Mickey Guyton Triumphs at ACL Fest, Defying Genre Norms

Performing at the "Today Show" can be challenging, with the daylight and constant filming. But for country singer Mickey Guyton, success comes from powerful music and soaring vocals, as evident in her ACL Fest performance.

Guyton, a Texas-born and Nashville-made artist, found her love for country while covering Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy.” When Beyoncé later acknowledged her impact on the genre, she sent Guyton a bouquet and thank you card, expressing her gratitude.

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"I grew up in Waco, Texas, so this is such a dream for me," Guyton told the crowd at Austin City Limits on Friday. It was her first appearance at the festival.

Guyton shared her journey as a Black woman in a predominantly white genre, singing about her struggles and triumphs. Her song “Better Than You Left Me” started as a breakup anthem but evolved into a personal discovery piece, touching on her experiences as a mother and her family's health battles.

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Despite her deeply personal lyrics, Guyton's music sparked rampant singalongs, blending relatability with big pop-country hooks. Songs like “House on Fire” delved into the emotional roller coaster of relationships, while “Pretty Little Mustangs” celebrated the wildness of youth.

Guyton's set was both humorous and heartfelt. She quipped about writing drinking songs—a challenge in a genre where tequila and whiskey are well-covered territories, noting fellow performer Chris Stapleton's “Tennessee Whiskey.” After mocking the overdone "Free Bird" requests, she covered Tina Turner instead.

“How did nobody write ‘Rosé All Day?’” she joked before launching into her hit “Rosé.”

Guyton's positivity and charm even drew in a quirky festival-goer in a Rasta hat, a symbol of the fest's diverse crowd. She finished with an encore of “All American,” defying standard stage decorum and embracing her rebel spirit.

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