Country music singer Mickey Guyton is set to sprinkle some Black girl magic at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards). This makes Guyton the first Black woman to host the yearly awards ceremony and she will be sharing the stage with Australian native country singer, Keith Urban.
This will be Urban’s second time hosting the show. He took the reins last year and even played the piano to accompany Guyton’s performance of her critically acclaimed hit, “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?”
Guyton has a lot to celebrate this year. She’s become one of the most celebrated people in the Nashville music community in recent times although she is yet to release a full album.
She is a first-time mom, welcoming her child in February. The singer has been nominated for New Female Artist of the Year for the ACMs and has another nomination for best country solo performance for the ever-timely song “Black Like Me” at this year’s Grammys which will air on Sunday, March 14.
Making another history as the first Black female solo artist to be nominated in the country category at the Grammys, Guyton will perform her nominated song at the ceremony, according to Billboard.
She has become more vocal in recent times on gender and racial issues and her Grammy nomination is for a song that was released at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“As I’ve said before ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’ and it’s such an honor to step onto the ACM stage as the first-ever Black woman to host the show.
“Over the years, the Academy of Country Music has always been a home for me through opportunities both onstage and throughout their work on diversity and inclusion. This is a moment of great significance for me, and I am so thrilled to share it with all the fans.”
In the promotional video for the ACMs, Urban playfully asks Guyton to be his co-host. “I’m beyond thrilled to be co-hosting with my friend Mickey,” said Urban in a statement. “I love that finally, everyone will get to see her infectious energy and uber-creative spirit in full light.”
According to Variety, there are prominent Black male country singers but not so much for Black female country singers. Guyton has been in the game since 2011, working her way into the hearts of country lovers with her outstanding vocals.
Guyton is signed to Capitol Records Nashville. She released a self-titled EP in 2015 which earned her a nomination for her first Academy of Country Music Award for New Female Vocalist in 2016.
Last September, amid the pandemic, Guyton released another EP, “Bridges”, which has the Grammy-nominated “Black Like Me”. The protest-themed song made it to the Top 2020 songs by NPR, Billboard, and Associated Press.
Also making Black history at this year’s ACM Awards are three other artists — first-time nominee John Legend, Kane Brown, and Jimmie Allen.
The 56th ACM Awards will air via CBS on Sunday, April 18, at three different centers in Nashville — the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Café. They were the same venues for last year’s show due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
