Country musician Mickey Guyton recently reflected on the role of family and Christianity in shaping her journey to fame and how her faith drives her to be the voice for marginalized communities. In an interview with The Christian Post, the Grammy-nominated singer shared that she attended church twice a week while growing up in Texas and sang in the youth choir.
Popular ’90s television shows like “Psalty the Singing Songbook” and “Adventures in Odyssey” were formative parts of her childhood. When she moved to Nashville and started her venture in the music industry, inspired by country legends like LeeAnn Rimes, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers, her faith played an inevitable role.
Guyton said, “Faith was a huge part of my life and always has been, and being in the industry that is so fickle, that is so hard, and especially the angle I took, I really like standing up for people, no matter who it is, anybody that felt marginalized, I’m standing up for them, that comes with a huge responsibility.” She continued, “It was my faith in God that helped me. A lot of the things, that’s my approach, I really believe He was speaking through me because there are some times I would hear interviews, and I’m like, ‘I don’t recall saying that.’ So, it was definitely an out-of-body experience sometimes.”
As TIME Magazine’s 2022 breakthrough artist of the year, Guyton is known for mixing traditional country sounds with contemporary tunes, reflecting her experiences. In February, she performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl and became the first Black nominee for Best Country Album at the Grammy’s in the award’s history. In 2020, she made history as the first Black female artist to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards, where she sang her powerful anthem, “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” to critical acclaim.
Guyton said her faith and “beautiful home life” with her husband and son keep her grounded despite the accolades. She said that as she faced the uncertainty of a booming career and balancing motherhood, her son brought “so many blessings.” Guyton added, “I couldn’t stop the opportunities from coming into my life, and I think it was because of my son. God gave me him. He’s such a precious kid, and seeing him smile every day, the world can be crazy around you. But the endorphins you get from just seeing your baby smile — there’s nothing like it. The closest thing to God’s love, in my personal opinion, is our love for our kids. And that grounds me for sure.”
Guyton was recently part of the Apple TV+ show “My Kind of Country,” produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves. The show is a singing competition that follows a documentary-style approach, featuring artists worldwide. As one of the show’s scouts, Guyton, Jimmy Allen, and Orville Peck traveled the globe to find the next big superstar.
Guyton, who is gearing up for a tour with country star Shania Twain, said she’s excited to continue opening the doors for other artists. And as she continues to make her mark on the world of country music, the songstress said she remains committed to using her voice to stand up for those who need it most.