Mickey Guyton and Dierks Bentley preview the 56th annual ACM Awards on The Nashville Countdown on Apple Music Country. The two discuss the importance of seeing women in influential roles in music and reconnect over their first time meeting at the White House performing for former president Barack Obama. They also discuss their love for Breland, LeAnn Rimes, and Dolly Parton. Mickey talks about her experience on the ACM diversity task force, and that “things are changing” for women and BIPOC in country music.
Mickey Guyton talks about what to expect at the ACMs
GUYTON: You know the theme of the ACMs is really wanting to empower and have fun and show love. We’re at such a weird time in 2021. Still so much is going on in the world with the pandemic, but we just want to make people happy for the night and to feel good. And to feel the love that really is within the country music community. So I’m so excited. I’m performing, I’m hosting with Keith Urban. Like what? That’s Nicole Kidman’s husband.
BENTLEY: I want Nicole Kidman’s husband. HE must be doing something right to be married to her, right?
GUYTON: Right? I mean, I just say I’m like one step closer to being her best friend. So you know, I’m just this whenever she’s ready Nicole. Hey I’m here.
BENTLEY: I bet I have a feeling you guys will become great friends throughout this ACM process.
Mickey Guyton talks about performing at the ACMs
GUYTON: I’m performing at the ACMs I’m so excited about this like again, two years ago this was not even a possibility. So, I’m just beyond grateful but it’s just going to be a really strong, empowering performance like just feeling free. But I’m really excited that I think will really uplift people in these times.
BENTLEY: I’m not sure where it says you’re performing from but I saw in 2013 at the Ryman stage for CRS when you perform from that audience there ‘Better Than You Left Me,’ and I remember you getting a standing ovation and so you’re pretty good at delivering the big powerful performances for sure.
Dierks and Mickey on Leann Rimes and Dolly Parton
BENTLEY: So your first concert I think it was, I think it says, I’m reading here, it says what was it about watching a 10-year-old LeAnn Rimes sing at Texas Rangers baseball park that made you think you know, ‘I can do this, I want to do this one day.’”
GUYTON: You know it’s so crazy ’cause now it’s all about you see it you can be it and that’s the campaign everywhere. But back then that wasn’t really a campaign, but I just remember seeing this girl with a strong beautiful voice that I felt was me in her. And I was just like, that’s what I want to do. I was so I remember hearing her sing and instead I was jealous of it ’cause I was like I wanna do that, like I was so enamored by her. And yeah and Dolly Parton, my grandmother was a huge Dolly Parton fan so she would have Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers duet VHS tapes hanging on the back of her door. So, both of those women are just.
BENTLEY: That feeling, I mean I remember where I was when I heard one song in particular and everything clicked. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was 17 was like whoa that’s what I was meant to be doing and whether it worked out or not, you know wasn’t even the goal or the mission. I know I was supposed to be pursuing this. And that’s what I have to do and it was not about even trying to be successful but more just trying to listen to your to inner voice and not deny it and go after something crazy like being a country singer.
GUYTON: Yeah it’s so important and so crazy how your destiny is chosen for you right? It wasn’t like I thought I would, I sang in the church choir, and that was it, like I didn’t think anything other than just it’s what I have to do. And then I saw her sing and it was like that’s it. It’s so wild.
Dierks and Mickey talk meeting at the White House
GUYTON: You know the first time we like met with you know the first time that we like met was at the White House and in 2011 is that not wild?
BENTLEY: Yeah I know performing for the president! I mean, you’ve been doing this for a long time. You’re in the new artist category but you’ve been out there doing this for like a decade. Better late than never.
GUYTON: You know thank God black don’t crack because people will really know my age then, my God seriously. And I was old then so I’m like really old now.
BENTLEY: No you look beautiful, and they call it a 10 year town, and you are living proof of that.
GUYTON: It’s true.
BENTLEY: It truly can be a 10-year process. It’s unbelievable yeah.
GUYTON: It’s true it’s just you gotta keep pounding the pavement, and that’s what I try to tell everybody don’t ever give up even when it’s hard. They God I didn’t.
