Mickey Guyton has broken many barriers within the contemporary country music scene. When she joined Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records Nashville division in 2011, she became the primary Black woman country music singer to sign to a significant label. And in 2020, she became the primary Black woman to perform on the Academy of Country Music Awards and the primary Black woman to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for her song “Black Like Me.”

But just like the title of her Grammy-nominated song suggests, being the just one to occupy these spaces could be isolating, which is what made acting at this yr’s ESSENCE Fest so significant for Guyton, who headlined the annual festival of culture in Latest Orleans this past fourth of July weekend.

“That was truly such a special moment,” Guyton told ESSENCE on the ESPY red carpet. “I used to be so emotional about that because I’ve spent my whole profession, really, in spaces with people who don’t really appear to be me. And I remember just sitting there and just…it was really emotional for me. I felt like I used to be at home.”

Being comfortable in latest spaces is something Guyton could have to proceed getting used to as her star keeps on rising. For her, even acting at this yr’s ESPY Awards got here as a little bit of a surprise. “I’m like, what the hell am I doing here?” she said of what it felt wish to sing on the annual event that recognizes athletic achievement on the skilled level. “I just can’t consider I’m here and so they selected me.”

Try our full red carpet interview with Mickey Guyton within the video above.