2025 Grammy Awards: Beyonce wins Album of the Year for first time for country music record Cowboy Carter

Beyonce has been vindicated, winning the top prize, Album of the Year, at the 2025 Grammy Awards for her country music record, Cowboy Carter.

The victory was particularly sweet as it was her first in the category after four previous losses, and it was for a genre in which she has not always been welcome.

“I feel very full and very honoured,” Beyonce said in her acceptance speech. “It’s been many, many years and I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer for all the hard work.

“I want to dedicate this to Ms Martell and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors.”

Linda Martell was the first black woman to release a major country album in 1970 and she is featured on the tracks, Spaghettii and The Linda Martell Show.

Beyonce was already the most awarded artist in Grammys’ history and adds another three gongs to her tally of 35. She went into the night with 11 nominations and also won for Country Album of the Year and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus.

She was the first black woman to win a country Grammy in 50 years.

Beyonce was presented with the top honours by a group of Los Angeles County firefighters who were given a standing ovation from the crowd as they came out on stage. The ceremony doubled as a fundraiser for relief organisations in the aftermath of a Los Angeles wildfires.

Kendrick Lamar won Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Rap Song and Rap Performance for Not Like Us, which is the diss track against Drake, and for which is being sued by his rival.

For the most part, female performers dominated the awards with Sabrina Carpenter taking out Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance, Charli xcx the Dance/Electronica Music Album and Dance Pop Recording, St. Vincent for Alternative Music Album, Alternative Music Performance and Rock Song, SZA for R&B Song, Kasey Musgrave for Country Song, Doechii for Rap Album, and Chappell Roan for New Artist.

Alicia Keys was presented with the Global Impact Award, which the artist used as an opportunity to highlight the inequity between men and woman in the industry. She said on stage, “I always had to fight for a certain level of respect as a songwriter and composer, and especially as a producer.

“It’s strange that we don’t think of women as producers like Quincy or Dre or Swizzy. It’s a beautiful thing to be acknowledged for a thing I always thought people didn’t really recognise about me.”

There was still room for legacy artists with The Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds taking out the Rock Album award and The Beatles in Rock Performance.

The latter award was accepted by Sean Ono Lennon, who said, “It’s really incredible, if you think about it. The Beatles have done so much incredible work and they’re still in the culture and people still listen to the music. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the greatest band of all time.”

There were some references to the politics of the day. Lady Gaga said during her acceptance speech, “Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love”. While Shakira, winning Latin Pop Album, dedicated her award to “all of my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country, you are loved, you’re worth it and I will always fight for you”.

Keys also referenced one of Donald Trump’s moves since taking office two weeks ago. She spoke out in defence of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift, and the more powerful the voices, the more powerful the sound,” she said.

There were performances from Shakira, The Weeknd, Janelle Monae, Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, Billie Eilish and Finneas, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Roan, Carpenter and Charlie xcx.