My Kind of Country (2023): Season 1, Episode 2 - Mickey Guyton's Showcase - full transcript

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First love was this old six string ♪

That was handed down to me ♪

I ain't from the right town or place ♪

♪ But the West wind takes my voice
All across the land ♪

It ain't where you're born and raised ♪

♪ It's the song in my heart
That makes me say every day ♪

Yeah, I'm country made ♪

["Remember Her Name" playing]

I'm Mickey Guy ton, and I was
the first Black female solo artist

to earn a Grammy nomination
in a country category.

Believe me,
I had to fight to get a seat at the table.



It wasn't until I embraced
what made me unique

and sung authentic stories
about being a Black woman in country music

that doors opened for me.

I wanna continue that journey
in helping other artists

realize that they have a chance
to make it in country music too.

[country music playing]

I feel like
I'm very nurturing and motherly.

That's my way of showing love.

And Jimmie's is comedy.

And Orville is just so worldly
and incredible, and encouraging as well.

So, it's time
for Team Mickey to join me in Nashville.

[camera person] On our way to the airport.

- Whoo!
- [camera person] Yeah, girls!

I leave tomorrow,
and I haven't packed a thing.



Nashville. I'm so excited.

[contestant 1] Got my bag packed here.
Nashville, I'm coming.

["Burn Through the Dark" playing]

[contestant 2] I can't believe we're here.

It's like, are we dreaming
the same dream right now?

Yo, this is like Johannesburg on double,
though. It's overwhelming right now.

Dis insane.

[Guy ton] Jimmie, Orville,
and I are looking for someone

who has a unique sound
in their version of country music.

We're changing history.

This feels like it's real, man.
Like, I'm here now. It's a big thing.

["You'll Be Shot Down" playing]

[Guy ton] Now the artists are in Nashville,

and I asked them to meet me
at Dark Horse Studios,

so we can just kinda meet
and figure each other out

as they get ready to do
an incredible showcase.

[contestant 3] This is something
I would never do. And then here I am.

I have something to prove to myself.
This is personal.

[contestant 2]
I can't believe that we're in Nashville.

We've been trying to get to the States
for ten years.

The dream has always been the same,

that we want to make country music
and make it here.

- Hello! Zel. Nice to meet you.
- I'm Chuck.

- Hi. Landi. Nice to meet you.
- Chuck. Landi. Nice to meet you.

- So, South Africa, really, huh?
- Yes.

I hear it's beautiful.

I'm like, "Okay. We're here."

I can't believe
I was the one chosen to come here.

You know, we're in country town.
That means something.

- Hi. Ash lie Amber.
- Chuck.

- Landi.
- Wandile.

I can't wait to connect with people
who love country music and folk music,

and storytelling just as much as I do.

Yeah. Incredible. I can't believe
we're here. It feels so surreal.

- Yeah. [Chuckling]
- You're in Dark Horse, man.

- [Zel] No, not at all.
- You're in heaven. This is...

This is amazing.
I didn't realize how big America was.

- I have to be honest. When we flew in,
- I mean...

- I was like, "What?"
- You know it, but...

- [Ash lie] Uh, where you guys from?
- We're from South Africa.

- Cape Town.
- [Wandile] I could hear it.

Hey, we were just talking about Cape Town.

- [Zel] And you?
- Joburg.

- Oh, nice.
- Yeah.

How long was your flight?

[both] Ours was 32 hours.

[chuckles] You guys...
You guys said that in sync.

- Like... Like...
- [chuckles]

We're launching a new country artist.

So I'm looking for different storytellers,

and I fell in love
with the sweet harmonies and bare feet

of this sister duo known as The Betsies.

[Landi] We're The Betsies.
We're from Cape Town, South Africa,

and we're a country band.

♪ I know I've been around
All the sinners and the sound ♪

♪ And the little bit of things
That they don't say ♪

♪ But if I ever get to you
I just hope that you don't walk away ♪

[Landi] Country, for us,
it's heartbreak lyrics, most of the songs.

- Very sad lyrics with a very upbeat tune.
- [Zel] Happy tunes. Yeah.

Everyone's always very confused.

[chuckles]

Being sisters, we've been singing
together since literally Zel was born.

- She came out harmonizing.
- [chuckles]

We super close. Like, we live together.
We travel together.

It's... We're best friends as well.

- Sometimes I forget we're sisters.
- I know.

[banjo playing]

We've been going on for about ten years,
like, as the band.

[Zel] We set our careers aside,
um, to... to pursue that

and see where...
If we can get somewhere with it.

[Landi] Our dream is to make music
for a living,

- and we can't do it in South Africa.
- Mmm.

[Zel] We've been wanting to come to
the States for ten... more than ten years

to be on a platform that we can grow
from in terms of the music and being seen.

Everything I've done
for the last two years

has been to be able to save
to be able to come here.

- [Ash lie] Super excited.
- Cool, guys. Exciting times.

Yeah, for sure.

I'm excited. A little nervous,
but, like, a good, like, nervous.

Hello ♪

[contestants] Oh! [Chuckling]

- How are you guys?
- Yeah, doll.

- Oh, my God, I'm so, so, so...
- Look at you. Oh, my goodness.

- [Chuck] Sup. What's up?
- ...so, so happy to see y'all.

I have been following Mickey
on social media for years. [Chuckles]

I'm gonna sound so creepy.

But I have stalked her.
I have watched all of her music videos.

She has changed the face of country music.

- Welcome to Nashville.
- [Landi, Zel chuckle]

I know how difficult it is to be able
to pursue your dreams,

and I think that if someone just gets
a chance, that is... is just so cool.

Welcome
to the Dark Horse Recording Studio.

So many people... I think it was, like,
50 platinum albums were recorded here.

- Wow.
- This is going to be your musical home.

- [contestants] Whoo! [Laughing]
- So, yes!

Let's go.

To show the different sides and colors,
and faces of country music.

And each and every one of you
has such a unique perspective.

And I just can't wait to hear that story

and hear that through your songs
that y'all are choosing.

There's gonna be a showcase.

We get to have a huge opportunity
to work with Adam Blackstone.

He's the music director.

So you guys really do have
some really great people around

that will help with this.

After they're done working
with Adam Blackstone,

they're gonna perform in front of Jimmie
and Orville, and myself,

and then we're gonna have to decide
who is going to move forward.

At the end of it, not every artist
is going to get to go to the workshop.

[Wandile]
I'm grateful to have this opportunity,

but at the same time,
someone is gonna be going home.

I do come from a competitive background.

I used to play professional rugby.

So, it's the same thing with music,
to push each other to... to the next level.

Let's go. [Chuckles]

- [Guy ton] I am so excited...
- Damn right.

- Thanks.
- Ash lie Amber.

- Hey, girl.
- You look so cute. I just had to say that.

- [contestants chuckling]
- Thanks, girl. [Chuckles]

[Guy ton]
Ash lie has been on my radar for a while,

as she's a female country artist of color.

And she has an incredible voice.

My name is Ash lie Amber,

and I currently reside
in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I perform on cruise ships.
I headline my own, um, tribute show.

And I've had an amazing opportunity

to perform
in front of thousands of people.

When I was six years old,
I discovered that I could sing,

and that was because of my dad.
I was singing in the back seat of the car,

and he was like,
"Girl, did you know you could sing?"

When I was 11,
my dad actually got really, really sick.

He collapsed at work, um,
from a heart attack,

and then he passed away four days later.

I do dedicate
the end of each performance to my dad

because it's a part of his legacy,

and it's a part of his memory that
I get to live every single time I perform

because he's the one that told me I could.

- You brought Dad's records.
- [mom] Yes, I did.

[Ash lie] I remember this label exec.

He just said that,
"You're not authentic enough."

And, I hate to say it,
but I took it 'cause I look different.

How many Black females have had
a number-one single in country music?

I'm a woman, a Black woman.
And I'm also over the age of 30.

Like, these are all things... [chuckles]

...that country music
is not been known to be kind to.

We only have one Black female
that's signed to a major label,

and, um, her name is Mickey Guy ton.
And she's absolutely incredible.

It's really because of artists like her

who have really paved the way
for me to even be able to stand here.

And I want to be a part of this change
in country music.

So, I'll be damned if I let anybody else
tell me that I can't do it.

["7th Born Son" playing]

- Get out of the house.
- [Wandile] Let's go.

- Thank you.
- [Wandile] Thanks.

- Cheers, cheers. Pleasure.
- [Wandile] Hey, cheers, mate.

- It's a pleasure to meet you, man.
- Nice to meet you, my bro.

[Wandile] You're... You say you're not
from Nashville, Nashville. Like...

Nah, yeah. I've been here seven
to eight years.

- I came from New York City.
- Okay.

I consider that home. I'm a Northeast boy.

- Okay. Why Nashville, though?
- I came here with... for country music.

- Okay.
- I think the competition here is fierce.

- It's the toughest in the country by far.
- Yeah.

- If I'm gonna get it, I wanna get it here.
- Yeah. I get it.

You know, so I-I just wanna do the best
with the opportunities that I have.

- And this is one.
- I know.

When I started performing acoustic stuff

- and decided to do this country stuff...
- Mmm.

...I mean, people laughed at me, essentially.

- Okay.
- That's why I left R & B to do this.

[Chuck] The music industry is surfing
with the sharks. It's vicious.

Sometimes, the best talent
never gets even heard.

My life has been a bunch
of disappointments. Just over and over.

From that, though, I'm prepared. This is
a cool opportunity that I can't mess up.

If Joburg is not covered
with a lot of live music,

you can imagine, from where I'm from,
this small town, like,

it's really, really not.

When the opportunity came, I was like,

"Let's go right into... you know,
right into where the competition is

- "and just see how you match up there."
- Yeah.

[Guy ton] Wandile is another artist
I found in South Africa

who has a really unique sound.

His music is a blend of country,
soul and African folk.

["Our Lives Matter" playing]

My name is Wandile Mbambeni.

[sings in foreign language]

I would say the... the godfather
of my sound is soul music.

Folk-soul if that's a thing.

Growing up, Dolly Parton was my only idea
of what country music is

and what it should sound like,
as we don't have much country this side.

It's almost, like, an unwritten rule

that country belongs to white people,
and it doesn't.

Music belongs to everyone,

so I'm always a fan of breaking the rules.
Breaking the barrier.

[sings in foreign language]

Country, the heart and soul of it is...
Is pouring your heart out.

It's really simple. Completely simple.
And that's, to me, what it is, you know.

Ooh, ooh, hey ♪

My artists each picked a song
they think best showcases them

and they are headed to 5 Spot to work
with the infamous musical director,

Adam Blackstone.

He really is someone that can help
make our performances better.

- How are you? [Chuckles]
- I'm good, hey.

Whoo. All right.

[Guy ton] Even though
my artists all write their own music,

we thought it would be really cool
for them to sing a cover.

Just, you know,
switch it up and have some variety.

We are not judging an artist

on whether their cover is originally
a country song or not.

We just want them to take any song
from any genre

and turn it into their kind
of country song.

- [gasps] Hey. Oh, my goodness.
- [Blackstone] Hey, how you doing?

- How's everything?
- It's good.

- It's so nice to meet you.
- I love the hair, the whole artist vibe.

- [Ash lie] Oh, thank you.
- You killing it.

- How are you feeling?
- I feel good.

- Really?
- Yeah, like, really good. Super excited.

Getting to meet Adam is,
you know, surreal,

since he's literally worked
with the biggest names in music.

And, honestly, it's a little intimidating.

I see you through the smoky air... ♪

The song that I'm gonna be performing
is "Crazy For You" by Madonna.

It just reminds me of hometown.

It reminds me of being young.
Being in love.

- I just think your voice is incredible.
- Thank you.

I really wanted to talk
about your choice of song

- and how that reflects in your artistry.
- Yeah. Yeah.

And making sure you make it still you.

- You know, it's a Madonna record.
- Yeah.

- We in Nashville.
- Yeah. Yeah.

- I know.
- [Blackstone] You know what I'm saying?

- Technically wouldn't go...
- They don't go together.

...but you're making it your own.

- That's the type of show that we're on.
- Yeah.

So, make sure your artistry shows through

- that hopeless romantic type of song...
- Yeah.

...but also to hear the voice of Ash lie.

Right, right. Yeah.

Adam, you know,
had some questions on my song choice.

But it's just such a great story.
The lyrics are beautiful.

Very similar to country,
they're very descriptive.

Like, every lyric, you can visualize it.

I'm not gonna change anything.

- [Blackstone] Hey! How are you?
- [Landi, Zel] Hi.

[Blackstone] I see you got the bare feet.

We take off our shoes
when we sing and perform.

Anything that we need to be good at,
we cannot wear shoes with.

So we're playing
"Keep Your Heart Young" by Brandi Carlile.

[Zel] This song for us feels like home.
We've been traveling a lot,

and I feel like if you... if you have
that feeling of some sort of home,

I just think that's... that's important.

- Definitely.
- And that song feels like home for us.

I think that, you know, you guys' vibe
is gonna definitely, like,

make everybody feel, like, "We're here."

You know, bring your artistry
into whatever you're doing

and get out your head.
Block out the noise and-and go for it.

- [sighs]
- I wasn't that nervous.

- I'm like a stress ball every time.
- [chuckles]

- [Zel] You know, I take all the nerves on.
- That's true.

She's like, "I'm cool. I don't care.
We'll go along. It's fine."

- Super excited to have you here.
- You good, man? [Chuckles] Thanks.

Adam Blackstone. Man, he's such
a big player in the game, you know.

So, I was really excited to meet him.

I'm a little anxious. This is a huge step
to going up in my career.

Is when the sun comes shining through... ♪

You know the number. "Just the Two of Us."

Bill Withers
is such an amazing songwriter.

I'm a sucker to songwriting, you know.

That's my vibe, you know?
It's very poetic.

Probably no one is expecting this song.

The show is My Kind Of Country,
and that's what I'm here to do.

I'm here to... to give you songs
that you wouldn't expect.

Building those castles in the sky ♪

♪ Just the two of us
You and I ♪

One more time. I'm good.

- Just a few bum notes there.
- [Blackstone clears throat]

You have incredible musicians
around you. You concentrate on your vocal.

'Cause if you hit a wrong high note,
it makes it feel like your pitch is wrong,

but you're singing the right note.

- You might be overshooting on the guitar.
- Yeah.

So let your singing be the focus
and not necessarily here.

- It's kinda jacking with your mind...
- Yeah.

...a little bit when you do that.
So, you got that. You got it.

- Great job, man. Looking forward to it.
- Thank you.

[sighs] There's things I need
to work on for sure.

- Chuck. What's up, bro?
- [Chuck] How you doing?

- How you doing? Nice to see you.
- It's a pleasure to meet you.

[Guy ton] I discovered Chuck
right under my nose, here in Nashville,

and was blown away by his crazy voice
and brave songwriting.

I'm Chuck Adams.

I'm from Nashville, Tennessee.

♪ Like a heart left on my sleeve
These tattoos cover me ♪

I first fell in love with country music
when I was a little kid.

It was Elvis Presley,
"Hound Dog," that song.

My mom used to make me sing it
over and over to company.

And I don't know why, it just stuck
with me. The melodies and the songs.

Won't you take me as I am... ♪

People can't see past my mahogany,
you know. My brown skin.

You see the look from the tattoos
and the skin color

and kind of get thrown
in a box automatically.

It took a lot of personal work
to get to that place where I'm happy

with who I am and the way I make music,
and with who hears it.

But that took, legitimately, ten years.

[hip-hop R & B music playing]

I started in R & B... hip-hop R & B,
and then I signed a record deal.

During that time,
I'm always writing my form of country,

but it wasn't what the label wanted.

And then, uh, I woke up to a tweet saying,
you know, we're gonna let go.

That's... That's how that ended.
Forget the hugs and everything.

It's a business first. If the bottom-line
is not right, you're gone.

- [guitar playing]
- ["Take Me As I Am" playing]

2011... [stammers]
...I wanted to die every single day.

And then 2012, beginning of that year,
I woke up. I'm like, "What am I doing?"

[song continues]

I started making country music.
I just knew I'd identified...

The decision to... [stammers]
...go country came after that tough year.

This is my second chance to be successful.

Being here in this whole experience
means everything.

But, you know, I'm getting older.

[chuckles]
So no fear. I can't slow it down.

- All right. Good. Let's hear it.
- Yep. Thank you.

Golden as I open my eyes... ♪

I'll be performing
a Harry Styles song, "Golden."

I love the melody and the words.

I wanna be able to play with it
in a little ballad type of way

and then bring the up-tempo side in
and have some fun with it that way.

I heard you fumble the words
just a little bit...

- Yeah.
- ...but get out your head and just do you.

- Block out the noise and-and go for it.
- Yes, sir.

For me to nail this showcase performance,
I'd say I'm not scared.

But I don't know if maybe I really am.

["Keep On Going" playing]

[Guy ton] Today is the day of my showcase,

and we get to hear them perform live
for the first time.

And I'm so nervous.

So, we're looking for authenticity,
and we're looking for true artistry.

From there, we'll decide who moves
forward to the next show,

which is where we will really dig in

and work with the artists
in a more hands-on way.

No matter what happens,

this is just a stepping stone to get each
and every one of you where you wanna be.

And give it all, so we can believe you.
That's really the most important thing.

It is who is just delivering their heart
and giving it to us as we receive it.

It's important for me
to want to cheer them on

because I've been in that position.

Because I've done
a singing competition show.

And the people that were
standing up there giving me criticism

didn't care about me at all.

I have been in this industry
for a long time,

and I know what it feels like
to not be cheered for.

Let's go!

- Let's do it. [Chuckles]
- Yeah.

- Hey, guys. How are you?
- [Allen] What's up, Mickey?

- [Peck] Hi.
- What's crack a lack in'?

Hello.

- I'm so glad to do this with you guys.
- [Allen, Peck] Me too.

We're so different,
but we're the future of country music.

I think that that is so special. And we're
helping other artists that are like us

that may be marginalized,
that may not feel like they belong,

and we're showing them that they belong.
And that is so important.

- I'm excited to see 'em.
- I can't wait.

- [Guy ton] I'm so excited. Right?
- I'm excited to hear 'em. It'll be...

It'll be fun. Like, I'm judging them
off of authenticity and this opportunity.

- Yeah.
- [Allen] Everything you've done,

however many years you've been in this,

chasing this dream, was preparation
for this moment.

So, the success of your career
is based off this performance.

'Cause that's how I look at it
every time I step on stage.

- Yeah. Yeah.
- It's like, this is it.

- I wanna see people show us who they are.
- You wanna believe them.

- Yeah, and tell us their story.
- Mm-hmm.

And that's kind of more important
to me than anything.

It's the delivery. I'm really
looking for delivery and heart.

Cheers.

Hmm. [Exhales sharply]

- Put hair on your chest, don't it?
- Yeah, it did! [Laughs]

- Yeah.
- [all laughing]

First up, we have
a soulful country singer, I would say,

and his name is Wandile.

- Hey.
- [Guy ton] I love this guy.

- Can't wait for you to see him.
- [Peck] Yeah.

You know the vibes.

I'm used to performing
in front of an audience.

It's weird how when there's three people
in the room, the nerves are up there.

I'm completely vulnerable.

But it's just important for me to be
in the present in this exact moment.

Hello, my name is Wandile Mbambeni.

- I'm representing South Africa. You know.
- Yeah.

The song I'll be singing is by
the late, great Bill Withers.

Rest in peace to Bill Withers.

So, I'm just gonna go straight into it.

♪ I see the crystal raindrops fall
And the beauty of it all ♪

[Allen] God.

Is when the sun comes shining through ♪

Sheesh.

To make those rainbows in my mind ♪

When I think of you sometime ♪

I want to spend some time with you ♪

♪ Just the two of us
We can make it if we try ♪

♪ Just the two of us
Just the two of us ♪

♪ Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky ♪

♪ Just the two of us
You and I ♪

♪ We look for love, no time for tears
Wasted water's all it is ♪

And it don't make no flowers grow ♪

- [Landi] Hmm. Beautiful voice, hey? Yoh.
- Right.

♪ Good things might come to those who wait
Not for those who wait too late ♪

We gotta go for all we know ♪

God.

Just the two of us ♪

♪ We can make it if we try
Just the two of us ♪

Just the two of us ♪

Building those castles in the sky ♪

Just the two of us ♪

You and I ♪

- Yeah.
- Yay!

- Thank you so much.
- [Allen] Ah.

So good, Wandile.

- [Ash lie] Yeah.
- Whoo-hoo, South Africa.

- Yeah.
- [Ash lie] Come on.

- I just beam with pride.
- [Allen] Yeah.

- [laughs] Come on. Thank you.
- Damn, that voice.

[Guy ton] Great job, Wandile.

- [Wandile] Thank you so much.
- [Peck] Killed it. Yeah.

- [Zel] Yay.
- [clapping]

- Thank you so much.
- [Allen] I liked Wandile.

- [Guy ton] Right.
- [Peck] Loved Wandile.

- Yeah. He's got a vibe.
- [Guy ton] He's...

He does kind of bring
that sort of South African folk feel

of, like, Hugh Masekela, like Marabi.

Like, that is essentially
South African country music.

- It's like South African folk music...
- I love that you have that perspective.

...so he is playing
South African country music.

- [Guy ton] Wow. That's so cool.
- It's pretty beautiful.

- He's just so badass and like cool, like...
- [Peck] So beautiful. Yeah.

And he did that in sneakers,
jeans and a T-shirt.

- Didn't need the gimmicks, didn't...
- Nothing.

He looked like he rolled out of bed,
threw some clothes on and said,

- "Let me go kill it."
- He moisturized his head.

- He's back in bed. He's chilling.
- He... Yeah.

[all laughing]

So, our next artist, we have
this group called The Betsies.

- All right.
- They are from South Africa.

They are a duo,
and they are truly, truly phenomenal.

They're a huge fan of Brandi Carlile,
and they love the folk scene.

I feel... I can totally see them
tearing up the Americana scene.

- Yeah.
- And they're sisters.

- Oh, bring on The Betsies.
- [Peck] Oh.

Hi, I am Landi,
and this is my baby sister, Zel.

And together, we're The Betsies.

We're from a little town close
to Johannesburg in-in South Africa.

And we're gonna sing a song
that's so special to us.

Um, it's by Brandi Carlile.
It's called "Keep Your Heart Young".

♪ My grandpa gave me a wheat penny
And I kept it in my pocket ♪

♪ I had big plans in my backyard
To build me a space rocket ♪

♪ I talked to my brother on a fake CB
That I made from a Tic-Tac box ♪

♪ I packed my snowballs nice and tight
And in the middle, I put rocks ♪

[both] ♪ Don't trade in your Tic-Tac box
For a ball on the end of a chain ♪

♪ And don't go spending Grandpa's pennies
Buying into the game ♪

♪ So take a picture of the one you love
And put it in a locket ♪

♪ Go dig up your time capsule
And the blueprints for your rocket ♪

♪ Keep in touch on a fake CB
That same old Tic-Tac box ♪

♪ Pack your snowballs a little less tight
And in the middle, still put rocks ♪

And keep your heart young ♪

♪ Sometimes you don't die quick
Just like you wished you'd done ♪

Though love is a loaded gun ♪

You've gotta keep your heart young ♪

- Whoo!
- [Zel] Uh, thank you.

Y'all sound so amazing.

- Thank y'all.
- Thank you.

- Thank you. Yes.
- [Guy ton] We appreciate y'all.

- Thank you.
- [Peck] Great job.

That's South Africa for you guys.

- You know what I'm saying? Way up.
- Right. Come on.

- [Allen] You representing.
- You representing.

- Yeah, I like them a lot.
- Do you believe them?

There's obviously tons of heart.

And their whole aesthetic of the barefoot...

- Yeah.
- ...and they're proud to be South African,

- which I love.
- Absolutely.

I'm curious to hear their original songs,

'cause I can tell that it's,
like, coming from such a visual...

- Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- ...nostalgic place which is perfect.

[Guy ton] Mm-hmm.
Yeah, their vocals are different,

but I think they very much
also fit in-in country.

- You guys are solid. Come on.
- [Ash lie] Come on. Hit it.

- [chuckles]
- You guys sounded... Your harmonies.

- [Ash lie] Yes.
- Thank you.

Those harmonies, though.

Yeah, your guys' harmony.
I was like, "Damn, girls."

So our next artist is a woman I'm very
excited about, so let's check her out.

[cheers]

It's one thing to perform
in front of thousands of people,

but it's another thing to perform

in front of three incredibly
talented artists.

You don't know what's gonna happen,
but they do hold your fate throughout.

Hey, y'all.
My name is Ash lie Amber and, um,

today I'm going to be performing
"Crazy For You" by Madonna.

Because I really wanted to show
the softer side.

I think a lot of times
when people look at me,

they think sassy,
they think, you know, super opinionated,

she's gonna be all up in your face.

But I'm also a hopeless romantic
and a huge softy.

And every time I listen to this song
and sing this song,

it makes me think of home.

And in my opinion, home is the core
of country music.

So... [chuckles] ...with that said,
here is my version of "Crazy For You".

Swaying room as the music starts ♪

Strangers making the most of the dark ♪

Two by two, their bodies become one ♪

Yeah.

I see you through the smoky air ♪

Can't you feel the weight of my stare? ♪

You're so close but still a world away ♪

♪ What I'm dying to say is that
I'm crazy for you ♪

♪ Touch me once
And you'll know it's true ♪

I never wanted anyone like this ♪

It's all brand new ♪

You'll feel it in my kiss ♪

♪ You'll feel it in my kiss
Because I'm crazy for you ♪

♪ Touch me once
And you'll know it's true ♪

I never wanted anyone like this ♪

Whoo.

♪ It's all brand new
You'll feel it in my kiss ♪

I'm crazy for you ♪

- [Guy ton] Whoo!
- [Peck] Yeah.

- Whoo! [Chuckles] Thank you.
- [Guy ton] Aw.

- [Ash lie] Thank you very much.
- Yeah.

- Whoo! Okay.
- Yes. Yeah.

- [Peck] I need those boots.
- [Allen] Them boots fire.

[Guy ton] It's the hair for me.

- [Landi] So beautiful. I love it so much.
- Aw, thank you. Aw, thank you.

- Visually, she looks amazing.
- Oh, yeah. I like her energy.

- Great energy and great stage presence.
- Yeah.

The vocals were shaky.
I don't know if it was nerves.

- You can tell she's got a killer voice.
- Yes.

- But she's almost holding back.
- I want her to let go. Yeah.

Yeah, it's, like, a bit polished and,
like, controlled.

- Which is, you know...
- It's great.

- ...great things to have as a performer...
- Yeah.

- [Allen] Hmm.
- ...but I do wanna see her really let go.

And last, but certainly not least,
is Chuck Adams.

All right.

- [Guy ton] Hey. How are you?
- Hello. [Chuckles]

- I'm well. How you guys doing?
- [Peck] How's it going?

- Are you nervous?
- There's some nerves.

[Guy ton]
All you have to do is sing and feel it.

- [chuckles]
- Don't mind us.

Hi, guys. I'm... So, I'm Chuck Adams.

Um, I'm performing Harry Styles, "Golden,"

uh, because it just...
I mean, it always just spoke to me.

You know, about love and loneliness.
I think it's something I connect with.

So, I wanna make it my own a little bit.

♪ Golden, golden, golden
As I open my eyes ♪

Hold it, focus, hoping ♪

Take me back to the light ♪

I know you were way too bright for me ♪

I'm hopeless, broken ♪

So you wait for me in the sky ♪

Brown my skin just right ♪

You're so golden ♪

[vocalizing]

You're so golden ♪

♪ I'm out of my head
And I know that you're scared ♪

♪ Because hearts get broken
I don't wanna be alone ♪

♪ I don't wanna be alone when it ends
All I've ever known ♪

♪ Loving you's the antidote
Golden ♪

[vocalizing]

Golden ♪

I don't wanna be alone ♪

You're so golden ♪

You're so golden ♪

You're so golden ♪

♪ I'm out of my head
And I know that you're scared ♪

Because hearts get broken ♪

You're so golden ♪

[Guy ton cheering]

- Yes.
- [Wandile] Soulful. Come on. [Whistles]

- Yes! That was so good. Thank you so much.
- [Peck] That was so good. They killing it.

[contestants cheering]

- [Wandile] Come on, baby.
- [Chuck] I did everything wrong.

I was like, "Where am I at?"

- You sounded great.
- No, you sounded too nice.

Oh, no. I wasn't great.

I feel like I made some mistakes.

- That was so good.
- Chuck killed it. Chuck Adams.

- Chuck Adams. I love it.
- Great name.

Great country name, yeah.

I think you were...
Even though it might have messed up

- in your head, I think...
- Yeah.

You probably... It might...
Maybe it made you tune in more.

It was kind of back to reality.
I was like, "Oh, I might have to go home."

[Guy ton] We have to figure out how many
artists are going on to the workshop.

We base our decision off of
did they deliver or did they not?

Yeah. Okay, so let's talk
about these three artists,

- one duo. The Betsies.
- Yeah. Yeah.

[Landi, Zel] ♪ Don't go spending
Grandpa's pennies buying into the game ♪

- I like them a lot.
- I liked them a lot too.

They're different.

- They're so sincere.
- Yeah.

They said they don't feel
like they have a home,

but when you're watching them,
they feel like home.

[Peck] Yes. A hundred percent.

I love that they're siblings.
You can tell that there's chemistry there.

And now that they've been singing together
for a while, they trust each other.

They feel very musically together.

- Like they know who they are.
- Very much so.

They're comfortable so...
Yeah, I like it a lot.

[Chuck] Golden ♪

[Guy ton] Chuck Adams.

He's super quiet and you just,
like, are drawn to it. You know?

When you're loud,
people don't pay attention.

- But when you whisper, it pulls people in.
- Then you're all like, "Huh?"

People get nosy and he just...
Just the way he came on stage and,

- "I'm Chuck Adams." You know what I mean?
- [Guy ton] Yeah.

- He's got a very brilliant mind.
- Mm-hmm.

And I'm wondering if that will
get in his way sometimes.

Yeah.
He's a artist I would love to work with

but be frustrated with, because
those type of artists are so artsy.

They're so, a lot of times,
self-conscious,

they don't never wanna release nothing.
I'm like, "bruh."

- [laughs]
- Yeah.

He's like sitting in a room
with a thousand journals.

[Guy ton] Yes! Just writing constantly.

- I love it. That's my vibe. [Chuckles]
- [Allen] Yeah.

Also, it felt like he could've, like,
written that song.

- I-I didn't even recognize the song.
- Oh, yeah.

I never really thought that that song
was so much about heartbreak,

and he made it so heartbreaking.

- [Guy ton] Right. He did.
- Yeah.

- Emo, man. Emo country. For sure.
- [Peck] You know what I'm saying?

- Okay, so next we have Ash lie Amber.
- Yeah.

[Ash lie] ♪ Swaying room
As the music starts ♪

She's got really great control
of her voice.

- Very good control.
- You can tell she knows her voice.

But I do wanna see her more emotional
or wild...

- Yeah. I want her to let go.
- ...or kind of... Yeah.

It didn't feel like
that was the right song

- to really display what she can do.
- [Guy ton] I...

- She is a freaking star, clearly.
- [Peck] Kind of her secret, yeah.

- Oh, yeah.
- And it's not that it's not there.

I think she just didn't show it
to us tonight.

- Yes. I agree.
- That rawness.

- I didn't really see it tonight.
- Yes, yes. I agree.

And last, but certainly not least, Wandile.

[Wandile] Just the two of us ♪

- He made it look so easy.
- [Peck] Yeah.

"This is nothing.
I'm chilling. This is warm-up."

Can you imagine if he vocally

- really pushed himself?
- Ooh!

'Cause I was waiting on it.
When he hit those high notes, I was like...

- He picked such a chilled song...
- I would tell him to let go... Yeah.

- ...that showed his voice.
- Yeah.

- I wanna hear all sides of his voice.
- A little more. Let go sooner.

- Trust it.
- Yeah.

If that is our decision tonight,

I think we can all safely know
that it's not the end of the road.

Yeah. Well, it's something
that I would like to tell them myself.

No problem. I'ma leave you to that.

- [chuckles]
- I know y'all didn't... I know.

[sighs] I-I don't envy you. Yeah.

- [Guy ton groans] I don't like this.
- Go in peace, my sister.

- This is hard, yeah. Good luck.
- See you later.

Thank you so much. Thanks, Jimmie.

- Oh, yeah.
- Best of luck.

We're gonna get your cocktail ready.

- Oh, my god. Please have it ready.
- [Peck] Bye, Mickey.

[groans, sighs]

[sighs]

[Zel] Performance went well, I think.

But we were also nervous
'cause they're all so talented.

- I was like...
- They've got good voices.

[Landi] That's where the nerves kicked in.

[Zel] We don't know what to expect.

Two people or three people
could have to go home.

- Hello.
- [Landi] Hi.

It's just part of the competition,
and it's nerve-racking

- to wait.
- [chuckles] Yeah.

Well, I was so excited
to watch y'all perform.

- I think y'all are so authentic.
- Thank you.

- The aesthetics, honey, is so great.
- [both chuckle]

Don't ever wear your shoes on that stage,

- like ever.
- Oh, we won't ever. We won't ever.

I love the way that you guys interact.

Like, y'all just connect
in such a beautiful way.

And with that said...

You guys are going
to the next round. [Laughs]

What? Don't do that? You can't do that.

I am so excited that we made it through,
because, um...

- I feel relieved, honestly.
- I do feel relieved.

Thank you so much.

- Really appreciate it. Thank you.
- I enjoy y'all so much.

Now, I feel like I wanna actually do more
and be better, and learn more.

We wanna give it everything we have.

Because when you make it
through the first round,

there's nothing stopping you
from making it through the next,

and the next, and the next.

[Wandile] You know, someone's gotta go.

I mean, I feel good about my performance,

but Wandile's not going
to be everybody's cup of tea, you know.

So, what if it's me, you know?
What if I'm going?

I'm prepping myself. [Chuckles]

- Queen Mickey. Let's go.
- Yeah.

Well, I'm just gonna get to it.
Wandile, your voice. Holy shit.

[chuckles] Thank you so much.

I wanna see you let go a little bit more.

You barely gave us an inkling
of what you can do.

And the same with you,
Mr. Mysterious, Chuck Adams. [Chuckles]

What you did with "Golden",

you literally made it sound
like your own song.

Which is insane.
But get out of your way, and just let go.

Wandile, you and Chuck Adams
are going on to the next round.

[laughs] You had us there.
I see what you did there.

- I did. I did. I did. I did.
- Shout out, bro.

I feel good. I feel excited
that I get another opportunity to...

To better myself, better my craft.
It's a blessing.

[Guy ton] I'm so excited.

- Congratu-freaking-lations.
- Excited.

[Chuck] For me,
it all comes down to the performance.

I could've done a lot better.
So, I wanna fix that.

Um, your voice, Ash lie, is so good.

Thank you.

- And I know you know that.
- Yes. Thank you.

But we didn't hear your truth
in that song.

[clicks tongue] Okay.

And that is something
that we were looking for.

- You're not going to the workshop.
- [clicks tongue] Okay.

This was an extremely,
extremely hard decision.

But it's okay.
Like, I'm a fighter, I'm a survivor.

- You are a fighter and a survivor and...
- I'm gonna keep doing my thing.

And we are gonna
continue this process together.

- You are not alone, sister.
- Yes.

- I swear on my grandmother's grave...
- [chuckles]

...this is not the end of the road for you.

- Thank you.
- Thank you, sis.

Yes. Have a good one.
It was so nice to meet you.

It was so, so, so, so great to meet you.
All right.

- Okay. Have fun.
- Thank you.

- Get it. [Chuckles]
- I'll see you soon.

- I'll see you. Bye.
- Goodbye.

["Remember Her Name" playing]

[Guy ton] It was incredibly difficult

for me to have to let Ash lie Amber go.

As a Black woman,
I Stan and support Black women,

and I still will always Stan
and support her.

But I know this girl is a performer.

Like, she has the potential
to be the next Shania freaking Twain.

And I wish I could've seen that
in her performance.

I-I could've showcased more.
So, I think that's why I'm upset.

I think the conversation
would have been a lot different.

But at the end of the day,
I'm just gonna keep grinding it out.

I'm gonna keep doing my thing.
You know, the show must go on.

I just wanna say, y'all are not
contestants, y'all are artists.

And it is such an honor
to just be in y'all's presence.

- And cheers to Ash lie.
- Yes.

- [Landi] Whoo.
- [Guy ton] Y'all deserve it.

[Zel] Well done, guys.

[Guy ton] To hear more music
from Ash lie Amber,

go to My Kind of Country
on Apple Music.