In honor of her song, “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?,” which questions what to tell young women who are let down by the world, Mickey Guyton has started a social media trend that challenges her fellow female artists and women in general to share words of advice for other women.
“I wrote ‘What Are You Gonna Tell Her?’ to start conversations answering this question and give others a chance to speak their truths,” Guyton wrote in an Instagram post alongside a photo of her holding up a sign that says #WhatAreYouGonnaTellHer. “I challenge all of you to answer the question and tag your friends to share their truth! Don’t forget to tag me too! Let’s lift up and support each other. If these messages can reach one person who doesn’t feel that they have the support and gives them the inspiration to reach for their dreams, that is my greatest wish.”
In her next post, Guyton tagged some of her friends, including country singers Cam, Caylee Hammack and Laura Bell Bundy, and the posts have only multiplied since then. Cam shared a #WhatAreYouGonnaTellHer post giving advice to her 7-month-old daughter, Lucy. Hammack shared her own post, urging people to “protect the innocent, to stand up against injustice when we see it,” and tagged Tenille Townes and Ashley McBryde. Kalie Shorr also shared a post directed at her adopted little sister.
“So what I’m going to tell her is: who you are is the sum of how you treat people,” wrote Shorr. “Being threatened by other women and not pursuing friendships with them will stunt your growth. You need to be surrounded by people who understand. You might have to work harder than the boys, and it might not always be fair, but the reward you get from working your ass off will outweigh that in the end.”
The initiative has since gone beyond the sphere of country music, with women from all over sharing their #WhatAreYouGonnaTellHer story.
Guyton first made waves with “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” in February when she performed the song at a Universal Music Group luncheon at the Ryman Auditorium during Country Radio Seminar. Guyton also shares her truth through song with her release, “Black Like Me,” which shares her personal experience as a Black woman and calls out injustices against both Black people and women. Her latest release, “Heaven Down Here,” is out now.
