Executives at the Academy of Country Music say that after they saw Mickey Guyton’s performance at the 2020 ACM Awards, they made the choice to ask her to host… almost immediately.
That night she gave a commanding performance with solo host, Keith Urban accompanying her on piano. That night marked the first performance on the ACMs stage from a solo Black female artist.
This statement from the Academy: “It was so powerful watching Keith play piano for her. We were so moved by it. Literally, right after that, we were like, 'We've got to ask her to host with Keith next year.”
Next month, Mickey will make history once again: This time, as the first Black woman ever to host the show, and the first Black artist overall to do so since Charley Pride did in 1984.