Mickey Guyton Reveals Her 'Biggest Fear' About Being a Successful Black Woman in Country Music (Exclusive)

• Mickey Guyton spoke to PEOPLE about the newfound spotlight on Black country music this year at the 2024 BET Awards
• The country star expressed "fear" about the attention on Black artists in her genre becoming a "fad" in the future
• Guyton also asked that fans continue to support and stream Black country artists' music

Mickey Guyton is elated that people are finally catching onto the Black country music wave this year, but she’s also fearful of the newfound attention.

On Sunday, June 30, the four-time Grammy-nominated singer, 41, hit the red carpet at the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles for the first time and spoke about the close spotlight she’s witnessed on Black country music over the past year.

“I've been actually really emotional about it,” Guyton tells PEOPLE of attending her first BET Awards. “And [I] try not to cry just cause it's been really cool to see, you know, country music. Black country coming to the table and watching Black people and the culture embrace us. It's something that has been so needed, and it's just a beautiful thing to see.” 

The Remember Her Name artist doubled down on the breakthrough year for Black country artists, Black women especially, while also acknowledging those who put on for the culture in the genre years before Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album brought more eyes to it. 

“We've been here,” Guyton adds. “Everybody finally has arrived to the party, and that's okay. But it's beautiful that people are finally seeing it and recognizing it.”

As Guyton reflected on Black country music’s mainstream attention, she also expressed the disadvantage of it potentially becoming a temporary trend.

"I think the biggest — it's not necessarily a downside — it's more of a fear," she shares transparently. "I'm scared that, like, I don't know, it'll go away."

“Like, I don't want it to be a fad,” the country songwriter continues. “I want it to be something that is here and lasting to stay, and the culture gravitates, and more artists still stay and pivot here. That's my biggest fear. And so I think it's important that you ask that question so that people watching this know [to] please be intentional with your streaming and your support, especially with Black artists and country music — no matter who it is.”

“It's so important to support us and really, really show up,” Guyton concludes, “because we can't do this without the listeners.”

Black country music got some of its overdue flowers at the 2024 BET Awards, with breakout artist Shaboozey as a main performer and rising star Tanner Adell hitting the BET Amplified Stage on Sunday. While neither were nominated for awards, Beyoncé’s chart-topping country hit "Texas Hold ‘Em” took home the viewer’s choice award, while her “16 Carriages” ballad earned a nod for the BET Her award.

Earlier this month, Guyton performed at CMA Fest 2024 along with stars like Luke Bryan, Shaboozey, Adell, Old Dominion and many more. The month prior, she hit the stage at Keep Memory Alive’s 27th Annual Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas to honor Blake Shelton.

At the event, the "Home Movies" vocalist told PEOPLE about the moment she thought she was being pranked after hearing that Beyoncé wanted to thank her for her contributions to country music, particularly as a Black artist, before releasing Cowboy Carter.

“I had some people call me. They were like, ‘Hey, Beyoncé wants to get ahold of you.’ I'm like, ‘Wait, what?’” the country star remembered. “I didn't even think it was real. She got my address and sent me some beautiful flowers, and it really meant a lot to me.”

Guyton recalled not only receiving flowers from Queen Bey but also a sweet note that read, "Mickey, Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining. Love and respect, Beyoncé.”

“It was just really cool to be acknowledged," she added to PEOPLE. "You don't realize how when you become an activist, which was never my intention, it comes with a price. Mental health can be one of those things, and to have someone like her acknowledge that and say thank you, it really, really meant a lot.”