Country star Mickey Guyton teamed up with Alyssa Wray on the American Idol finale this weekend (May 23), turning in a powerful rendition of Guyton’s “Black Like Me.”
Stunning their audience with sparkling gowns and brilliant vocals, the two divas delivered a moment that felt like more than just an all-star duet. Highlighting struggles with racial discrimination and holding hope that anything can be overcome, they delivered one of the night’s standout performances.
Soul-singing show contestant Wray started the song off, slowing walking the stage in a feat of quiet scene setting. Then Guyton emerged with a bold entrance to unleash the song’s stirring chorus, before both singers let their voices soar in acrobatic harmony. By the time they finished, the two singers were hand in hand — and they had the judges eating from the palm of those hands as well.
“It’s a hard life on easy street / Just white painted picket fences far as you can see / If you think we live in the land of the free / You should try to be black like me,” goes the resounding chorus.
The spellbinding moment was part of a finale which featured a whole round of big-time performances, including ones from fellow country stars Luke Combs and Luke Bryan, among others.
Contestant Chayce Beckham went on to be named the winner of Season 19, and American Idol plans to return for a 20th season next year — although there’s no official word on whether or not Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will remain judges.