For Mickey Guyton, Christmas Hits Different Now
Mickey Guyton has never been afraid to take up space.
Over the years, the Grammy-nominated singer has carved out a powerful lane in country music by pairing emotional vulnerability with undeniable vocal strength, becoming one of the genre’s most compelling and boundary-pushing voices.
Her music has always transcended labels, rooted in honesty, heart, and fearlessness, and speaking to lived experience in a way that resonates far beyond Country’s traditional borders.
Now, just in time for the holidays, the Texas native is bringing that same warmth and intention to her first full-length Christmas album, Feels Like Christmas, now available for streaming.
The eight-track project blends original songs with beloved classics, offering a soundtrack that works whether you’re curled up by the fireplace or hosting a room full of loved ones.
On “Feels Like Christmas,” the “Bridges” artist puts her own soulful stamp on timeless favorites like the soaring “O Holy Night,” alongside a playful reimagining of Disney’s Frozen hit “Do You Want to Build a Snowman.”
The title track sets the tone with cozy, feel-good energy. At the same time, the standout duet “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” pairs Guyton with legendary crooner Michael Bolton for a moment that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new.
When it came time to finalize the tracklist, Guyton says the album revealed itself organically, without the usual second-guessing that comes with curating a project.
“I didn’t cut any songs,” she explains.
“We had some submitted that I hadn’t written that I loved, but the songs we had were so cohesive and so well-written and fine-tuned for this specific project. I just wanted people to feel joy.”
In fact, the project feels less like something she planned and more like something that found her.
“It kind of really fell into my lap how this even happened,” she adds.
“I record a Christmas song every year for the last three or four years, and that’s how this project came about. It feels like the Christmas project chose me.”
That sense of joy carries into “Sugar Cookie,” the album’s playful original single, which Guyton imagines living somewhere between romance and fantasy.
Asked what kind of holiday memory or movie it might soundtrack, her answer is immediate.
“It would definitely be like a Christmas musical movie,” she says, laughing.
“Amazing dance sequences, some drag queens, just fabulous pink sugarness. The climax of the movie—that big moment—‘Sugar Cookie’ would be it.”
Her holiday film canon runs deep as well.
“I love Christmas love stories,” she says, citing “The Family Stone,” “This Christmas,” “The Best Man Holiday,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” and “Soul Food.” “It’s technically not a Christmas film, but the drama and the family coming together feels like a Christmas movie.”
Motherhood, she shares, has only deepened that sense of magic. The “Better Than You Left Me” singer has previously said that having her son made the holidays feel new again, and when asked what she might tell her four-year-old self about motherhood, her answer is reflective.
“Take in every moment from the good and the bad, especially during the holiday season,” she says.
“There’s so much magic that happens behind the scenes that you don’t realize comes from the person that loves you the most. The person whose love is the closest to God’s love and that is your mother.”
That emotional grounding also shows up in her collaboration with Bolton, a pairing that surprised her as much as it moved her.
“I was surprised that they asked me to do it,” the “Black Like Me” singer admits.
“He’s a legendary singer and I feel like Michael [Bolton] in the Black community is very accepted. We love him.”
Before recording a note together, Bolton wanted to connect on a personal level.
“He wanted to sit down and just get to know me,” she recalls.
“He took me to a really nice restaurant. He’s also a girl dad. He treated me really well and protected me.”
Watching the “White Christmas” singer reflect on family and career left a lasting impression.
“We don’t feel like we can have a family and a career at the same time,” she says. “But if that’s something you want, don’t hesitate to do that for yourself.”
When it comes to traditions she hopes to pass down, the mother of one laughs before sharing her family’s competitive and global holiday ritual.
Every year, they host an international cookout, choosing dishes they’ve never made before, plating them seriously, and judging each other’s work.
“I’ve won three times,” she says proudly. “I made a ricotta cheesecake once and won that one too.”
And when she’s in New York? Guyton’s leaning into the essentials, starting with coffee shops and pastries.
Recently, the 42-year-old finally tried a chopped cheese while filming content at Prospect Park Deli.
“That was my first time,” she admits. “It was so good.” Add Carbone—now a must-stop every visit—and it’s clear Guyton is savoring the season wherever she lands.
