‘Catch of the Day’ – Mickey Guyton – “Heartbreak Song” [AUDIO]

Today we feature and artist who was born in Arlington, TX and raised across the Lone Star State, who got her inspiration after seeing LeeAnn Rimes sing the national anthem at a Texas Rangers game. She auditioned for American Idol season 8, making it to Hollywood, but she was cut before the final 24 contestants were decided.

Candace Mycale "Mickey" Guyton's family moved around Texas during her childhood, as her father's engineering career took them around the state. The one constant to her nomadic childhood was music. She began singing gospel music in church at the age of five, and was influenced to a variety of artists, from Dolly Parton to BeBee and CeCe Winans. But it wasn't until she heard LeeAnn Rimes sing the National Anthem at a Texas Rangers game that Mickey began to think singing is what she was meant to do.

With a vocal strength to conquer any music style, Mickey set off to Los Angeles after graduating high school, enrolling at Santa Monica Community College in L.A. Through her L.A. contact, she met producer Julian Raymond, who had worked with Glen Campbell. Raymond put Guyton in contact with Nashville producers Gary Borman and Steve Moir, who had helped to shape the early careers of Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. In 2011, Mickey headed to Nashville, where she signed with Capitol Records Nashville.

While working on her debut EP, Guyton got her first opportunity for national exposure, appearing on an all-star concert at the White House, that included James Taylor, Dierks Bentley, Kris Kristofferson, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker and Lyle Lovett. PBS recorded the show and aired it as part of their In Performance at the White House series. Mickey stole the show with her rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy". During her time working on the EP, Guyton concentrated on writing for the project.

One song that came from those writing session, was a tune Mickey co-wrote with Jennifer Hanson, Jenn Schoot and Nathan Chapman, "Better Than You Left Me". She would release an acoustic EP in March of 2014, followed by "Better Than You Left Me" as her debut single, debuting the song at the Grand Ole Opry on January 10, 2014. It would be release to radio 2 days later, breaking the established record for most first adds to radio station playlists across the nation for a debut single by a new artist. The song inexplicably lost steam though, peaking at #34 on the Billboard Country singles chart.

Guyton then headed back into the studio to work on new music, taking a little time to work with Sam Hunt, recording a guest appearance on his single "Make You Miss Me". New music is on the way from Mickey, and today we have what we are hoping is the lead single from her first full-length album, as yet untitled. Mickey Guyton and "Heartbreak Song" is in our spotlight as today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.