NEWS
(L-R) Faith Fennidy, Madeline Edwards, Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer perform during the 55th annual Country Music Association awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 10, 2021 in Nashville.
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesMickey Guyton embraced her natural hair for an emotional performance of "Love My Hair" at the 2021 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards Wednesday evening (Nov. 10) live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Faith Fennidy, who was removed from her Catholic school at age 11 for wearing braids, presented the performance by opening up about how she personally inspired the song "Love My Hair." "A few years ago, I was sent home from school because my braids were said to be a distraction. It was devastating for me. But this next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved," she said before pausing in the midst of roaring applause. "And that's how you turn something very painful into something very positive. With your help, we can work together to ensure the next generation grows up in a respectful and open world for natural hair."
Guyton, Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards put their big, beautiful curly hair and billowing white gowns on full display while singing their truths as Black women who "used to think what God gave me wasn't fair/ I'd braid it all/ Just to hide the curls up there/ I found my freedom/ When I learned not to care/ Now I'm not scared/ To love who I am/ I love my hair." After the threesome harmonized on the chorus, they came together in an embrace.
Guyton was nominated for new artist of the year, which fellow Black country artist Jimmie Allen ended up winning that night. "Love My Hair" is from the 37-year-old singer's debut studio album Remember Her Name, which she released in September via Capitol Records Nashville.
Two-time entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan made his hosting debut at the 55th annual CMA Awards.
NEWS
Icewear Vezzo has walked back his initial comments about Amanda Seales being a “weirdo” and a “lying little girl,” and now has nothing but love for her.
On Sunday (June 16), both Vezzo and Peezy shared a photo with Donald Trump – much to the disdain of many, including Seales.
In an Instagram post shortly afterward, the actress and activist spoke out against people who take “pictures with people who have actively harmed us as a community,” while noting, among other things, that getting close to people like the former President and acting like “the good Black” won’t make anybody “the next Martin Luther King.”
Vezzo quickly clapped back on his Instagram Story, calling Seales the aforementioned names and saying that she does nothing for the community “except tear us down in the name of building us up.” He also said she is “fake woke and full of shit” and that she lies on Black men.
The post didn’t remain up for long, however, and he soon wrote a comment on Instagram informing his audience that the two had connected.
“I talked to Amanda. It’s all love,” he wrote. “She’s a woman. I should’ve never went that hard on her no matter what she did. It’s not that serious. She’s entitled to her opinions, even tho there was an assumption made about me based off a picture with zero audio.”
He added: “I just want us to stop thinking the worse [sic] about each other before having a conversation and also learn to respectfully disagree. We are all one and we can teach one another and instead [of] tearing each other down because we disagree on something. I love all women. I have a daughter; that wasn’t cool. End of story. It’s all love.”
He also shared a video with Seales where they both were all smiles.
“This is a real queen. This is a real Black woman,” Vezzo says in the clip.
“I love my brothers. I love my people and I really appreciate that you have made moves to make moves for others,” Seales added.
In Icewear Vezzo’s initial post, the Iced Up Records boss shared a lengthy message about backing the 78-year-old presidential candidate.
“Told Donald I Made the 6 great again,” he wrote. “But naw in all seriousness everyone not gonna agree with this picture but we don’t all have to agree on everything I just know not many of us will ever have the chance to really speak up for us and address how we may really feel so I stepped out on faith I didn’t meet him as a rapper I met him as a man and a father who understands the only way to attempt change things is to address things.”
Soon after he began receiving criticism for his stance, the Clarity rapper shared a video to emphasize the importance of respectfully disagreeing with one another.
“Why can’t we respectfully agree to disagree?” he began. “You know what build great companies and great civilizations is they all went and got a team with people who think differently from them. If they went and got people that thought the exact same thing as them, then it wasn’t no need of hiring no people.”
In the post’s caption, he added: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t let social media think for you, go see for yourself. Dont agree with everything anybody does it’s not logical, & don’t draw conclusions without actually knowing what you’re talking about.”
