Despite being the most nominated artist of the night for this year’s Grammys, Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album’s triumph as the “Best Country Album” stunned the vocal powerhouse.
On Monday, February 3 (Philippine time), the musician made history as the first black female artist to win in the category.
The award was presented by Taylor Swift, who reminisced about her acceptance of the award, almost exactly 15 years ago. The recognition was awarded to great artists like Johnny Cash, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain, and many others. Now, Beyoncé is one of the great artists recognized in the category.
Although Queen B’s win may not come as a surprise for many, the announcement came as a shock for her.
“I was not expecting this. I want to thank God that I’m able to still do what I love after so many years, oh, my God! I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this album we worked so hard on,” she began her speech.
“I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists, and just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about. And to stay persistent.” she expressed.
“I still am in shock. Thank you so much for this honor,” she continued.
In 2024, the singer faced criticism for delving into the genre of country music. During the album’s 10-day countdown, Beyoncé shared that the album was born out of an experience she had years ago where she felt unwelcomed. Despite that, she dug deeper into the genre’s history and studied the richness of the musical archive.
“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work,” she wrote in her caption.
“My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant,” she said.
Aside from the "Best Country Album," Beyoncé is also up for Album of the Year. The album track, “Texas Hold ‘Em” is nominated for three categories, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Country Song; while “Bodyguard” is nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Moreover, her nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus won the category before the ceremony kicked off.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter won the Best Pop Vocal Album category for “Short n' Sweet,” while Chappel Roan won the “Best New Artist.”
