Beyoncé won Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter at the 67th Grammy Awards, announced by Taylor Swift to a standing ovation. Overwhelmed, Beyoncé remained seated in shock until Jay-Z and Blue Ivy encouraged her to accept the award. Competing against Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone, her victory sparked both praise and controversy.
In her emotional speech, Beyoncé thanked God, country artists, and her supporters, emphasizing breaking genre boundaries. However, critics argued she didn’t belong in the country category, with some calling the win “rigged” and an “embarrassment” to the genre. Fans of Musgraves and Wilson voiced frustration, believing their artists were more authentic representatives.
The backlash echoed Jay-Z’s 2024 Grammy speech, where he criticized the Recording Academy for never awarding Beyoncé Album of the Year despite her record wins. While some questioned her win, many celebrated it, with supporters praising her talent and historic success in country music.