Mickey Guyton’s Parents: Meet Michael Eugene Guyton and Phyllis Ann Roddy

Mickey Guyton, 42, the groundbreaking country artist behind powerful songs like “Black Like Me,” often credits her upbringing for shaping her voice, her values, and her career.

Born Candace Mycale Guyton on June 17, 1983, in Arlington, Texas, she grew up moving around the state—living in places such as Crawford, Arlington, and Waco—because of her father’s engineering job.

She is the second oldest of four children and faced racial discrimination early in life, prompting her parents to transfer her from public to private school.

Her father is Michael Eugene Guyton, and her mother is Phyllis Ann Roddy. Mickey has three siblings, including a younger sister. She is African American and was raised in the Baptist faith, discovering her passion for music while singing in church choirs, including at Mount Olive Baptist Church.

For school, she attended a private high school and later moved to California, where she studied business at Santa Monica College. She is 42 years old.

Mickey met attorney Grant Savoy in 2010 through his stepsister, who also happened to be her best friend. They began dating in 2013, got engaged in November 2016, and married in June 2017 in Kauai, Hawaii, surrounded by 23 close family members and friends. This is her only marriage, and the couple welcomed their son, Grayson Savoy, in February 2021.

Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, Mickey remains deeply rooted in the values she learned growing up—faith, family, and perseverance. Her story cannot be separated from the influence of her parents, who helped shape one of country music’s most important voices.

Michael Eugene Guyton

Michael Eugene Guyton is Mickey Guyton’s father, a steadfast figure in her life who worked as an engineer. Born and raised in the South, Michael provided the family with stability while instilling in his daughter the value of hard work and perseverance.

Mickey has spoken openly about her father’s quiet strength and how he encouraged her dreams—even when a career in country music seemed an unlikely path for a Black woman from Texas.

Growing up, Mickey moved frequently because of her father’s job, living in places like Crawford, Arlington, and Waco, Texas. These moves exposed her to different communities and experiences, but her father remained a constant source of support.

In interviews, she has described him as a loving, no-nonsense dad who taught her to stand tall in the face of adversity—lessons that would later prove invaluable as she broke barriers in Nashville.

Phyllis Ann Roddy

Phyllis Ann Roddy is Mickey Guyton’s mother, the warm, faith-filled heart of the family. A devoted educator and school administrator, Phyllis spent much of her career shaping young minds while raising Mickey and her siblings with a deep sense of spirituality and kindness.

Mickey has frequently highlighted her mother’s role in nurturing her love for music from an early age, taking her to church where she first discovered the power of song through gospel choirs.

Phyllis’ influence runs deep in Mickey’s artistry. The singer has said that many of the emotional layers in her music—especially themes of hope, struggle, and grace—stem from the values her mother instilled in her.

Even as Mickey faced industry rejection and personal challenges, Phyllis remained her biggest cheerleader, offering prayer, encouragement, and unwavering belief in her daughter’s talent.