KUALA LUMPUR February 6, 2025 – Industry legend Beyoncé ended a 25-year wait, finally winning the prestigious Grammy Award for Album of the Year with her country album, Cowboy Carter.
Beyoncé had been nominated in the Album of the Year category four times before finally taking home the trophy, joining peers like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Adele. Many have long felt she was overlooked by the system in previous years, yet she remains the most awarded and nominated artist in the music landscape.
The Winning Album
Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to win Album of the Year at the annual Grammy Awards in the 21st century. The last to achieve this was Lauryn Hill, who won 26 years ago with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This landmark moment serves as a powerful inspiration for people of color in the music industry.
Cowboy Carter made a remarkable debut, reaching 407,061 units in sales and equivalent streaming numbers. The 27-track country album earned Beyoncé 11 nominations at the 67th Grammy Awards, including two additional wins for Best Country Album and Best Country Duo Performance, alongside Miley Cyrus.
“It has been many, many years,” Beyoncé said in her brief acceptance speech. She went on to dedicate the award to Miss Martell, also known as Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, who is also featured on Cowboy Carter.
The Los Angeles Country Fire department was given the honor in presenting the Grammy award, after an exhausting month of service. Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh told CBS News how handing over the trophy to Beyonce was a form of once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Beyonce extended her acknowledgement and thanks towards the heroes that protected the residence of Los Angeles as the city faces a huge wildlife fire just last month.
