Mickey Guyton Interview with Andy Hnilo

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Andy Nilo show. This is my good friend Mickey Guyden.

Hi.

This is really cool for me.

I love me some Andy Nilo.

Hey, right back at you. The feeling is absolutely mutual. I've had the pleasure of knowing you since like you just said the come up. Since we were working together at Abercrombie. You know, that's. That is such a. It's an interesting thing because a lot of people, that particular store, the Grove flagship. Abercrombie. Abercrombie store. Had a lot of people that are. That are doing a lot of different awesome things right now. I mean, well, yeah, I mean, you know yourself. And they're. Yeah. Who's that?

AJ.

Yeah, AJ's doing. Well, I mean, a lot, A lot of. That's how they did. Remember how like that, that whole. They had like a casting for Abercrombie greeters and all these different things. But anyway, they took like a lot of good. A lot of successful like people in the entertainment industry and models, actors, but a lot of very like accomplished people came from that store. And it's, it's no longer there. I just passed by it, actually. There's a big. No, there's a big Nike store. I think Abercrombie got shut down. It as a whole. I don't know. I don't know. Look at that.

But the smell that came out of that store is just so overwhelming. The person, that cologne, it's like, yeah, the Grove could do without.

Yeah. But it was. So that's where it all started. That's where I met you. And I just to the audience out there, I wanted to just kind of let them know the point of my show is I love people who have fought for what they love and what they believe in and they've worked and earned their success. And that is you to a T. We had my boy, John Baker, who really good friend of mine, he was the first guest on my podcast was a walk on which no scholarship, no investment whatsoever, walked onto the college I was at and ended up playing in the major leagues at a 14 year professional career in baseball. So like just to fight and grind. And then Alan Joe Band, who was on before you Last Monday, just 10 years bartending with me, grinding it out, wishing one day to hope to make it as a fighter in the ufc, which is really. I. It's. It's so competitive and so hard to do, but he just believed and he worked his ass off and he's killing it right now. Like killing it and Then look at you. You know, you're just. I remember when you were an aspiring actress, you had a good. A good, solid come up in the beginning as an R B singer.

Right, right.

And then you.

I was actually. I was like, doing background vocals, a lot of, like, RB artists. I did stuff for, like, Sheryl Crow and, like, Whitney Houston and Patti LaBelle.

Wow. Yeah.

Yeah. But that's what I was doing. Yeah.

And then to that, you know, you. You had a good representation behind you as an actress. And I remember sitting there going over or just. Just mentally being with you. Well, yeah, that. And then just kind of like just seeing you before and after these big auditions and just, you know, it's. It's one of those things out here. You can. You can just nail it and you can not get something because of your eye color, of your haircut, whatever. You know, there's no rhyme or reason in the entertainment industry. So it is. I followed you. We. I kept. Or I just. I followed just your progress, I think. Didn't you do American Idol as well?

I did do American Idol, and that was just a weird experience. Like, I'm not a competitive person in that sense. Like, singing competition wasn't really my thing, and I made it, like, to the top 50, but I didn't get on the show, which was probably one of the biggest blessings for me to just. Just regroup and, like, find myself. I was in a really, really, really weird, weird space at that time in my life. You know, you're trying to do music and. And do acting and then go to school and figure out all these kind of stuff. On top of that, have a failed relationship with a guy that, you know, treated me like absolute shit.

Yeah.

And, you know, all of those things, like, built me. They made me who I am and put that fire in me. And I honestly feel like the failures. It's like some of the best moments in your life or in your failures when you are thinking, like, there's no way I can ever come back from this. And you're at such a humble, meek place because, like, you're broken. And sometimes that's where. For a musician, for a singer, that's where some of your best songs come from. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's something that I like about you, is you write your songs. You know, a lot of songs are written for people, and that's part of the game. I understand that. But you have so much material to pull from based on your life experience, and I just think that's so cool that. Yeah, I don't even know where to start. So if you could tell me, how did you get into country music? It's something that I'm sure my audience would like to know and I'm actually really interested to see how that happened.

Especially living in LA at the time. Yeah, well, I mean, I grew up on country music. Like I. I'm from Waco, Texas and you know, that's all you ever heard growing up that in gospel music. And I always loved it. I never thought that I would ever get the shot to do that. So I moved to LA to go to school and dabbled in acting and did background vocals and stuff. But I was just a lost soul and I knew I wanted to do music. I didn't know how to get there, so I. Nothing ever happened for me. So I started going to school. I was like, you know, if music isn't for me, I'm gonna start going to school and focus on that. So for like four years, for like three years, I was going to school and working two jobs. Believe it or not, if you can fit that all in, that's what I was doing. And what were you doing?

What were your jobs?

I worked at a clothing store at called bb and I worked at a cigar club, the Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills, as a hostess at a restaurant. So I was. Everything I did was customer service. So I was doing all that and I just kept like praying like God, like, if this is what you want me to do, like, I've been doing this for three years and nothing has happened. And he kept saying, just trust me, just trust me, just trust me. So I had just about had enough. I worked, obviously I was working two jobs, going to school, had a crappy boyfriend, and when he broke my heart, I just didn't really have much more to no other reason to be in la. So right when I was going to, I was going home to surprise my mom for her birthday and I was at a mall that I never go to, I lived by the beach and I was all the way out in the Valley because I had to go between two campuses for school. So I was in the Valley at a mall out there. I was going to get my mom a present for her birthday because I was going to surprise her for a birthday. And I ran into this hip hop DJ that I knew and I met from, from a movie that I did with Nick Cannon. And this was Nick Cannon's dj. So I ran into him at the mall and I was trying, I was gonna try to. I was trying to just get away From. I didn't want him to ask me about my career because nothing was going on. I was about to go and tell my mom I was moving back home. Oh, wow. Yeah. I was gonna. I was literally, that day, wow. I was gonna tell my mom I was moving back home to Texas. And he. I was. He was on the phone and he was coming down the escalator, and I was like, hey, bye, I'm gonna walk off. And he was like, wait, wait, wait. Come here, come here, come here. And I was like, okay, what are you gonna ask me? And he says to me, so what are you doing these days? And I was just like, you know, I'm going to school. And he was like, you sing, right? And I was like, yeah, I sing. And he was like, well, what kind of music do you sing? And I. And I was like, why am I gonna tell this hip hop DJ I sing country music? He's not gonna know what I'm talking about. So I said, I sing country music. And he goes, that's crazy, because my boy, Julian Raymond, and Julian Raymond worked Capitol records for, like, 10 years, had just left and was working, had just finished producing a album for Glen Campbell.

Oh, wow.

And he wanted. He was like, one thing I've never seen was an African American female country singer. And I know they're out there. Why aren't they there? And I was like, right here. So I ended up not telling. I ended up giving him my number. And he was like, well, I'm gonna call you. And there's something about that that just felt right. I don't know how to explain it. It was just like, instantly when I gave my number, I was like, I think this is a good thing. And so I didn't tell my parents I was moving back home. I got fired. Wow. Yeah. I had gotten fired from one of my jobs. Well, actually three jobs. It was like my post this thing job I got fired from because I was flying home to see my mom. And I come back and I start working with Julian Raymond. Then Julian Raymond was managed by my now managers, Gary Borman and Steve Moyer. Gary Borman managed Faith Hill throughout her entire career. He still manages Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Dwight Yocum, Alison Krause, and then Steve Moyer is more on the business side, where he manages a lot of record executives. So all of this came out of nowhere. And it's just. I can only say, like, it's just belief, you know, you just believe in it and you gotta work like nothing good comes easy. And then I ended up getting a record deal with Capitol Records, which is now Universal Records. I had a top 30 single on country radio for an ACM award.

Yep.

Another single out. I'm about to put an album out in January, and it's. It's just such a blessing, you know, it really pays off.

Yeah. That's got to be surreal, because if you. I mean, if you hadn't. What if you would have looked the other way or if he hadn't seen you, you would. I mean, you'd be back possibly in Texas. Maybe not even. Maybe not even pursuing your job. I don't know where you were at mentally.

Been working in an office job. Probably would have married some guy that I didn't need to be with, and I probably would have had, you know, kids and missed this opportunity that I knew that. I truly believe that God has for me. I do.

That's. That's amazing. I love to hear things like that. That is. Did you know who Julianne Raymond? Did you have to look him up or when he said that name, did, you know.

Had no idea who he was? I had no idea who Gary Borman was. I had no idea who Steve Moyer is.

So you booked a flight out to. There's probably some emails and conversations back and forth.

Based in Los Angeles.

Oh, okay.

Based in Los Angeles. As crazy as that sounds. And not only did I get a record, like, these guys are really powerful.

Yeah.

I can't take any credit for it. There's no way I should have even been in the office with these kind of people. It was truly fate, blessings, and hard work. And just when you think, like, just when you think you want to give up, just keep pushing. Because there's this picture. There's this picture online of this guy digging in a tunnel for diamonds. Have you seen that? No. It's two guys in a tunnel and they're digging for diamonds. You see the diamonds on one side. It's an illustration. And one guy, you see him dragging his, like, shovel back, like, he's so sad. And he was literally, like, inches away from getting the diamonds. And had he just continued to just push that inch more, he would have got them. But he gave up too soon, and the other guy just kept going and he got him. And that's just the true. You know, that's true testament. You can't ever, ever give up on your dream and on your journey.

That's it. I completely agree. It's disappointing when people do, you know, you see examples after example. You see example after example of people Just who grind it out and fight and things like this happen when you. I really believe in the energy that you admit and how you treat others and that constant. I would very similar to you. I was grinding it out after my accident and just like working jobs, I knew something was going to happen. But the thing is, I didn't really have any direction or a passion that was in front of me that I was working towards. I was working off the whole very happy to be alive and just going from that and then getting back to my zest that was taken away from me after my accident, getting my mental happiness back, that was my first goal. But never, I mean, I was out here working as a model and an actor as well, doing the nighttime jobs and then driving home every night going same like you said, expressing to the universe gratitude and just how lucky I know that I am to still be here and to be able to smile, to be able to chew and to do little things. You say that every day, genuinely, with authenticity, man. It's just so. It explains a lot why certain things are happening for me and it explains a lot why things are happening to you as well. And I really hope. I know that it's going to motivate someone out there who's listening to this just to keep. Just to follow. It's fun to follow your heart and not give in to what society tells you you should be doing. You know, I do have to ask, what. What was that process like, walking into that room? I get a little. When I would get like little callbacks or whatever, I would feel my face kind of twitch a little bit when I'm in the room with producers and I'd be like, oh, shit, here it is now. When you're around the people who have the power to make a decision that's going to change your life, this is everything that you've wanted to do forever. How did you. I have my opinion because I've seen you light up. I don't want to tell you like what I think, but how did you react to that? Do you even remember? Did you black out? What was that first meeting like now?

The first meeting like, I didn't know who these guys were and I didn't Google them, you know, I didn't do any of that. I was just. I just walked into their office in Santa Monica. So when we went in, when I went into the office with. Are you talking about for the record label or for my management?

Your initial meeting after. Yes, with the manager.

So I, we. I had been working with Julian We've been working on these songs together. And so he took me in to see his manager, Steve, and the moment I walked into the office, I was like, okay, this is legit. Like it's not just. You can usually tell when something's real and when something isn't. First of all, when it's real, they're gonna always tell you the truth and you're not gonna be having to pay shove out money to somebody when it's real. So anyway, I went in there and we were just gonna just play him some songs to just see if we were. If this was a direction that we should continue to pursue. And so I met with Steve and Steve says, hold on one moment. And all of this is fate, I'm telling you. Because Gary Borman happened to be in the office that day. And Gary is never in the office like ever. He's always in Ohio. He has a home in Ohio and he just happened to be there that week. And so Steve tried to get Gary to come and hear me sing. Gary didn't want to meet me at first because I don't think he wanted to work with any more female singers because we're dramatic, we are emotional, we, I mean, got all these hormones going everywhere. He didn't want to work with me, but he came down the hall anyway and sang with me. I sat there and I sang for him and he told me my songs weren't hit songs. He pretty much said my songs suck.

Wow.

He did. But he saw my potential in my voice and he was like, you know, I could get you a deal with these songs, but I can get you an even better deal if that's what you want. And I was like, that's what I want, that's what I want.

And what did he mean by that? Well, start from scratch type stuff or.

Well, the way the music industry works now, everybody, when they sign a new record deal, they get. They sign a 360 deal. And that means the record label takes a piece of every part of your, from merchandise to touring to every part of your entity you are as an artist and your sales, everything. Because I listened to Gary and I continue to write better songs. I, along with Lady Antebellum, have one of the most artist friendly deals in the history of music.

Wow.

I don't. 360 deal. Wow. It's completely a pro artist benefits me completely deal.

Wow.

That doesn't happen. And they got me that. So that's what I mean by, by what he said. And I could have gotten a deal with the songs that I had, but I probably would have gotten a 360 deal. But because I listened to him and continue to write better songs, I wrote this song, Safe, and that's what got me my record.

What's that song?

It's called Safe. It's on my acoustic ep.

Okay. I think I've heard it. I. What song did now? I just envisioned this. Show us something. I mean, did you just. Right there. Did you sing like in front of.

Them and we started. We just started. I sang my songs.

That's amazing. I mean, I remember going to like tryouts for the Giants, like me and two other outfielders in front of Brian Sabian, Peter McGowan, Larry Baer, the whole scouting crew and just having to tear it up. I lit up luckily that day and it went really well. I didn't get drafted, but I knew I couldn't have done better. And it was. It was just like that excitement that is usually. It's. I mean, it's. It was an out of body experience for me. I still try to remember, like just little things I did throughout that workout. I'm imagining that's kind of like your moment where you just kind of lit up.

Yeah, right. It's. I mean, that's where I'm most happy. That's where I'm in my, you know, that's from the happiest. Excuse me. Like, music is my happy place. That's where I can express myself the best.

Yeah. Yeah.

And you, you live for these moments. And I had made it up in my mind that if I ever get in an office, if I ever get that chance, I'm not going to choke and I'm going to. I know I've got the talent. I know I've got, you know, the song and I'm just going to give it my all. And I did. And I came in there with confidence. I did have those butterflies and all that. The scary thing, like, I do get really nervous before performances and all that, but I put my big girl panties on and went in there. Big girl pants, not panties.

I was gonna be like, well, is it pants? Maybe it's your little twist. Hey.

Big girl pants on.

Love it. Love it. Hey.

And went in there and just freaking did it.

Hey. No, I love it. I love it. No, that's. That's really cool. And so they, they. You. You got signed by them and then you flew, you. You relocated to Nashville, right?

Yes, yes. I signed to them, got my record deal, and then I relocated to Nashville.

It's amazing. I mean, I. How was that transformation from LA to Nashville? It was. It just. You. Did you have friends out there? Was it kind of.

Yeah, I have my. My roommate. We worked together and we. We came out to together. But I moved out there in December and out here. Excuse me, I'm in Nashville right now. I moved out here to Nashville in December. So imagine it's, you know, 75 degrees in LA.

Yeah.

And you come to Nashville in December, it's snowing. Degrees.

Snowing. It was the snow a little bit. Like, you get the whole.

We don't. Well, we got snow this year. We got like 12 inches of snow. But it didn't really snow that year, but it was really cold. And that was a transition. At that time, Nashville was still coming up. Like, it's like it's a booming town now. But at that time it wasn't so really everybody was gone. Like, all the college students were gone. So it was just an empty town. And it was a hard transition. But, you know, and I was scared. I was scared different, you know, and you just don't know how people are going to perceive you. You just receive you. And so I just didn't know. But everybody was so kind. And I made up in my mind that once I started songwriting, I was going to give 200% of my heart. Because the beauty in country music is its real life and it's real stories and it's real life experience experiences. And I think people appreciate it when you put your heart out there. So I made it up, made up my mind that that's what I was going to do.

That's awesome. You just went for it. I love it when people just go for it and, you know, they just have this vision. I mean, I don't. It's just like laser focus, tunnel vision. I just like, it's just. It's so much fun for me to watch you and your success. When you first went out there, it wasn't all like, wasn't as smooth sailing. It's very. So once it's just done, it's not as easy as people think. Right? Like, you gotta.

No, no, no. People need to realize, like, if you want to do music, like getting a record deal is like. Or a music career is like a marriage. When you're shopping for your record deal, that's you dating, you know, and then you find your person and there's contract negotiation. That's like the engagement and then there's the wedding and signing the dot dotted line and signing to this record label is the wedding.

Right.

And then making this album and building your career is the marriage, and it's hard. And there are going to be times where you can't stand each other. There's times when you love each other and be all these ups and downs. And that's what I. That's how I like to describe the music industry. And I. It was really hard because when I moved out there, I had all these expenses happen to me, and my bank account just like, yeah, my car transmission blow out, all this kind of stuff. My bank account was just, like, empty, being emptied out, like, right before my eyes. So. And this at the same time that I am writing songs for my album, I got a job at Nordstrom in the lingerie department. So I was writing Monday through Thursday. I was writing Monday through Thursday. And then Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I was working at Nordstrom. So I was working seven days a week, essentially, because writing is working.

Yeah.

I dropped, like, 20 pounds because I. It wasn't like I was doing on purpose. I just was so busy. I wasn't think. Like, I would forget to eat.

Yeah.

And I mean, it's all a grind. And even then, it's like you're dealing with the, you know, finding the right songs for you and finding your voice amongst all of these other artists and country music. I mean, pop music is super competitive, but country music is, too. And the first week that I came out here to Nashville, I was so taken off guard by how talented these musicians and artists are out here. Like, it's unlike anything I've ever seen in my life light. You go into a bar and there's three girls that can sing like Kelly Clarkson, and you start thinking, why do I even deserve this record deal? And that's what I was experiencing all the time.

Wow.

And it took me, you know, three, four years to. Or three years, three and a half years to. For the label to even okay me for a song that's a long time on the radio. Yeah. Geez. The long time of your life. And you just start seeing your life. And that's the other thing. When you're pursuing these crazy dreams and not living your life in the norm, you start. You're sacrificing so much. You're sacrificing. Like, I've sacrificed time with my family. Like, I've literally seen my mom and my dad and my brother and my sisters and my nieces and nephew, like, grow up before my eyes. And I've missed so many pivotal moments in their lives. And it's all about the sacrifice, and it's not easy, and you have to, like, deal with that. And so you better love this and know what you're getting into. You know, whenever you're pursuing your dreams, it's hard. Nothing good comes easy.

Oh, yeah, No, I can. I can imagine. I mean, I just. It's. You're right. It is that sacrifice, but they. It's the rewarding feeling that they. I mean, I cannot imagine. Have they seen you perform live at one of your. Did you get a chance Now I want to talk about touring now to the audience out there. Mickey had a chance to this past year, didn't you? You toured with Brad Paisley and Justin Moore, right? I mean, these are names. I mean, come on. That is you.

Whiskey Lullaby with Brad every night.

That's. Come on. I mean, that is. And you're.

You're.

You're. The reason why I have so much respect for you is you're open to your. Your fans and your following. Like, I'm living my. But it's authentic. It's like you're as excited as they are. You're like another.

You literally can't believe it. Like, you dream of, like, it's like, I can't wait to have a tour bus. And you get a tour bus. And you're like, holy shit, I've got a tour bus. Like, got a freaking tour bus. And I get car, sitcom tour bus, but I have my own tour bus.

Wow.

It was like. It was so cool. And Brad and Justin are such amazing people. And even when you get on the tour, it doesn't mean that you made it. Like, if anything, it shows you how much more work you have to go. Like, being on tour with him transformed me into a whole different performer because you. The only way you get better is by doing it. And, like, watching how Brad interacts with the fans and how he has this whole. His whole setup and his system, like, it's just. It's a continual thing and it's hard work all the way up into the top. And then once you get to the top, it's. For me, it's maintaining that success and maintaining.

The.

Like maintaining your fans and keeping people interested and wanting to hear what you do. It's hard out there, man.

Yeah, but you're learning. It's almost like you got a. From one of a seasoned veteran, a true pro, and just to kind of condition you. And, you know, I just. That's great. How many. So how does that work? You start off, and then, I mean, you were. I feel like you were touring all year long. It felt like. And it's just. I mean, what was. What was your. The coolest venue or moment that you have? Do you have one that stands out? Were you ever brought to tears on the stage?

Yes. Here at Hollywood Bowl.

Oh, what was that like?

What that was like?

Because you've probably been to concerts there, right?

The year. It was almost like an incredible. Exactly a year before I performed at the Hollywood Bowl, I was there watching Keith Urban, and I remember turning around and looking at the audience and my computer, my battery's about to die. I remember turning around, looking at the audience and thinking, I'm gonna sing here one day and.

You're gonna what? You're gonna sing what?

I said, I'm gonna sing here one day.

Nice.

Later, I'm up on that stage. And when I was singing my song, like, the thought and seeing all my friends out there in LA come to support me, it just made me an emotional wreck. I cry often. Another. And when you hear people sing the words to your song, it's. It's amazing.

I can't imagine.

Really amazing. And I got to meet Dolly Parton.

Yeah, I want to hear about that because she's one of your heroes. And that's just, you know, it's so cool when things like that happen. And there have been a couple situations like that in my life where I've been able to engage with people that I look up to, like, for, you know, 10, 11 years ago. And now I'm like, it's such a trip to me. And it's. This is life, you know, I mean, it's. It's, It's. It's. It's such a cool experience. And I remember driving down Highland and seeing your name on the little. You know, how cool is that? Come on.

You know, that was one of the great. Like, you can't, you know. Yeah. I can't even describe the feeling. Well, surreal, you know, it doesn't even feel real. It doesn't feel real.

Yeah, I mean, it's just. It's. It was. It's so much fun for me because I know the not. Not all of them, but I know you're, you know, you're. The ups and downs, the peaks and valleys that you've experienced. We've all had doubt, you know, we're human. We've all had wondered what if? And, you know, all questioned certain things. And then when you come out on top, it's. It's really. It's so. It's always been just really cool to see. I. One of the Coolest things to the audience out there is you had a chance to sing for President Obama and his family right? At the White House. Right. Wow. What was that like? What was. How was getting in there? That must have been, like, with security and stuff.

45 minutes to get inside the gate. So how someone got past the gate that we've seen on the news, I have no idea how they did that. So we. I was a nervous wreck. So we were out in Washington, D.C. for four days. I think I ate zero of those four days. I was. I've never had such nerves in my life. Wow. So what the special was for was for PBS in performance at the White House. And they have a jazz night, blues night, or rhythm and blues night. I think they have a classical night, and then they have a country night. And I got to do the country night. I think on that bill was me and the band Perry and Dierks Bentley. Geez. Lauren, Elena, Kris Kristofferson, James Taylor. Come on. Love it. It was really, really cool. Darius Rucker. And I was, like, the no name in there, so I was freaking out.

Wow.

Anyway, they asked me Seem Crazy by Patsy Klein. And so when we drive up to, like, the first gate, I'm like, hi. I'm singing for the President. The security guard was like, id, please. Okay. So then we go through, and then out of nowhere, like, this van comes from wherever, and there's, like, a dog coming and sniffing our car. I'm sure there were, like, guns pointed at us. Who knows what was going on? I have no idea. And then we get into the next gate, and then they do a whole nother. A whole other security clearance. And then we get in, and everybody's so nice. And so I walked in there, and they had this amazing band playing crazy. And I walk up there, and I'm telling you, like, I was on the verge of puking the entire time.

What?

I was so nervous. I've never been. And I call my mom. I'm crying to her, like, at a certain point, like, the day. The night. The night before the performance, like, I call my mom. I'm crying. Like, I don't want to do this. My throat's gonna close up. Like, I need help. Have the church pray for me. Like, I can't make it through. And then when it was time for the actual performance, like, we got to meet the president before. Before we sang. I have my picture. I have my picture hanging up on my wall over there.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I do. And it was. It was unreal. Like, I told him I told President Obama and I told First Lady Michelle Arama that I was, like, I was so nervous. They were so nice. Like, Michelle is so tall, and President Obama has, like, the longest heads. Like, it's, like, really see, like, caricatures of him. Like, you know, like, they usually exaggerate Your.

His is pretty accurate, huh?

His is his whole head, like, so big. Anyway, we. I. When it was my turn to perform, I was, like, kind of towards the end of the night, and I'm, like, freaking out. All this stuff. I get up there, and it was literally like a jacket of, like, I had a coat of nerves, and I just. It's like, almost like I took it off, and, like, I was lifted, and I was okay, and I was at work, and it was, like, one of the most amazing experiences. And then after I did my bar, I freaking beeline to the red room, and my makeup artist is following me, and I literally turn around and start sobbing in her boobs.

Wow.

She was tall, and she had big boobs, and I put my face right in front of her.

That's a good visual, right?

So hard. Because I was just, like, so overwhelmed with emotion, pressure and emotion and all this kind of stuff, and it was amazing, and I'll never, ever, ever forget it. Oh, I'll never forget it.

Yeah, I remember. That's on YouTube.

Yeah.

Yeah. So for the audience out there, if you want to check it out, I've seen the performance, and it was. You know, you're just so in control. You know, I mean, I. I know we're our own biggest critics, but I just. I mean, we're all looking for, like, little. Little things that we're doing wrong or whatever. I know. Little things that I've done, but that. I see. But, man, you were so, so much control during that moment, which arguably is one of the best moments of your life so far, which. That's. That's just so awesome.

Not on my bucket list, that's for sure. So that's really cool that I got to do that.

Yeah.

No, I sure thought I would ever meet a president. Let him sing for him.

Yeah. Now it's. It's. That's amazing. And I. I did. I did. We had the audience that had a couple questions here that. Let's see. Here it is. Oh, never mind. That's okay. What. What do you do to mentally prepare before performing? Do you have any routines that you do? Do you pray? Do you. What. What kind of exercises? Any vocal exercises? What kind. What about that?

Oh, yes. So I. I have my Vocal coach. Her name is Rachel Riggs. She is the daughter of Seth Riggs who invented speech level singing. And he. His students were Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight.

Wow.

Look like anybody Paris Hilton, you know, like they've all worked with all of them. And I have to be vocal exercises because like what I tell people.

Oh, make you kind of cut off there, did you? Oh, there you go. Okay. Yeah. You're good. Yeah.

So yeah, I have to do my vocal exercises. I. People like your. Your vocal cords are a muscle.

Right.

And it's just like you when you go work out or if you go and you're going to play baseball, you can't just go out there and start, you know, you know a game without like stretching and warming up. And that's the same thing with your vocal cords. So I do that. I definitely pray. I kind of just stay to myself. The thing with touring especially like how it works is you, you leave the venue at maybe like 12 midnight and you wake up in your next venue so you're kind of just waiting around all day.

Yeah.

With Brad there was really great catering so I ate a lot. But I try not to eat like right before I sing because it's just uncomfortable and whatnot. But I definitely like, I just really kind of focus, say my prayers and just do my vocal warm ups as well as do my makeup and get myself all ready and try to be pretty for the people out there. But that's what I do.

Yeah. So let's see here. What do you want your fans to take away from your Persona and stage presence?

I want people to feel like I am singing right to them. I want people to feel like I'm their best friend because I am, I am every woman. And I try to be as relatable as possible and as real as possible because I know that that's what I would want from artists that I admire and love to hear sing. For instance, like Adele, like she. When I watch her, I just feel like she's your best friend. And that's what I want. I want people to feel that I'm their best friend and feel that, feel uplifted and feel like I'm uplifting them and making me smile. That's what I want.

Yeah, no, that's. I can see that. And even your engagement with fans, your following, it's real, it's authentic. It's the coolest thing to me because there's nothing that repels me quicker is than when people don't have that, like that humility, that common ground like that we're all on that. We're all here doing our thing, trying to find our way. We're human. I will never understand when someone thinks that they're above someone else. Nothing's changed mentally. It's so beautiful to me to see in your success that you're still. I mean, just you. You're Mickey and like, I just. And you're like this flower that's continuing to blossom and people. Oh, hold on. Excuse me. I hope that didn't get caught on anyway in the microphone, but anyway, yeah, it's just. I love seeing good people win. I love seeing people win in general, but, man, when someone that you really respect and have watched grind it out and I've seen you shed tears in my living room and be so uncertain about where this life was going to take you, and look at you now, like, big respect, nothing but love on my end. And that's. That's. That's real. I hope you know that. So I really, really nothing but love for you when you're out here next week and, oh, hey, you know, I know you know that I mean that. And that's what this show is all about. I love seeing great people win. And you're at the top of my list, literally. I mean, that's it, you know, you just.

Love you, Andy.

Right back at you. I love you, too. And I just. It's so good personally to catch up with you, but also to share your story with people out there that get to see you as talented as you are. I think your best quality is right here. I'm pointing in my heart right there. And, and that's beautiful when you can truthfully say that because it's not always the way in the industry. And that's okay.

That's. For me, I don't understand how people. I guess nobody's the same. Everybody's journey is different. But I feel like people that turn out on the other side, it had to have been in them in the first place, right? I don't know. But for me, I know the struggles. I know what it's like to feel your lowest of lows and I know what it's like to feel your highest of high. And being in these careers that we've chosen, there's never. It's never going to just be here, you know, it's never going to be even. And I feel like it's important because you just never know. And the same people that you pass on your way up are the same people that you're going to pass on your Way down. Because the reality of it is nothing lasts forever and it is important. There's this quote. I can't remember who said it, but it's always been important. It's always stuck with me. And it says, people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Yeah.

And that, to me, is the ultimate, like, my motto. Every single day, every person that I meet, how I treat people, I want them to take away that I'm. I'm kind and I really genuinely do care. Even when I make mistakes and I'm an a hole. Like, I want them to know, like, where my heart is.

Yeah.

It's. It's real, it's genuine. I. That's one thing I'll never change.

Well, we're aligned right there now. You said it. That you care. Showing people that you care, that authenticity and making it real. Luckily, that. I think that's all we know based on our upbringing. Maybe it's because of your family. I know it's because of mine. That's all I know. Luckily, if you met my parents, that's just. That's. That's all I know. And I'm so grateful for that. To have that upbringing. I just. This is just fun. Let's continue to. To help others and just, you know, bring smiles to other people. You know, it's a coarse thing. So I actually. I have to go demo over at Air1, but, Mickey, I do want to say thank you so much for your time. I know you're so busy and my audience out there, this is. God, this has been such a kick ass interview. They're gonna get a lot out of this.

And one more thing. Find your purpose within your purpose.

There it is.

There's always more to what you want. Find that.

Right.

Yeah.

All right, well, thank you so much for your time.

Please hang out when I come to la.

Absolutely. Let's. Let's do that. All right, thanks again. All right, Bye.

Bye.