Mickey Guyton, born Candace Mycale Guyton on June 17, 1983, in Arlington, Texas, began singing at the age of five, primarily performing in church choirs. She was inspired to become a singer after watching LeAnn Rimes sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at a Texas Rangers game. While studying business at Santa Monica College in California, she worked as a background vocalist to earn money while in school. Mickey Guyton auditioned for American Idol but did not make it to the live rounds, appearing briefly during her final performance.
In 2011, Guyton met record producer Julian Raymond, who introduced her to country music and helped launch her career after her move to Nashville. That same year, she sang a song by Patty Loveless and was quickly signed to UMG’s Capitol Records Nashville division, becoming the first Black artist in the country genre to be signed to a major record label.
Early in her career, issues regarding her musical identity arose, which led to alcohol abuse and delayed the release of her first EP, Unbreakable, in 2015. Her debut single, “Better Than You Left Me,” earned her an Academy of Country Music award. In 2020, Guyton released a response song to the George Floyd protests, “Black Like Me,” which addressed her experiences as a Black woman in country music.
“Black Like Me” furthered her career and resulted in her first Grammy nomination, making her the first Black woman nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category. Her latest and debut album, Remember Her Name, was released in 2021.
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