American singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton is no stranger to breaking barriers in the music industry. As an African-American woman in country music, she defied expectations by grabbing three Grammy nominations in 2020 for her hit song "Black Like Me", making her the first black female solo artist to be nominated in a country category. But her journey took an unexpected and transformative turn in 2025 when she joined the popular Chinese reality show, The Singer.
Her participation not only won the hearts of Chinese fans but also marked a personal and professional turning point, offering a unique cross-cultural experience that deeply impacted her and her young son.
Guyton, who was in China for a whirlwind 19-day tour from Jan 23 to Feb 1, visiting Beijing, Chengdu in Sichuan province, Shenzhen in Guangdong province, and Shanghai, shared her journey during an exclusive interview with China Daily, recounting the ups and downs of her time on the show.
"Being on The Singer was one of the craziest, yet life-changing experiences for me," Guyton says in Beijing on Jan 22. "It was breathtaking and beautiful to experience China and the Chinese people. I'm forever changed and love it here so much."
