Mickey Guyton Slays at ACL Fest, Even When Faced with "Free Bird" Hecklers

Who said you couldn't find pure magic performing for the "Today Show" crowd? Despite bright daylight and constant filming, country superstar Mickey Guyton brought transcendence to the Austin City Limits stage. And with a drummer donning shades and showing off mad skills, Guyton's soaring vocals still commanded attention.

The Texas-born, Nashville-made trailblazer knows how to deliver good music. Even her cover of Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” showcased her country prowess. And when Bey took the genre by storm this year, she thanked Guyton with a bouquet and card that read, “Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining” (Source).

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“I grew up in Waco, Texas, so this is such a dream for me,” Guyton told the crowd on Friday afternoon. It was her ACL debut, and she sang about her journey as a Black woman in a white-led genre. Her song “Better Than You Left Me” evolved from a breakup anthem to a story of self-discovery as a mom. Guyton revealed her son’s near-fatal battle with sepsis and her husband’s cancer scare.

Her new single “House on Fire” explored the emotional roller coaster of romance, prompting some misguided soul to yell a “Free Bird!” request. Guyton, cool as ever, responded with a Tina Turner cover instead.

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Guyton’s music sparked singalongs due to its relatability. Whether she was tapping into her wild 20s with “Pretty Little Mustangs” or jesting about the lack of drinking song variety, she owned the stage. “Beer does not do well with my stomach,” she deadpanned. Her solution? A modern brunch anthem, “Rosé All Day.”

So captivating was her set that it even drew a white guy in a Rasta hat with holes in his shirt, proving that even festival hippies can't resist Guyton’s charm. After mandatory “Mickey!” chants, she delivered an encore of “All American,” always the rebel bending the rules.

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