Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, already the most decorated and nominated artist in Grammy history, has once again made history by adding another award to her name.
This year’s Grammy Awards are taking place at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles, where Beyoncé secured a major win in the country music category. She took home the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for II Most Wanted alongside Miley Cyrus.
Beyoncé entered the night as the leading nominee with 11 nods, including the prestigious Album of the Year for her critically acclaimed eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. For the first time, she was also nominated in the Country & American Roots categories.
In total, seven different songs from Cowboy Carter received nominations across four genres. With her win for II Most Wanted, Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to win a Grammy for a country song since The Pointer Sisters did in 1975. However, no Black female solo artist has ever won a Grammy in a country music category.
Four years ago, Mickey Guyton made history as the first Black woman to receive a Grammy nomination in a country category for her song Black Like Me. Meanwhile, in 1975, Tina Turner’s debut album, Tina Turns the Country On!, was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, marking an early intersection of Black artists and country music recognition at the Grammys.
This year also marks the first time a Black woman has been nominated for Album of the Year for a country album.
Beyoncé’s historic win is particularly significant given the challenges she has faced in country music. In 2024, she was notably snubbed by the Country Music Association Awards, receiving zero nominations despite Cowboy Carter’s impact. Though she led the People’s Choice Country Awards with 12 nominations, she did not take home any wins.
However, she earned her first country music accolades at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, where she was named Top Country Female Artist in December. Now, with her Grammy win, Beyoncé has firmly cemented her place in country music history.
