Beyoncé Stunned by Grammy Wins for Best Country Album & Album of the Year: ‘Oh My God’

Music icon Beyoncé is rarely left speechless, but had to collect her thoughts after winning the Best Country Album Award at the 2025 Grammys on February 2.

“Oh my God,” she gasped after presenter Taylor Swift — who won the award in 2010 for “Fearless” — handed her the award for her first-ever country album, “Cowboy Carter,” released in March 2024. With “Cowboy Carter, she became the first Black woman to ever top Billboard’s Top Country Album chart, according to People, but it was controversial when she didn’t receive any nominations at the Country Music Awards in 2024.

At the end of the evening, Beyoncé also won her first-ever Album of the Year award for “Cowboy Carter” and brought her daughter, Blue Ivy, onstage with her to celebrate. Swift could be seen in the audience clinking champagne glasses with Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z.

Beyoncé was nominated for 11 Grammys, per the New York Times, which reported that in the pre-show, she also won the Best Country Duo/Group Performance Award with Miley Cyrus for their collaboration, “II Most Wanted.”

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What Beyoncé Said in Her Acceptance Speech for Best Country Album

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Wearing a sparkling gold, paisley gown, Beyoncé embraced Swift as she received the Best Country Album award and then breathlessly shared how thankful she is that she’s “able to still do what I love after so many years.”

“Oh my God,” she said again as she addressed the audience. “I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this, this album. We worked so hard on it.”

Subtly addressing some of the controversy that surrounded her deciding to do a country album, she continued, “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.”

Beyoncé added, “Wow, I’d like to thank my beautiful family, all of the artists that were collaborators, thank you. This wouldn’t have been this album without you. I’d like to thank God again, and my fans. And I am still in shock, so thank you so much for this honor and surprise.”

At the end of the evening, the crowd erupted in cheers when Los Angeles firefighters, who were invited to the ceremony in honor of their bravery during the L.A. wildfires, announced Beyoncé as the Album of the Year winner.

After thanking them for their service and “keeping us safe,” Beyoncé said, “I just feel very full and very honored.”

“It’s been many, many years,” she laughed as the crowd cheered, “and I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work.”

Beyoncé dedicated her award to Linda Martell, a Black pioneer in Country music who appears on “Cowboy Carter,” and added, “I hope we just keep pushing forward, keeping opening doors.”

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Country Star Luke Bryan is Among Those Who’ve Commented on Beyoncé‘s Foray into Country Music

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In October, country star and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan he fired off a late-night tweet, slamming the “false narrative” he thought certain media outlets created regarding his comments bout Beyoncé‘s foray into country music.

After an interview on SiriusXM “Andy Cohen Live” on October 2, when Cohen asked Bryan what he thought about the CMA snub, the “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” singer was criticized by some for saying Beyoncé and other artists whose music is typically outside the genre should “come into our world and be country with us a little bit.”

“Beyoncé can do it exactly what she wants to,” Bryan told Cohen. “She’s probably the biggest star in music. But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family too. And I’m not saying she didn’t do that.”

Bryan faced a great deal of scrutiny for his comments, including heated Reddit threads where many fans pointed out that Beyoncé’s album included multiple country legends.

In his October 6 tweet, he wrote, “I am posting tonight based on the ridiculous nature of the headlines I have read the last couple days. I feel in my heart I could not let media create a false narrative.”

“As I read thru the comments of some of you,” he continued, “I just want to say that I encourage all of you to listen to the interview instead of reading click bait headlines. You will hear my tone and intentions which were not negative. I respect Beyonce and I love how loyal her fans are. I spend a lot of time supporting other artists. I want everyone to win. Love you.”