Beyoncé Makes History with “Cowboy Carter” at 2025 Grammy Awards

Best Country Album - Beyonce - Cowboy Carter, 67th Annual Grammy Awards Show, Los Angeles
Best Country Album - Beyonce - Cowboy Carter, 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Show, Los Angeles, USA - 02 Feb 2025. Photo by John Salangsang/Shutterstock (15123170eh)

At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 2, 2025, Beyoncé made history by winning the coveted Album of the Year award for her album Cowboy Carter. This achievement marks her first win in this category and makes her the first Black woman to receive the honor in the 21st century.

Hosted by Trevor Noah at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in the music industry. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter was lauded for its innovative blend of genres and powerful storytelling, earning critical acclaim and widespread recognition.

Taylor Swift, who began her career in country music, presented the award, marking a historic moment as Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win in the category. Wearing a “T” chain around her upper thigh, Swift’s role in the presentation added a symbolic full-circle element to the occasion. Despite holding the record as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history, Beyoncé appeared visibly surprised upon hearing her name announced, as noted by the New York Post.

In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé expressed profound gratitude, stating, “I’d like to thank and acknowledge and praise all the firefighters for keeping us safe. I feel very full and very honored. It’s been many, many years, and I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work. I want to dedicate this to Ms. Martell. I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors. God bless y’all. Thank you so much,” as reported by Pitchfork.

 “Sometimes genre is a codeword to keep us in our place as artists and I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about,” she went on, as reported by The Guardian.

Beyond the Album of the Year award, Cowboy Carter also won Best Country Album, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to receive this honor. Additionally, she secured the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for her collaboration with Miley Cyrus on the track “Western Skies.”

The night also featured notable performances, including Kendrick Lamar’s rendition of “Not Like Us,” which earned him both Record and Song of the Year awards. Chappell Roan received the Best New Artist award and used her platform to advocate for better treatment of artists by record labels.

The 2025 Grammy Awards underscored the industry’s commitment to diversity and cultural recognition, celebrating both established and emerging talents. Beyoncé’s groundbreaking achievements with Cowboy Carter have solidified her legacy as a transformative figure in music.