Country star Mickey Guyton recently shared the shockingly personal bombshell that she went into premature labor in light of the relentless backlash she received after her public condemnation of Morgan Wallen for his use of a racial slur in 2021. A video captured in 2021 showed Wallen using the N-word, leading to his sudden and intense censure throughout the entertainment industry. However, Guyton became the target of hate and online harassment for the most vocal response from a Black artist looking to take a stand within the predominately white country music scene.
Guyton on Wallen Controversy
Country singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton has been recognized for some time as one of the louder voices in country music when it comes to issues of inclusion and diversity in the genre and is one of a handful of artists who came out hard against Wallen when the video surfaced of him uttering a racial slur. “This is not his first time using that ‘unacceptable’ racial slur, and we all know that,” she said on Twitter. She questioned the leniency of the industry towards the behavior by being highly outspoken; the criticism for this was immense, including hate comments and threats for speaking up, which later she admitted took a severe emotional toll on her.
The Toll on Her Health and Early Labor
Guyton recently spoke in an interview with “The Breakfast Club” about how the pressure from the backlash weighed on her mental and physical health and eventually led her to go into early labor. She stated she had been bedridden, clinging to her family, feeling overwhelmed by the onslaught of negativity. Her son Grayson was born prematurely—only days after the controversy unfolded. She spoke in her interviews about the psychic toll taken by speaking out about racism in a genre that often rewards such speech with wholesale resistance.
Progress and Resilience
Guyton remains optimistic about the subtle changes in the country music industry. She pointed out that while it is very slow, she had started to see more and more Black artists find a home on country music stages- her stage, in particular at major events like the CMA Fest. That growing representation, though within limited parameters, does give her hope that the country is getting more inclusive.
Her courage in battling both that hate and the larger issues of racism within the industry is only a symptom of her true grit. Guyton has continued speaking out on her behalf and on behalf of future generations of Black Country artists. “It’s not done,” she says, “but the fact that there are more diverse voices in country music than at any other point in history means the efforts are paying off.”
Industry Response and Continued Controversy
The response to Wallen’s scandal within country music was very divided. While several radio stations removed his songs from their playlists, he was temporarily suspended from his record label; he saw an instantaneous resurgence in his career as album sales surged. This sparked debate about accountability and the way the industry treats artists of color. The fallout of the Wallen incident only seemed, for Guyton, to drive home what happens to Black artists when they speak out against a racism problem in country music.
Guyton’s story represents the very active and ongoing conversations about the pressures that come along with asking for diversity in a genre not welcoming to change. While the racial dynamics in country music are gradually shifting, the resistance faced by artists such as Guyton is representative of problems deeply entrenched.
