GRAMMYs Split Country Category: Strange Coincidence Behind Beyoncé's Win

The Recording Academy is entering a period of significant change, and at the center of that change is Beyoncé.

After her historic win at the 2025 GRAMMYs, the female artist not only set a new milestone for herself, but also indirectly triggered a series of sweeping reforms for the next season.

Recently, the GRAMMY organizers announced the separation of the "Best Country Album" category into two separate categories: "Best Traditional Country Album" and "Best Contemporary Country Album". This is one of the most notable changes in a series of adjustments towards the 2026 GRAMMY season.

The decision was no accident. It came on the heels of Beyoncé’s shocking win in the Country category for Cowboy Carter , a bold musical project that combined country, soul, blues and hip-hop, but still had a strong African-American heritage. It was the first time an artist of color, and especially a woman of color, had been honored in a category that has traditionally been considered the “white domain” of American music.

Beyoncé's win sparked immediate controversy. On social media, many accused the GRAMMYs of "moving the goalposts," arguing that the genre change was a defensive response to the influx of black artists into traditionally closed musical spaces. One user on the X platform (formerly Twitter) quipped: "So traditional country is for white people now, and contemporary is for black people? When Beyoncé herself insists that traditional country originated with black people."

Some cultural critics have also pointed to a recurring pattern: every time Beyoncé wins in an “unconventional” category, the GRAMMYs change the system. That was the case after Break My Soul in the Dance/Pop category, and now Cowboy Carter in Country.

In response to the criticism, Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. asserted that the change was proposed years ago by artists in the country community themselves. "They came to us and said they needed to create a space for their music to be properly recognized. The difference between traditional country and contemporary country is clear to everyone in the industry," he emphasized.

He also points out that this classification is no exception. Jazz, Blues, or Pop have long had a separation between traditional and modern; Country is just catching up with that trend.

Still, many remain unconvinced. The timing of the decision, coming just months after Beyoncé's win, is "too coincidental" to be true. "It's a subtle attempt to preserve traditional country music's image as a bastion of white culture," wrote a Variety review.

On the other hand, some audiences and experts believe that this is a positive step forward. The clear classification can open up opportunities for lesser-known traditional country artists, who are often overshadowed by commercial contemporary products.

There's no denying that Beyoncé is a global cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond her music. Cowboy Carter is more than an album, it's a manifesto that redefines the genre, reaffirms country music's black roots, and challenges the entire music industry.

If the GRAMMYs have been criticized for being outdated, unrepresentative, and not reflecting the diversity of global music, it's changes like these, whether proactive or reactive, that show the system is being forced to move. And Beyoncé, as she has so often in her career, is acting as a major catalyst.

The 68th GRAMMY Awards are scheduled for February 1, 2026, with nominations announced on November 7, 2025. Observers will be watching closely then: Will the new country category level the playing field, or just another test of inclusivity for an organization trying to reshape itself?

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