As the Grammy-adorned artist, Mickey Guyton graced the inaugural evening of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with her chart-topping anthem, "All American." When the DNC organizers extended an invitation for her to perform this unifying masterpiece on the opening night, her acceptance was a foregone conclusion. "They perceived it as a song that binds us all, and I was honored to oblige," Guyton shared with The Hollywood Reporter moments after her captivating performance on Monday night. "I considered it the utmost privilege."
Standing as the inaugural musical act at the United Center in Chicago, with Jason Isbell set to follow later in the evening, Guyton's performance set the tone for a night that not only showcased the party's endorsement of Kamala Harris and her vice presidential running mate, Tim Walz, but also fiercely criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump's policies while painting a hopeful picture of their potential presidency.
It was this vision of progress, coupled with the historic prospect of electing the nation's first female president, and even more significantly, its first female president of color, that drew Guyton to the convention. With her upcoming album poised for a September release, she expressed profound sentiments. "I never imagined witnessing the dawn of a female presidency in my lifetime, and now, it's within reach," Guyton enthused. "Moreover, she's a woman of color—a radiant, biracial Black woman who's an Alpha Kappa Alpha alumna and a graduate of a prestigious Black college. She embodies everything I admire in a person. She's breaking barriers, and it's nothing short of astonishing."
Rehearsing with the Rickey Minor-led house band and the DNC's production team earlier in the afternoon, Guyton could palpably sense the "joy" permeating the crew, many of whom she had collaborated with on prestigious award shows before. "Witnessing the vitality within the production, I saw their eyes sparkle with excitement," she recounted. "Amidst the usual exhaustion that often accompanies such endeavors, there was a renewed sense of hope, determination, and exhilaration. That's precisely what I'm eagerly anticipating for the next three days."
