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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Grammys finally awards Beyoncé Album of the Year for ‘Cowboy Carter’

Beyoncé won her first-ever Album of the Year Grammy on Sunday (Monday in Manila), finally taking home the coveted prize for her sweeping country revue, Cowboy Carter.

‘Cowboy Carter’ is the eighth studio album released by the American singer and sonagwriter

The 43-year-old music icon bested stiff competition including Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish to claim the night’s most prestigious trophy.

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It was a moment of vindication for Beyoncé, the Recording Academy’s most nominated and decorated artist ever—who for more than a decade has been routinely snubbed for top Grammys.

“It’s been many, many years,” she said in accepting the prize, which she dedicated to Linda Martell, a pioneering Black woman in country who performed on the album.

“I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors,” Beyoncé said.

It was the fifth time one of her albums had been nominated for the top prize, previously losing the award to Swift, Beck, Adele and Harry Styles.

And Beyoncé is the first Black woman in the 21st century to win the prize, and just one of four to do so: Lauryn Hill was the last to win in 1999, following in the footsteps of Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston.

Cowboy Carter is a rhinestone-studded, genre-bending, historically grounded honky tonk of an album that pays homage to Beyoncé’s southern heritage.

The 27-track second act in her Renaissance trilogy, Cowboy Carter magnified a wider conversation on the long history of Black artists in country music and the persistent racist backlash they have continued to experience.

Beyoncé entered the night with the most chances at Grammys gold, having garnered 11 nominations, including in the major fields along with pop, country, Americana and melodic rap performance.

She ultimately took home three awards: Album of the Year, best country album, and best country duo/group performance with Miley Cyrus.

Meanwhile, rapper Kendrick Lamar dominated the awards, winning all five categories in which he was nominated. He took home Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video for “Not Like Us.”

Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the Super Bowl 59 halftime show

Chappell Roan was named Best New Artist, while Sabrina Carpenter won Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso” and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Short n’ Sweet.” Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga for “Die with a Smile.”

In the rap category, Doechii won Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal. Meanwhile, Charli XCX secured Best Dance/Electronic Album for Brat, and The Rolling Stones won Best Rock Album for Hackney Diamonds. The Beatles’ “Now and Then” was recognized as Best Rock Performance.

Other notable winners included Chris Stapleton, who won Best Country Solo Performance for “It Takes a Woman,” and Tems, who received Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe.” AFP

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