Beyoncé may have declared Cowboy Carter not a country album, but the Recording Academy disagreed. Following a snub from this year’s CMA Awards, Queen Bey’s pivot from a more pop and R&B-oriented landed in the Best Country Album at this year’s GRAMMY Awards. While some were surprised to see Cowboy Carter recognized in that category at all, no one was more shocked than the “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” singer herself when she was announced as the winner.
Beyoncé Wins Best Country Album
Perhaps it should have been a sign when Taylor Swift walked onto the stage at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena to present the GRAMMY Award for Best Country Album Sunday (Feb. 2.)
Beyoncé was up against some industry heavyweights, including Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and fellow crossover act Post Malone. Although it was far from the first time she’s heard her name called, Queen Bey looked properly stunned this time.
“Wow I really was not expecting this,” she said as she accepted the trophy from Swift.
TAYLOR SWIFT PRESENTS BEYONCÉ’S GRAMMY AWARD FOR COWBOY CARTER OH THIS IS HISTORY😭🥹pic.twitter.com/5MnbdYOb0E
— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) February 3, 2025
A Historic Night
Beyoncé gained 11 nominations for Cowboy Carter, including Album of the Year. The “16 CARRIAGES” singer had already made history earlier in the night. Her Miley Cyrus collab “II Most Wanted” took home the prize for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. With that win, her 33rd, the former Destiny’s Child member became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for a country music song since the Pointer Sisters won in a similar category in 1975.
The best-selling artist didn’t let her moment pass without some subtle shade.After thanking all the “incredible country artists” who “accepted this album,” she said, “I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists, and I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about and to say, stay persistent.”
Additionally, Beyoncé is the first woman in history to win across five different fields at the GRAMMY Awards. The Texas-born pop star has collected trophies in pop, R&B, rap, dance/electronic, and now country.
