 "Grammys 2025: How Beyonce becomes first black woman to win Country Grammy in 50 years?")
Beyonce made history as she became the first black woman to win Country Grammy in 50 years. According to a story published in grammy.com, Beyoncé slapped down the concept of genre as a musical limitation with help from pioneering country artist Linda Martell on COWBOY CARTER’s panoramic 27 tracks. “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? Yes, they are,” the trailblazing Martell, who was the first Black woman to ever play the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, said on the GRAMMY-nominated album cut “SPAGHETTII.” “In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand/ But in practice, well, some may feel confined.”
Beyoncé won album of the year for “Cowboy Carter” at the 2025 Grammys, delivering her — at last — the show’s elusive top award. Beyonce becomes first black woman to win Country Grammy in 50 years. The superstar, who is both the most awarded and nominated artist in Grammys history, had been nominated in the category four times before and many felt she had been snubbed by its top honors.
In her speech, the 32-time Grammy winner said, “I’d like to thank, acknowledge, and praise all the firefighters for keeping us safe. I just feel very full and very honoured. It’s been many, many years. 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.”
Beyoncé arrived at the 2024 Grammy Awards in full cowboy regalia — making a statement without saying a word. Then, during the Super Bowl, she dropped two hybrid country songs: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” All of that heralded her latest album, “Act ll: Cowboy Carter,” out Friday.
As a Black woman reclaiming country music, she stands in opposition to stereotypical associations of the genre with whiteness. “Cowboy Carter” was five years in the making, a direct result of what Beyoncé has called “an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed … and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” most likely a reference to a 2016 CMAs performance that resulted in racist backlash.
Fast forward eight years, and last month, she became the first Black woman to ever top Billboard’s country music chart. The “Cowboy Carter” doesn’t shy away from country: the track list has teased potential collaborations with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson and included a mention of the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” a Jim Crow-era network of Black entertainment venues. One song is titled “The Linda Martell Show,” after the performer who became the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry.