Beyoncé is on a horse and holding an American flag. Cowboy Carter debuted first place in the country charts, making her the first black woman, to dominate this field.

Beyonce is one of the most influential pop stars of this generation and the last. From her time in Destiny’s Child to her solo career, she has continued to expand her fanbases. She has never been associated with one singular genre, and her 2024 album “Cowboy Carter” was a good example of this, being a blend of country and other genres.

Beyonce was born and raised in Texas, and “Cowboy Carter” is a testament to that. Her decision to utilize the country genre, which has historically excluded black artists, was seen as a step in a new direction.

Her album aimed to amplify the voices of black country artists and it did just that. In the same year, another black country artist named Shaboozey gained massive popularity with the song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Beyonce and the Grammys have a complicated relationship. Though she’s won 32 Grammys and has 99 Nominations, fans feel she has been snubbed many times before. Particularly her albums, by popular opinion, were robbed of the title of Album of the Year.

“Lemonade” (2016) showcased the beauty and power of black women through generations. It represented her evolution as an artist, and that she can continue to be innovative. “Renaissance” was one of the biggest albums of 2023, with multiple songs topping the charts. The album was elevated by the sold out Renaissance Tour, where the crowds knew the songs by heart.

Though many agreed that Beyoncé had the capacity to win album of the year (AOTY), “Cowboy Carter” winning Best Country Album caused controversy, as many don’t think it fulfills the role of a country album. Due to this many people felt that other country artists deserved the award, as their albums were traditional country albums.

“The album was more of a hip-hop album than a country album,” freshman Mahnoor Niazi said.

“Cowboy Carter” winning album of the year brought forward the biggest controversy. Some fans believed that her win was due to her husband Jay Z publicly criticizing the Academy for never awarding Beyoncé for AOTY.

“Beyoncé won album of the year only because Jay Z complained last year,” junior Shreya Doshi said.

Since 2024 was a very big year for music with many artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Charli xcx in the race, some felt Beyonce’s album fell short.

“I think Billie Eilish deserved to win because she worked so hard on that album,” junior Elisa Deparis said.

Many felt the dedication in Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” due to her lyrics that featured personalized experiences. She has even stated that the album was “the most me thing that I’ve ever made”.

Cowboy Carter’s win continued the discussions of the Grammy’s industry bias and the connection between the voting process and public opinion. While some see this win as historical long-overdue recognition, others remain skeptical of the Academy’s process.