Amazon Music is releasing a new documentary, For love and countrywho claims that “country music has always been black music,” on April 7. It was realized by Joshua Kissi and features interviews and performances by several black country artists, including Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown, BRELAND, Shy Carter, Mickey Guyton, Willie Jones, Valerie June, Amythyst Kiah, Reyna Roberts, Allison Russell, Brittney Spencerand Frankie Staton.
“What I realized is that country music as a genre is just as complex as this country itself,” Kissi said via a press release. “Now is the time to stand up for the voices that have always mattered through time, especially the musicians who didn’t get credit when it was due.”
Adds Mickey Guyton: “I’ve always believed in the old saying, ‘if you can see it, you can be it.'” However, it’s no secret that there has been a lack of representation of black artists in mainstream country music for years. . That’s why I hope little black girls growing up now can see us, artists like Brittney, Reyna, Amythyst, Allison, Valerie, Frankie and me, and know they have a place here in country music. We all do.”
Brittney Spencer says, “This film is our collective story, in our own words. We all chart our own unique paths. We all have our own dreams and challenges, and our own ways of overcoming them. I hope that when people see this film, they better understand the conversation about race in country music. I hope it humanizes the issues being discussed and puts a whole host of beautiful black faces on a topic that audiences have heavily engaged and debated, especially over the course of for the past two years. I am happy to be a part of it and to share my story.”
Along with the announcement, Amythyst Kiah has released a new acoustic version of her breakthrough 2021 song “Black Myself” for the Amazon Original series, and you can hear it here. Watch the trailer below.
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