Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year at Grammys

Image: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Beyoncé finally claimed the prestigious Album of the Year award at the 67th Grammy Awards for Cowboy Carter, marking a groundbreaking moment in music history. The album, which explores the Black roots of country music, secured her the top prize after years of near misses. "I just feel very full and very honoured," she said, standing on stage in a gold paisley dress. "It's been many, many years."  

Beyoncé is the first Black woman to win the award since Lauryn Hill in 1999. She dedicated her win to Linda Martell, a pioneer for Black artists in country music, and emphasized the importance of continuing to push boundaries. "I hope we just keep pushing forward [and] opening doors," she told the audience.  

Earlier in the night, Beyoncé had already made history by becoming the first black female artist to win Best Country Album. Her stunned reaction was clear when Taylor Swift announced her as the winner. "Wow, I really was not expecting this," she admitted. Beyoncé used her speech to call out the rigid expectations placed on artists, stating, "Genre is a code word to keep us in place as artists, and I just want to encourage us to do what we're passionate about."  

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” takes five awards

The evening also belonged to Kendrick Lamar, whose track Not Like Us swept five awards, including Song and Record of the Year. Lamar dedicated his Record of the Year win to Los Angeles, which had recently suffered devastating wildfires. "We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," he said. The wildfires loomed large over the event, with the show raising over $7 million for relief efforts. Host Trevor Noah acknowledged the firefighters who helped contain the crisis, calling them "heroes."  

Chappell Roan wins Best New Artist

Another standout moment came from Chappell Roan, who won Best New Artist and used her speech to advocate for better treatment of musicians. "I told myself, if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists, would offer a liveable wage and health care, especially to developing artists," she said. "Labels, we got you, but do you got us?"

Doechii becomes third woman in history to win Best Rap Album

The night also saw Doechii take home Best Rap Album, making her only the third woman to win the award since its creation in 1989. In an emotional speech, she encouraged Black women to embrace their worth. "There are so many black women out there that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you, you can do it," she told the audience. 

"Anything is possible. Don't allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you [or] tell you that you can't be here, that you're too dark, or that you're not smart enough, or that you're too dramatic or you're too loud. You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are and I am a testimony. Praise God."

Lady Gaga advocates for LGBTQ+ community in acceptance speech

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Die With A Smile. Gaga took the moment to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community after recent political moves to limit diversity and inclusion efforts. "Trans people deserve love, the queer community deserves to be lifted up," she declared.  

The show also paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones, with performances from Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe, and Herbie Hancock celebrating his musical legacy. Will Smith introduced the segment, calling Jones "one of the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our times."  

While Cowboy Carter’s success was a triumph for Beyoncé, it also highlighted a shift in the industry’s recognition of Black artists in historically white-dominated genres. From Lamar’s rap dominance to Roan’s industry critique, the night was filled with powerful statements, proving that music remains a force for both celebration and change.

See the list of winners below:

Record of the Year

“Not Like Us” - Kendrick Lamar

Album of the Year

“Cowboy Carter” - Beyoncé

Song of the Year

“Not Like Us” - Kendrick Lamar

Best New Artist

Chappell Roan

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Daniel Nigro

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Espresso” - Sabrina Carpenter

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Die With A Smile" - Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Best Pop Vocal Album

"Short n' Sweet" - Sabrina Carpenter

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

"Neverender" - Justice & Tame Impala

Best Dance Pop Recording

"Von dutch" - Charli xcx

Best Dance/Electronic Album

"BRAT" - Charli xcx

Best Remixed Recording

"Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ \r\nWorking Late Remix)" - FNZ & Mark Ronson, remixers (Sabrina Carpenter)

Best Rock Performance

"Now And Then" - The Beatles

Best Metal Performance

"Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)" - Gojira, Marina Viotti & Victor Le Masne

Best Rock Song

“Broken Man" - St. Vincent

Best Rock Album

"Hackney Diamonds" - The Rolling Stones

Best Alternative Music Performance

"Flea" - St. Vincent

Best Alternative Music Album

"All Born Screaming" - St. Vincent

Best R&B Performance

"Made For Me (Live On BET)" - Muni Long

Best Traditional R&B Performance

"That's You" - Lucky Daye

Best R&B Song

“Saturn” - SZA

Best Progressive R&B Album 

"Why Lawd?" - NxWorries

and

"So Glad To Know You" - Avery*Sunshine

Best R&B Album

"11:11 (Deluxe)" - Chris Brown

Best Rap Performance

"Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar

Best Melodic Rap Performance

"3:AM" - Rapsody Featuring Erykah Badu

Best Rap Song

"Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap Album

"Alligator Bites Never Heal" - Doechii

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

"The Heart, The Mind, The Soul" - Tank And The Bangas

Best Jazz Performance

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" - Samara Joy Featuring Sullivan Fortner

Best Jazz Vocal Album

"A Joyful Holiday" - Samara Joy

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

"Remembrance" - Chick Corea & Béla Fleck

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

"Bianca Reimagined: Music For Paws And Persistence" - Dan Pugach Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

"Cubop Lives!" - Zaccai Curtis, Luques Curtis, Willie Martinez, Camilo Molina & Reinaldo DeJesus

Best Alternative Jazz Album

"No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin" - Meshell Ndegeocello

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

"Visions" - Norah Jones

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

"Plot Armor" - Taylor Eigsti

Best Musical Theatre Album

Hell’s Kitchen

Best Country Solo Performance 

"It Takes A Woman" - Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance 

"II MOST WANTED" - Beyoncé Featuring Miley Cyrus

Best Country Song

"The Architect" - Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Album

"COWBOY CARTER" - Beyoncé

Best American Roots Performance

"Lighthouse" - Sierra Ferrell

Best Americana Performance

"American Dreaming" - Sierra Ferrell

Best American Roots Song

"American Dreaming" - Sierra Ferrell

Best Americana Album 

"Trail Of Flowers" - Sierra Ferrell

Best Bluegrass Album

"Live Vol. 1" - Billy Strings

Best Traditional Blues Album

"Swingin' Live At The Church In Tulsa" - The Taj Mahal Sextet

Best Contemporary Blues Album

"Mileage" - Ruthie Foster

Best Folk Album

"Woodland" - Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Best Regional Roots Music Album

"Kuini" - Kalani Pe'a

Best Gospel Performance/Song

"One Hallelujah" - Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

"That's My King" - CeCe Winans

Best Gospel Album

"More Than This" - CeCe Winans

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

"Heart Of A Human" - DOE

Best Roots Gospel Album

"Church" - Cory Henry

Best Latin Pop Album

"Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran" - Shakira

Best Musica Urbana Album

"LAS LETRAS YA NO IMPORTAN" - Residente

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

"¿Quién trae las cornetas?" - Rawayana

Best Musica Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)

"Boca Chueca, Vol. 1" - Carín León

Best Tropical Latin Album

"Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional)" - Tony Succar, Mimy Succar

Best Global Music Performance

"Bemba Colorá" - Sheila E. Featuring Gloria Estefan & Mimy Succar

Best African Music Performance

"Love Me JeJe" - Tems

Best Global Music Album

"ALKEBULAN II" - Matt B Featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Reggae Album

"Bob Marley: One Love - Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe)" - Various Artists

Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album

"Triveni" - Wouter Kellerman, Eru Matsumoto & Chandrika Tandon

Best Children’s Music Album

"Brillo, Brillo!" - Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band

Best Comedy Album

"The Dreamer" - Dave Chappelle

Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording

"Last Sundays In Plains: A Centennial Celebration" - Jimmy Carter

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

"Maestro: Music By Leonard Bernstein" - Bradley Cooper, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (London Symphony Orchestra)

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

“Dune: Part Two” - Hans Zimmer

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

"Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord" - Winifred Phillips

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"It Never Went Away [From “American Symphony”]" - Jon Batiste

Best Music Video

"Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar

Best Music Film

"American Symphony" - Jon Batiste

Best Recording Package

"BRAT" - Charli xcx

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

"Mind Games" - John Lennon

Best Album Notes

"Centennial" - King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists

Best Historical Album

"Centennial" - King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band And Various Artists

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

"i/o" - Peter Gabriel

Best Engineered Album, Classical

"Bruckner: Symphony No. 7; Bates: Resurrexit" - Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Producer of the Year, Classical

Elaine Martone

Best Immersive Audio Album

"i/o (In-Side Mix)" - Peter Gabriel

Best Instrumental Composition

"Strands" - Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf & Christian Euman (Composed by Pascal Le Boeuf)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Jacob Collier Featuring John Legend & Tori Kelly (Arranged by Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly & John Legend)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

"Alma" - säje Featuring Regina Carter (Arranged by Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor)

Best Orchestral Performance

"Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina" - Los Angeles Philharmonic

Best Opera Recording

"Saariaho: Adriana Mater" - San Francisco Symphony; San Francisco Symphony Chorus; Timo Kurkikangas

Best Choral Performance

"Ochre" - The Crossing

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

"Rectangles And Circumstance" - Caroline Shaw & So Percussion

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

"Bach: Goldberg Variations" - Víkingur Ólafsson

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

"Beyond The Years - Unpublished Songs Of Florence Price" - Karen Slack, soloist; Michelle Cann, pianist

Best Classical Compendium

"Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina" - Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Dmitriy Lipay, producer

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

"Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina” - Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic & Los Angeles Master Chorale (Composed by Gabriela Ortiz)