Mickey Guyton and Lea Hurley: Defying the Odds Through Strength and Song

Update: 2025-08-28

Description

*This episode contains mature content.

This week, we hear from two remarkable women who dared to pursue their dreams even when faced with disbelief, ultimately dedicating their lives to helping others through their art and work. First, country music star Mickey Guyton shares her journey of breaking barriers and finding her voice in an industry that wasn’t always ready for her. Then, author and speaker Lea Hurley opens up about how her personal health experiences shaped a life and a business she created to help herself but ended up helping others in a way she never dreamed possible.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: David and Tamela Mann

Upcoming interview: Bethany Joy Lenz

Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV

Jesus Calling: Songs for Sundays CD

Lea Hurley

American Dream Nut Butter

Neuroendocrine cancer

Tunnels to Towers Foundation

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

www.americandreamnutbutter.com

Interview Quotes:

“The challenges were people trying to change who I was or trying to interpret who I was as a black woman. And I understand the cultural differences, but people were trying to make me palatable to a country music audience.” - Mickey Guyton

“Country music literally fell into my lap. “It was a God thing. It was a spiritual thing. It chose me.” - Mickey Guyton

“I was like, ‘Why do you think country music isn’t working for me?’ And my husband was like, ‘Because you’re running away from everything that makes you different. Country music is three chords and the truth. Why aren’t you leaning into that?’” - Mickey Guyton

“I’m not only pursuing a career for myself, but pursuing a career for people that come after me. How can I help them? This may never happen for me, but how can I help the people that are coming up after me?” – Mickey Guyton

“I would say to anyone out there who is struggling to change either physically or mentally or emotionally that you really need to dig deep and find what your “why” is. You are going to have to rely on that every single day when it’s hard.” - Lea Hurley

“I’m a major dessert person, so I figured out that I can make nut butter taste like the desserts that I was missing, but still have all the things that I was allowed to have.” - Lea Hurley

“I feel like you just have to be plugged into Him, plugged into the Word all the time, so that you can receive what He’s trying to tell you and to be open to where it might come from.” - Lea Hurley

________________________

Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!

Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7

Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw

Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C

Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj

Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u

What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj

Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY

________________________

Connect with Jesus Calling

Instagram