ballad about the difficulties of growing up in a marginalized group.
Guyton, the only black female country artist signed to a major record label, knows all too well the struggles of being different. In June she shared “Black Like Me” in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Guyton, who was purposeful in not promoting the song so as not to capitalize on the tragedies, released the powerful biographical song detailing the struggle of being black in America as a way of expressing her emotions about the events—the song took off, capturing the pain and outrage of so many Americans. In July she released “Heaven Down Here,” a plea for God’s help in the midst of the ongoing pandemic and the fight for racial equality. The musical trifecta reintroduced Guyton to listeners, giving them a chance to see her at her most authentic and vulnerable.
“We are also in a very trying time in life right now and releasing these songs that are so relevant to the times we are living in has been so special to me,” she says. “It feels so good because honestly these songs came from a place of pain and to know that they can bring healing to others shows that there was a reason I had to go through that. [They] are all songs that came from my own personal experiences in life. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve hurt a lot and it’s been beautiful to put these stories into songs.”
Guyton is about to begin a new beautiful chapter: In August she announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child.
“2020 has been quite the year in so many ways. It’s been so long since I released music. I fought very hard to be here and to finally get that chance means more to me than anyone will ever know or understand,” she says. “But honestly finding out I’m going to be a mom outshines everything. It’s literally the single most important thing in my life right now.”