At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé made history, becoming the first Black woman to win Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter. The prestigious honor was presented to her by fellow music icon Taylor Swift, who previously won the award in 2010 for Fearless.
Beyoncé appeared genuinely stunned as her name was called. When Swift read out the winner, the camera captured her shock, and she embraced Swift on stage before giving her acceptance speech. “Wow, I really was not expecting this,” she said, visibly emotional. “I wanna thank God — Oh my God! — that I’m able to still do what I love after so many years.”
She went on to express gratitude for the country artists who embraced the album, acknowledging the hard work that went into it. “I think sometimes genre is a code 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,” Beyoncé shared.
Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024, was not only a personal achievement for Beyoncé but also highlighted the contributions of Black artists within the country music space — a genre Beyoncé had initially struggled to feel welcome in after facing backlash in her earlier attempts to break through.
Beyoncé’s history-making win comes after a long-standing friendship with Swift, who also shared a heartfelt message. Reflecting on their bond, Swift wrote, “I’m so glad I’ll never know what my life would’ve been like without Beyoncé’s influence. The way she’s taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms. Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She’s been a guiding light throughout my career.”
This moment marks another milestone in Beyoncé’s extraordinary career, one that continues to inspire artists and fans around the world.