Beyoncé has made history at the 2025 Grammys by winning her first-ever Album of the Year award for her chart-topping country album Cowboy Carter. The multi-talented US superstar had been nominated for this prestigious award on four previous occasions but had always fallen short, with past albums like I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008), Beyoncé (2013), Lemonade (2016), and Renaissance (2022) failing to secure the top prize.
Her long-awaited win on Sunday night, which also included earlier victories for Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her track “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus, has solidified Beyoncé’s place as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history, bringing her total to an impressive 35 awards.
Upon receiving the Album of the Year Grammy at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the 43-year-old icon expressed her gratitude, saying: “I just feel very full and very honoured. It’s been many, many years, and I want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work. I want to dedicate this to Ms. (Linda) Martell, and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors. God bless y’all. Thank you so much.”
Beyoncé, who was joined on stage by her daughter, Blue Ivy, also took a moment to thank the brave firefighters for their efforts in containing the Los Angeles wildfires, which have plagued the city in recent weeks.
Earlier in the night, fellow Album of the Year nominee Taylor Swift presented Beyoncé with the Best Country Album award. The singer admitted that she was “not expecting” the honour, praising the “incredible country artists” who helped to shape her album. She added, “I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists, and I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about and to stay persistent.”
The creation of Cowboy Carter came after Beyoncé shared in a social media post that the album was born out of a period in which she “did not feel welcomed” in certain spaces, a situation that prompted her to “dive into the history of country music.”
Her victory in the country category is significant, especially after being snubbed at the Country Music Awards last year, despite Cowboy Carter becoming the first album by a Black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart. Her husband, Jay-Z, had previously addressed this discrepancy in his acceptance speech for the Global Impact Award at last year’s Grammys, drawing attention to Beyoncé’s lack of recognition for the coveted prize.
The album’s success comes as Beyoncé announces she will be taking Cowboy Carter on tour, much to the delight of her fans. In an Instagram post, she revealed a light-up billboard promoting the upcoming tour dates.
In other notable Grammy wins, Kendrick Lamar picked up two of the night’s top honours, securing Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his “diss” track Not Like Us. The song also bagged several early awards, including Best Music Video, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song.
Lamar dedicated the Record of the Year award to his hometown of Los Angeles, praising the community for its resilience in the face of the devastating wildfires. “This is my neck of the woods that held me down since a young pup,” he said. “We can continue to restore the city.”
The 2025 Grammy Awards raised funds for wildfire relief efforts following the destruction caused by recent blazes across California. At the ceremony, Lady Gaga voiced her support for the transgender community, saying, “Trans people are not invisible. They deserve love,” while accepting the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award for her collaboration with Bruno Mars on Die With A Smile.
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Chappell Roan, who collected her first Grammy for Best New Artist, took the opportunity to advocate for the music industry to provide “a livable wage and healthcare for artists.” She described her experiences during the pandemic, revealing that she had felt “betrayed” and “dehumanised” by the industry, which led her to demand better protections for future artists.
Colombian singer Shakira also delivered a heartfelt message when accepting her Best Latin Pop Album award for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. She dedicated the win to immigrants and women who work hard every day to provide for their families.
The Beatles picked up Best Rock Performance for their posthumous track Now And Then, while The Rolling Stones won Best Rock Album for Hackney Diamonds, their first original album in 18 years.
British singer Charli XCX emerged victorious in the Dance/Electronic categories, winning Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package for her album Brat. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter celebrated her first Grammy wins with Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet and Best Pop Solo Performance for Espresso.
The ceremony was hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah for the fifth consecutive year, bringing an entertaining and heartfelt atmosphere to the star-studded night.
