Beyoncé won Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys for Cowboy Carter, becoming the first Black woman in over 25 years to achieve the honor. The win, following past snubs, cements her as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history while reigniting discussions on race and genre barriers
Beyoncé has finally secured the Grammy Award for Album of the Year with her country-inspired album, Cowboy Carter. This marks her first win in the category despite five nominations, making her the first Black woman to receive the honor in over 25 years.
The historic win places Beyoncé among just four Black women to have earned the prestigious award, following Lauryn Hill (1999), Whitney Houston (1994), and Natalie Cole (1992). In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged Black country pioneer Linda Martell, highlighting the ongoing struggles of Black artists in country music.
Competing against artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and André 3000, Beyoncé’s victory was a defining moment of the night. Her latest win brings her Grammy count to 35, further solidifying her place as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history.
For years, Beyoncé’s repeated losses in major categories sparked criticism about the Recording Academy’s recognition of Black artists. Previous albums like Lemonade and Renaissance were widely expected to win but lost to Beck, Adele, and Harry Styles.
Her husband, Jay-Z, previously called out the Grammys for overlooking her work. However, this year, as she claimed the top prize, cameras captured a celebratory toast between him and Taylor Swift, who holds the record for most Album of the Year wins.
