It’s been three years since then 11-year-old Faith Fennidy was dismissed from her Louisiana Catholic school over her braided hairstyle, a move that sparked outrage and nationwide support, including from country singer Mickey Guyton. 

Guyton recently performed her single “Love My Hair,” which was inspired by Fennidy, at the 2021 Country Music Association Awards—where she was introduced by none other than the student herself. 

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“My name is Faith Fennidy and I’m proud to say that I inspired the song you’re about to hear by an artist I love,” Fennidy said, per NBC News’ Ariana Brockington. “A few years ago, I was sent home from school because my braids were said to be a distraction, it was devastating for me. But this next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved.” 

Fennidy’s parents decided to transfer her in August 2018 after Christ the King Middle School officials called her short and neatly braided hairstyle “unacceptable” and claimed it violated school policy, which had reportedly been updated without parents’ knowledge to prohibit “extensions, wigs, and hair pieces of any kind,” per PEOPLE’s Char Adams. 

Guyton celebrated her performance in a number of Instagram posts, where she said Fennidy’s presence “means the world to me” before adding, “She is the future and I want to be like her when I grow up.” 

The Grammy-award nominee was joined by fellow musicians Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, an honor she doesn’t take lightly. 

“With opportunity comes possibility. With truth comes authenticity. It is truly an honor to be on this stage singing a song about self acceptance with these amazing women,” she said via Instagram. 

The track is listed on Guyton’s debut album Remember Her Name, which was released in September and according to her, depicts re-discovery as a person and artist via both good and negative lessons. 

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“When I first got signed ten years ago, I wanted to make an album just like everyone else,” Guyton said in an interview with CMT News’ Marcus K. Dowling. “But, ten years later, after seeing Nashville’s flaws, I’m instead making an album that I hope continues the conversation about people of color gaining equity and increases opportunities for other artists of color to succeed in country music.”