Mickey Guyton Reveals Her 'Biggest Fear' About Being a Successful Black Woman in Country Music (Exclusive)

• Mickey Guyton spoke with PEOPLE about the newfound light of black country music this year at the 2024 BET Awards.
• The country star expressed her “fear” that spotlighting black artists in her genre will become a “fad” in the future
• Guyton also asked fans to continue to support and stream music from black country artists

Mickey Guyton is thrilled that people are finally catching on to the wave of black country music this year, but she also fears the newfound attention.

On Sunday, June 30, the four-time Grammy-nominated singer, 41, hit the red carpet at the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles for the first time to talk about the close attention black country music has witnessed over the past year.

“I was actually really emotional about it,” Guyton tells PEOPLE of attending her first BET Awards. “AND [I] try not to cry just because it was really cool to watch, you know, country music. Black country comes to the table and watches black people and culture embrace us. It’s something that was so needed and it’s just a beautiful thing to see.”

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The Remember her name The artist doubled down on a breakout year for black country artists, especially black women, while also acknowledging those who were culturally engaged in the genre years before Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter the album attracted more attention.

“We’ve been here,” Guyton adds. “Finally everyone has arrived at the party and that’s fine. But it’s wonderful that people are finally seeing it and recognizing it.”

Mickey Guyton at the 2024 BET Awards at the Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles.

Gilbert Flores/ Billboard via Getty

While Guyton reflected on the mainstream attention for black country music, she also expressed the downside of it potentially becoming a temporary trend.

“I think the biggest — it’s not necessarily the downside — it’s more the fear,” she said bluntly. “I’m afraid it’s going to, like, I don’t know, disappear.”

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“Like, I don’t want it to be a fad,” the country songwriter continues. “I want it to be something that is here and that will last, and the culture gravitates, and more artists stay and move here. That’s my biggest fear. And so I think it’s important that you ask that question so that people who are watching this know [to] be intentional with your streaming and support, especially black artists and country music — no matter who it is.”

“It’s so important to support us and really, really show up,” concludes Guyton, “because we can’t do this without listeners.”

Mickey Guyton performs on stage during the Global Citizen Prize event at Spring Studios on May 1, 2024 in New York City.

Noam Galai/Getty

Black country music got some late bloomers at the 2024 BET Awards, with breakout artist Shaboozey headlining and rising star Tanner Adell taking the BET Amplified Stage on Sunday. Although neither was nominated for an award, Beyoncé’s chart-topping country hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” took home the viewers’ choice award, while her ballad “16 Carriages” won the BET Her Award.

Earlier this month, Guyton performed at CMA Fest 2024 alongside stars such as Luke Bryan, Shaboozey, Adell, Old Dominion and more. A month earlier, she hit the Keep Memory Alive stage at the 27th annual Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas honoring Blake Shelton.

At the event, the “Home Movies” singer told PEOPLE about the moment she thought she was being pranked after hearing Beyoncé wanted to thank her for her contributions to country music, especially as a black artist, before releasing Cowboy Carter.

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“Some people called me. They were like, ‘Hey, Beyoncé wants to contact you.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?'” the country star recalled. “I didn’t even think it was real. She got my address and sent me beautiful flowers and that really meant a lot to me.”

Guyton recalled not only receiving flowers from Queen Bey, but also a sweet note that read, “Mickey, thank you for opening the door for me, Queen. Keep shining. Love and respect, Beyoncé.”

“It was really cool to be recognized,” she added to PEOPLE. “You don’t understand how when you become an activist, which was never my intention, it comes at a price. Mental health can be one of those things, and to have someone like her acknowledge that and say thank you, it really, really meant a lot.”

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Source: HIS Education