Mickey Guyton's achieved quite a few firsts in her career, from becoming the first Black woman nominated for a Grammy award in a solo country category (Best Country Solo Performance for "Black Like Me") to an historic co-hosting gig alongside Keith Urban for the upcoming 2021 ACM Awards. It's as if just about everyone in the music industry but country radio tastemakers rightfully uplift Guyton as a top-tier vocalist and songwriter.
Guyton signed her first big-label deal in 2011 with UMG Capitol Records' Nashville division. At the time, she was the only Black woman signed to a major country music label. Three years later, we got her first EP, the download-only Unbreakable. A self-titled EP followed in 2015. It featured her first song to make waves, "Better Than You Left Me." Though that and "Heartbreak" song built some momentum for Guyton, she had yet to fins her own voice due to industry pressures.
With a new decade came a new focus on more personal storytelling, as heard on the 2020 EP Bridges. Its first two singles, "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" and "Black Like Me," upped Guyton's profile because of their socio-political themes— and because they were great country songs. Her debut album, 2021's Remember Her Name, built on that momentum and raised a valid question: how did the industry whiff on sharing a Guyton album with the masses throughout the prior 10 years?
Whether you're new to Guyton's music or have been along for the ride for years, check out this playlist of the Arlington, Texas native's five best country songs to date.
Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Since her breakthrough album, Guyton has continued to release memorable singles. Take for instance this gorgeous, R&B-inspired duet with one of the best at such material, Kane Brown. Debra L Rothenberg/Wireimage Guyton belts out this empowerment anthem that wouldn't sound out of place in Carrie Underwood's catalog. It's about being the type of good friend who's always willing to lend sage advice and a listening ear. NDZ/Star Max/GC Images Although it's known for its more socially-aware songs, Remember Her Name is a country and pop variety platter. Indeed, one of its best moments comes via this old-fashioned love song. Derek White/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Another album selection that shows Guyton's range when it comes to making us all feel every word of songs about varying topics, this one's for the end of the night when the lights get turned way down low. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images A deeper cut from Guyton's debut album, "Indigo" belongs in the same discussion as her better-known material for being a powerful and compelling plea for acceptance and equality. Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Guyton celebrates being from small-town Texas on a song about memories from back home that makes a valid point: just about all of us have experienced comparable joys in that setting, not just the usual "bro country" suspects. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert Guyton's most recent single as of March 8 (its release date), she triumphs once again over social pressures and the insecurities. It's big, bold and ready for inclusion in a blockbuster motion picture. John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT/ViacomCBS Before "Woman" came this even more powerful statement on inequalities that are based on gender identity. It's one of the anchors of Guyton's debut long player. John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA An encouragement of loving yourself even when you don't fit in, "Different" carries as much meaning as the album's singles. Plus it's fun because of a pop vibe that's more akin to Meghan Trainor than anything from country radio regulars. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images "Love My Hair" follows "Different" on the album's tracklist and on our countdown. It's similar thematically, though this time, Guyton hones in more on her experience as a Black woman in America. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concerts Start with this snap-along song about building metaphorical bridges between people with political and social differences. It's not another paint-by-numbers "why can't we all just get along?" plea. Instead, Guyton admits there's a lot of work to be done, but it's necessary to improve our country and country music. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Guyton started strong out the gate with this, her debut single for Capitol Records Nashville. Guyton and co-writers Jennifer Hanson, Jen Schott and Nathan Chapman update the classic country story of a woman who's able to see how a failed relationship made her a better person. Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images Guyton juggles personal faith and the doubt that's inevitable when reminded of other folks' Earthly struggles with this Don Williams-esque prayer for a better day than yesterday. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation At a young age, Guyton saw LeAnn Rimes' success as a teenager as a sign that she, too, could become a country artist. Beyond country stardom being a harder climb than any child might assume, the obstacles faced by women in the country music business have proven time and again to be even crueler to Black women. With this powerful song, Guyton asks how she'd even begin to tell a young, Black dreamer that hard work only means so much on an uneven playing field. Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Guyton's embrace of country music's "three chords and the truth" roots brought us this instant classic, released while George Floyd's murder and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 dominated headlines. It, too, tells harsh truths about the discrimination and heartbreak Guyton's faced while chasing her country star dreams."Nothing Compares to You" (With Kane Brown) (Single, 2023)
"Sister" (Single, 2019)
"Lay It On Me" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Dancing in the Living Room" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Indigo" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"All American" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Woman" (Single, 2024)
"If I Were a Boy" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Different" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Love My Hair" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
5. "Bridges" (Bridges EP, 2020)
"Better Than You Left Me" (Mickey Guyton EP, 2015)
"Heaven Down Here" (Bridges EP, 2020)
"What Are You Gonna Tell Her" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
"Black Like Me" (Remember Her Name, 2021)
Editor's Note: This story originally ran on March 12, 2021.
