Country singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton made history (again!) as the first Black woman to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards, which is in its 55th year.
On Wednesday night inside the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Guyton performed a stirring rendition of “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” with Keith Urban backing her on piano. And she did it all while expecting a baby. Talk about a superwoman!
After her performance, Guyton took to social media to not only thank her team for preparing her for such a historic evening, but she also thanked the country music community for “embracing me and giving me this opportunity. I love you guys so much.”
Guyton credits another history-making Black country singer, Rissi Palmer, for giving her the courage to sing the music she loves. (When she debuted with “Country Girl” in 2007, Palmer became the first Black to chart with a country song since 1987.)
“I just want to take a minute and thank @RissiPalmer I would have never had the courage to pursue country music if I had never seen you representing in country music before me,” Guyton wrote on Twitter. “This is all because of you sis. Your courage gave me courage. Love you.”
So many from the country music community, including Shania Twain, praised Guyton’s performance on social media.
Still, this isn’t the first time Guyton made history at the ACM Awards. Back in 2016, she became the first Black woman nominated for the New Female Vocalist of the Year.
Congrats!