Mickey Guyton on Family, Freedom & Finding Her Voice

On Independence Day, the “unintentional activist” is all about tradition — especially when it comes to food

- by JOANNA POWELL

It's well before dawn in China when we ping Mickey Guyton, who's there to compete on Singer 2025, a popular vocal competition airing on Hunan Television. But the Nashville dynamo appears unfazed by the 13-hour time difference. Speaking by phone, she's positively upbeat about her stint in Asia, raving about the climate's glowy effect on her skin — and the way Chinese culture honors children and the elderly. Plus, “You can even go for a walk at midnight and not worry about being kidnapped!” the country artist enthuses.

Life has been a whirlwind since Guyton, 42, broke out with her soul-stirring single “Black Like Me” in 2020. The tender but piercing ballad about racial alienation became the surprise touchstone she'd been looking for during a decade of relative obscurity.