Beyoncé makes history with Grammy win for best country album

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter secures a landmark victory despite country music resistance.

Beyoncé attends the 67th Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on February 2, 2025. Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Sarah Oktaviany

Beyoncé entered the 2025 Grammys with 11 nominations, the most of any artist, marking another milestone in her already record-breaking career. Among those, her album Cowboy Carter stood out as a major contender for album of the year, a category she had been nominated in five times without a win. However, the night’s biggest statement came in the country music field, where Beyoncé shattered long-standing barriers with her victory for best country album.

With this win, she became the first Black artist to claim the award, a significant moment in the history of the Grammys and country music. In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé addressed the challenges of genre classification, stating, “I think sometimes ‘genre’ is a code word to keep us in our place as artists, and I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about.”

A historic presence in country music categories

While Beyoncé’s best country album win was the highlight, she was also nominated in four other country-related categories. She secured another Grammy for best country duo/group performance with II Most Wanted, her collaboration with Miley Cyrus. However, she faced tough competition elsewhere:

She lost best country song to Kacey Musgraves’ The Architect.
Best country solo performance went to Chris Stapleton’s It Takes a Woman.
Best Americana performance was awarded to Sierra Ferrell for American Dreaming.

Despite these setbacks, her two Grammy wins marked a powerful message to the country music industry, which has largely resisted her entry into the genre.

Beyoncé’s long battle with country music gatekeepers

Beyoncé’s history with country music dates back to Daddy Lessons, a track from her 2016 album Lemonade. The song, featuring twangy guitars and Southern storytelling, was widely praised but faced rejection from Nashville’s elite. When it was submitted for country Grammy consideration, the committee overseeing the category declined to recognize it. That same year, her performance of Daddy Lessons with the Chicks at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was met with backlash from traditionalists in the genre.

This rejection only fueled Beyoncé’s determination to engage more deeply with country music. When announcing Cowboy Carter, she referenced her past experiences, writing on social media:

It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed … and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive.

She further explained that the criticism she faced when first attempting country music “forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me.”

Resistance from country radio and Nashville’s establishment

Despite her immense popularity, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter received little attention from country radio. The album was largely ignored by major stations, and the CMAs failed to acknowledge it with any nominations in 2024.

This resistance reflects a long-standing trend within country music, where Black artists have struggled for recognition despite their foundational contributions to the genre. Even celebrated Black country musicians, such as Charley Pride and Mickey Guyton, have faced barriers when trying to break through.

However, the Grammys have historically been a space where voters push back against Nashville’s exclusionary practices. In 2007, the Chicks won album of the year for Taking the Long Way after being blacklisted by country radio for their criticism of President George W. Bush. Beyoncé’s win for best country album echoes that moment, signaling a shift in how the industry is forced to acknowledge artists breaking traditional molds.

What Beyoncé’s win means for country music

Beyoncé’s success at the Grammys could open doors for more artists of color in country music. While Nashville’s institutions may remain resistant, the visibility of Cowboy Carter and its Grammy recognition demonstrate that genre barriers are increasingly being challenged.

Whether this moment leads to long-term change in the industry remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain—Beyoncé has once again reshaped the conversation, proving that country music, like any genre, belongs to those who dare to redefine it.