The Emmy Award-winning musical journalist turned singer continues her whirlwind year with an album featuring her biggest hit to date, ‘Flying,’ but fans can also expect collaborations with Alessia Cara, Dua Lipa and Tegan & Sara.
Married to artist Isaac Petrich, the mother of twins and a member of the Stellar Award-winning band Family People, she’s at home with her children, husbands and family and her homegirl shares some family life with us.
J’Ouverté: How have things been going, what’s life been like?
Mickey Guyton: I’m living a life right now that I never imagined would be possible when I was a little kid that dreams really do come true. Everything just keeps hitting this road and I’m so blown away by it all.
J: You’re nominated for a Grammy Awards for the first time ever.
MG: I was a huge fan of Rascal Flatts and then when I grew up and moved away from Nashville, I had T.J and Joe [Don Rooney] on the radio all the time. I loved the way they made dance songs and even though I didn’t like country music, I didn’t like it was my job and I respected that. You can’t be against that. It is what it is and it is what it is and music doesn’t have to be a taboo. We can speak on what we love but also make something that we don’t.
J: Your album, Flying, is new and growing and a new taste of your music.
MG: I loved the album but I knew that it needed to be fresher for people. I started looking around for the next thing and I just said, “This is the thing.” I got back in the studio and was looking and listening for the next thing and the first thing that came to mind was ‘Flying.’ I know people know the hook, it’s one of my biggest hits right now but when I wrote that, I thought, “This can’t be like my first song.” It has to grow and keep growing. So I had to go write some other songs and bring in some other people and expand it and go to Nashville and start on the next thing but that was kind of a challenge. I had three songs written and I had to go write a new one. That was hard, trying to find a song. Then when you get to write a new song that’s out of your comfort zone and pushes yourself, that’s pretty exciting.
J: This album has so many collaborations you’ve worked with so far.
MG: I’ve worked with Alessia Cara so many times now and Dua Lipa. We’ve worked on three records together.
J: Tegan & Sara has been so nice too.
MG: Tegan & Sara was like, “You wanna write a song?” and I was like, “What do you mean? I wrote a song with them and it was an incredible experience.” That’s something that definitely is gonna happen more and I’m excited for it. Dixie Chicks, I’ve worked with them before and I was playing the song ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ with them and they ended up adding on that part of it. They really seem to get it and I’m really thankful for their support. But then I also got a surprise! Me and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band worked on a song together for a second time. My husband also loves the Dixie Chicks and I was like, “This is so neat and could be really cool.”
J: Just yesterday, I saw the video for your song ‘Yall Wanna Dance.’ It’s such a ballad, very memorable but you’re already working on the next record.
MG: To be perfectly honest, I’m more of a party kind of girl but at the same time I have to be aware that the people that will listen to my next project will be just as in love with it as the people who listened to my first one. I’m trying to find the balance between the career and trying to make this person happy. I just had some babies and they’re so happy. Sometimes you just gotta go, “No! Make this person happy!”
J: You’ve been on a real whirlwind!
MG: I feel like I won the lottery and the piano I have when I write, I can’t seem to get it out of my car. I’ll put it on my laptop and record. I can’t leave this thing alone. [laughs]