Beyoncé Wins First Country Grammy, Becoming the First Black Woman to Achieve the Feat

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, already the most-decorated and nominated artist in Grammy history, has set a new milestone by adding another award to her collection, making history once again.

The Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.

Beyoncé started strong by winning the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her collaboration “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus.

This year, Beyoncé became the leading nominee with a total of 11 nods, including the prestigious Album of the Year for her acclaimed eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter.

For the first time, she was also nominated in the Country & American Roots category.

In total, seven different songs from the album were nominated across four different genres.

With her win for “II Most Wanted,” Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to win a Grammy for a country music song since the Pointer Sisters won in a similar category in 1975.

No Black female solo artist has ever won a Grammy for a country song before. Four years ago, Mickey Guyton made history as the first Black woman to be recognized in a country music category when she received a nomination for her song “Black Like Me.”

Tina Turner’s debut album, Tina Turns the Country On!, was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category in 1975.

This year also marked the first time a Black woman has been nominated for the top prize of Album of the Year for a country album.

Beyoncé’s country music win is not only a historic achievement, but it also holds particular significance for her. Last fall, she made headlines when she was snubbed with zero nominations at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards, despite her groundbreaking album. While she was the leading nominee at the People’s Choice Country Awards with 12 nods, she didn’t take home any awards.

However, she secured her first country awards at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards in December, where she was named Top Country Female Artist.