Speaking on the matter, Guyton told AP, “That was such a frustrating thing for me to have to deal with, because if I were white with blonde hair and green or blue or brown eyes, it wouldn’t even be a question.” The Texas born singer has had to deal with those questioning her identity and the genre of music she chose.
Mickey also performed solo at the ACM Awards, becoming the first African American woman ever to do that. Its success gained her a nomination in the ACM’s New Female Vocalist of the Year. And there could be more to come! We’ll have to wait until next month to see what the talent on The Voice looks like for Season 16.Mickey Guyton released her debut single “Better Than You Left Me.” “Better Than You Left Me” placed number 56 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart of January 2015. Between artists like Kane Brown and Jimmie Allen, along with Kirk Jay, Spensha Baker, and Keisha Renee, the future of success for black country singers is looking bright.
For country music, this diversity is much needed. So from the progression, it’s looking like a black country artist could be in line to win any time now! But more than that, it is amazing that they have been represented more on The Voice than basically any other talent competition show ever. He sang with Rascal Flatts in the Finale, the artist who sings the song he covered in his audition. Jennifer Hudson even told Kirk he “made a true country fan out of me!” Kirk made it all the way to the Finale, where he somehow finished in third, despite many fans thinking he could win it all. Kirk impressed the coaches and audience alike with his distinctly country tone and music choice. After turning four chairs in his Blind Audition, he brought it week after week. Kirk Jay was on the most recent season of The Voice and was an early favorite to win it all! He grew up extremely poor in Alabama but he has always had a love for country music from being raised in the South. She made her way into the Finale, finishing in fourth place. But from the Battles on, Spensha was all country, singing everything from Chris Stapleton to Little Big Town to Kacey Musgraves. So she came on The Voice to try to make it again, this time in country music! Kelly and Blake turned for her Blind Audition of “Blackbird” by The Beatles. The timing wasn’t right for Spensha in her early teens. After signing with Interscope records and gaining a love for country music, she and her mom moved back to Texas due to the pressure of the music industry.
(Are you starting to see a trend here?) She grew up on military bases singing gospel music. And she did just that! Keisha made it to the Top 8. Keisha even spent some time as a backup singer for Nicki Minaj! But she was on the show to prove that she could be a country star. She didn’t have many opportunities in country music though, since most people said she was better suited for pop or R&B music. Keisha said that gospel music was her foundation, but she fell in love with country music when she moved to Houston after high school. She appeared on Season 13 of the show and joined Team Blake after all four chairs turned for her in the Blind Auditions. Keisha Renee was the first black country artist to really make an impact on The Voice.