Country singer Mickey Guyton will be the first Black woman to host this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. Set to air on Sunday, April 18, Guyton will be joining fellow country artist Keith Urban to co-host the biggest night in country music. The last Black person to host the ACMs was the late Charley Pride in 1984.
“Last year I had the opportunity to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards with someone I long admired, Keith Urban, and this year I am incredibly excited to share hosting duties with him,” said Guyton in the announcement. “As I’ve said before ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’ and it’s such an honor to step onto the ACM stage as the first-ever Black woman to host the show.
“Over the years, the Academy of Country Music has always been a home for me through opportunities both onstage and throughout their work on diversity and inclusion. This is a moment of great significance for me and I am so thrilled to share it with all the fans.”
You may remember Guyton’s riveting performance of her single, “Black Like Me” at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards back in March. As she sang in her gold, sequined gown, Twitter users (many of which were unfamiliar with her) showered the first-time Grammy-nominated country star with plaudits.
Although Guyton will be serving as host, she’s been nominated for the ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year award and will be taking the stage for another performance. She’ll be among the 25 artists slated to perform on stage, including fellow Black country artist Kane Brown (who will join Chris Young for a number) and gospel icon CeCe Winans (who will take the stage alongside Carrie Underwood). You can find the full list of performers and presenters here.
Produced by dick clark productions, the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards kicks off Sunday, 8 pm ET on CBS and Paramount+ live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe.
Catch her sit-down interview with Gayle King on CBS This Morning.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7t7XBnmWcp51ku6bD0micp6yVp8Gitc2mnKesX6K2pLfEsmSgrampvK95wJykZpmnlr%2Blv4yfoKurpGKvra3CpGShp6OpenJ%2Bkm1tanBobH9w