How Beyoncé ends Grammy losing streak with 'Cowboy Carter'

Beyoncé's win at the 2025 Grammy Awards breaks barriers, ending her losing streak and making history as one of the few Black women to win album of the year.

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

By Novanka Laras and Sarah Oktaviany

At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé made history by finally clinching the prestigious album of the year award with Cowboy Carter, an album that blends country and American roots music. This win marked the end of a four-time losing streak, a string of losses that had baffled fans and critics alike. Her victory also placed her in the record books as only the fourth Black woman — and the first since Lauryn Hill in 1999 — to win the coveted accolade.

Beyoncé expressed her excitement with a heartfelt moment on stage, saying, “It’s been many, many years,” as she accepted the trophy with a wide smile. This long-awaited win was seen as not just a personal triumph for the artist, but also a significant step for the Grammy Awards, especially after years of controversy surrounding the lack of recognition for Black artists in the top categories.

'Cowboy Carter' as a breakthrough album

How Beyoncé won with Cowboy Carter — an album that represents a departure from her usual R&B and pop style — speaks to both her artistry and the evolving landscape of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammys. The victory came at a time when the academy was grappling with its public image, particularly regarding complaints of a lack of diversity in its top awards and its tendency to overlook Black artists.

According to Bill Werde, the director of the Bandier music business program at Syracuse University, this win was crucial for the Grammy Awards. “The Grammys had one job to do, and they did it,” Werde said. “Beyoncé's win was a long time coming, and it sent a message of change.” The academy’s efforts to diversify its voting body — 66 percent of voters have joined since 2019, with 38 percent of the electorate being people of color — may have played a role in Beyoncé’s success. However, her win was not solely the result of demographics.

Cowboy Carter was a deliberate move away from Beyoncé’s typical genre, focusing on American roots and country music. This decision was not only artistically bold but also in alignment with the Grammy voters’ traditional preference for albums that celebrate musical legacies and traditions. In promoting the album, Beyoncé emphasized her commitment to authenticity, using real instruments like banjos, organs, and strings, and avoiding digital filters and artificial sounds. This approach, which embraced the foundational aspects of country music, resonated with Grammy voters who are often drawn to acts that honor music traditions.

The significance of 'Cowboy Carter' in Black country music

While Cowboy Carter may have marked a departure from Beyoncé’s previous work, it also represents a reclamation of Black voices in country music — a genre traditionally dominated by white artists. In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé dedicated the award to Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, highlighting the oft-overlooked contributions of Black women in the genre.

"For her to dedicate that award to Linda Martell was to really highlight and amplify the idea that we’ve always been here," said Treva B. Lindsey, a professor at Ohio State University and a scholar of Beyoncé’s work. "You just haven’t heard us, you haven’t seen us, you haven’t affirmed our presence and our contributions to this tradition."

Beyoncé’s dedication was a powerful reminder of the long history of Black women in country music, often relegated to the margins of a genre that has predominantly celebrated white voices. In a symbolic act, Cowboy Carter not only honored the Black roots of country music but also amplified the role that women of color have played in its history.

The collaborations and the diverse appeal of 'Cowboy Carter'

Despite Cowboy Carter’s heavy focus on country, it featured collaborations that broadened its appeal, with appearances from country legends like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Additionally, the album included a cover of the Beatles’ Blackbird, featuring vocals from a group of young Black women in country music. In a surprising move, Beyoncé also collaborated with country-friendly white stars, including Miley Cyrus and Post Malone, creating a bridge between traditionally separate music worlds.

These collaborations reflect Beyoncé’s ability to unite diverse audiences, using her platform to amplify voices across different genres and communities. This inclusive approach to music making likely resonated with Grammy voters, whose tastes have been influenced by changing music industry trends and a growing demand for diverse, cross-genre collaborations.

The Grammy tradition and the 'Steely Dan phenomenon'

While Cowboy Carter may not have been universally hailed as Beyoncé’s most acclaimed album, it was consistent with another longstanding Grammy tradition: the recognition of a late-period album by an artist who has previously been overlooked. This phenomenon — known among Grammy watchers as the Steely Dan effect — is named after the jazz-rock band that won album of the year for Two Against Nature in 2001, a victory that many saw as an overdue acknowledgment of the band’s legacy.

In Beyoncé’s case, her victory with Cowboy Carter could be seen as the Grammy Academy’s way of rectifying past omissions, rewarding an artist whose past masterpieces, such as Lemonade and Beyoncé, were previously passed over. This sentiment was reflected by Grammy voters, who, in acknowledging Beyoncé’s most recent work, also saw an opportunity to atone for earlier missteps.

In the words of Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, the changes within the institution reflect a commitment to being "accurate in representing what’s going on in music at any given time." Since his appointment in 2020, Mason has been dedicated to improving the credibility and inclusivity of the awards, with significant reforms aimed at diversifying the voting process and eliminating controversial practices.

The evolving role of the Recording Academy

Under Mason’s leadership, the Grammy Academy has worked to revitalize its image. Key changes, such as the elimination of anonymous nomination committees that were accused of skewing the process, have been seen as steps toward a more transparent and equitable voting process. These changes have been welcomed by many, including The Weeknd, who previously criticized the Grammys and boycotted the ceremony due to issues with the voting process.

Mason has embraced criticism as an opportunity for growth, stating, “If there’s valid points of constructive input that we can use in our process to be better, then we’ll do that.” This openness to feedback and the academy’s evolving inclusivity efforts may have helped create the environment in which Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter could thrive.

A win for diversity and representation in music

Beyoncé’s win represents a major moment in the ongoing struggle for diversity and representation in the music industry. While Cowboy Carter might not have been universally loved, its cultural significance was undeniable, especially in the context of Grammy history and its long-standing issues with race and representation. The victory, along with the academy’s efforts to diversify its membership, signifies a hopeful shift towards a more inclusive future for the music industry.

Ultimately, Beyoncé’s success with Cowboy Carter wasn’t just about the album’s musical merits; it was a triumph for Black artists, for women in country music, and for the changing dynamics within the Recording Academy. As the music industry continues to evolve, this victory serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity, recognition, and the power of artistic expression.