AceShowbiz - Mickey Guyton was overcome with emotion as she accepted the Breakout Artist of the Year honour during the 2021 CMT Artists of the Year gala on Wednesday night (13Oct21).

Clutching her impressive trophy, Mickey told the audience at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee, "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window, and in my case, he shattered a whole glass ceiling. Three years ago this was not even a possibility for me, and I'd completely given up on myself and my dream to sing a genre of music that I hold so close to my heart."

"It wasn't until I had a conversation with my husband and he told me to be authentically me - unapologetically - and write from my experience as a Black woman living in America. It changed my life and I made it my life's purpose to show that country music really is everyone's music. If you just take a moment and step outside of yourselves, you will see and hear some of the most beautiful music that you'll ever hear from so many amazing people."

Dedicating the award to those she wants to inspire to confidently follow their ambitions, Mickey, who also performed at the event, continued, "So to that little seven-year-old Black girl at home, to that indigenous boy, to that LGBTQIA+ teen, and that Latino boy or girl, and anyone marginalised and unseen - and yes, even to the haters on social media - this is for you. I am here for you. I am my sister's keeper."

Other honourees at the event included Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton, while Garth Brooks presented the Artist of a Lifetime award to Randy Travis.