Beyoncé has finally claimed the Grammy for Album of the Year. Her country album “Cowboy Carter” broke the barriers of being considered an exclusive domain for white males. As of this year, Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy wins with 35 awards.
At the 67th Grammy Awards held on February 2nd in Los Angeles, Beyoncé, the American pop superstar, won her first Album of the Year Grammy with her eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter” in the country genre. Upon being named, she took to the stage and remarked, “It has been such a long journey,” and expressed gratitude to the Grammys and all the musicians involved. She also acknowledged Linda Martell, a pioneer of Black country music, saying, “I hope we continue to open doors.”
Despite being a living legend with 32 Grammy wins prior to this, Beyoncé had been nominated for Album of the Year four times without securing the trophy. Her husband, famed producer Jay-Z, even criticized the Grammys last year by saying “it makes no sense” when he accepted a Grammy achievement award.
Released in March last year, “Cowboy Carter” included popular country songs like “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song by a Black female artist to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This achievement is especially significant as it was made in the country genre, traditionally seen as an exclusive field for white males.
Kendrick Lamar swept the Record of the Year and Song of the Year with “Not Like Us,” and newcomer Chapell Roan was named Best New Artist for “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club.” Meanwhile, there have been no Grammy nominations for K-pop artists since BTS from 2021 to 2023. Grammy winners are determined by the votes of 13,000 members of the Recording Academy (NARAS).