In case you missed it, the Country Music Awards took place on November 10 in Nashville, Tennessee, and it gave an unexpected yet important and beautiful ode to Black hair. During the ceremony, Faith Fennidy — a young girl who went viral in 2018 after she was sent home from school because her braids violated school policy — came on stage to introduce country singer Mickey Guyton alongside Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards. 

"I am proud to say that I inspired the song that you are about to hear. This next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved," Fennidy said directly to the camera. "And that's how you turn something very painful into something positive. With your help, we can work together to ensure the next generation grows up in a respectful and open world for natural hair."

Then, Guyton, Spencer, and Edwards apparated on stage to perform the song "Love My Hair" in flowing white gowns and voluminous statement curls. Guyton's embezzled Afro was punctuated by long braids on either side of her face, which started at the crown of her head and ended just above the knee. 

Hairstylist and Amika global artistic director Naeemah LaFond, who styled all three singers for the performance, knew the impact of their hairstyles should match the impact of the powerful song. "I love when hair moments are rooted in something deeper than what you see on the surface," she says in a press release. "As Black women, our hair is so often politicized. In moments like this, we take back our power."

The volume itself, Naeema adds, is representative of the pride and confidence that Guyton sings about in the lyrics. "As soon as I heard the song lyrics, I could instantly visualize what an artistic expression of those words would look like through hair," LaFond continues. "I really wanted each style to be a statement piece with a focus on each woman’s individual texture as a way to represent their own personal journey with their hair."

The key product to achieving that volume was Amika's Headstrong Intense Hold Hairspray, according to LaFond. "I used it to sculpt, lift, and shape the hair to flatter each woman's face. We also used tons of extensions to create the over-the-top volume," she explains. 

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You can see Fennidy's introduction and the entire performance of "Love My Hair" above — just have some tissues ready because you will cry. 

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