For nearly two decades, Beyoncé has been an irreplaceable icon in the global music industry. From her smash hits, world-class performances, to her ability to shape popular culture — she has become the most iconic artist of her generation. However, amid her massive list of achievements with more than 30 Grammy Awards, what makes fans regret is that she has yet to win Album of the Year — the most prestigious award at the Grammy Awards.

Beyoncé finally wins Album of the Year at Grammys 2025 for 'Cowboy Carter'

In 2025, that might change. With Cowboy Carter , Beyoncé not only dabbled in an entirely new genre, but also broke new boundaries in music, culture, and identity. Now, fans everywhere are raising their expectations: this time, Beyoncé won’t just be nominated — she’ll win .

Let’s take a look at 6 reasons why Cowboy Carter deserves to be the biggest winning album at the 2025 Grammys.

After releasing her country-influenced “Daddy Lessons” (2016), Beyoncé faced skepticism and even rejection from the country music world. Some country radio stations refused to play her songs, and conservatives said “country music is not for her.”

Cowboy Carter is the most powerful and profound response . Beyoncé doesn’t just step into the country world — she redefines it, blending in elements of soul, folk, rock, gospel, and hip-hop, turning it into a musical statement about diversity, identity, and occupying spaces that black people have historically been excluded from.

Is Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Frontrunner for Album of the Year Grammy?

Beyoncé herself once said:

“This is not a country album. This is a Beyoncé album.”

That message was powerful enough to change the way the Grammys view “good music” — not in terms of genre boundaries, but in its ability to break them.

Cowboy Carter is more than a genre-bending affair. It’s built like a journey through history—like a classic Western radio show, with segments narrated by legendary voices like Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, the first black woman to ever make it big in country music.

The way Beyoncé frames the album feels like a sonic revolution : from simple ballads to edgy message songs, from “Texas Hold ‘Em” to the offbeat cover of “Jolene,” or even the powerhouse rapping of “Spaghetti” — all blend into one consistent yet morphing entity.

The Grammys have always loved albums with creative depth — and Cowboy Carter was certainly the artistic pinnacle of the past year.

Cowboy Carter was not only a cultural hit, but also a commercial phenomenon . The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, racked up hundreds of millions of streams in its first week, and was well received by audiences around the world — including those who weren’t Beyoncé’s biggest fans.

Critics were equally complimentary. Rolling Stone called the album “one of the most important musical works of the post-genre era.” The New York Times described Cowboy Carter as “a musical road map that guides listeners through the forgotten history of black people in American culture.”

All of Beyoncé's 2025 Grammy Wins for Cowboy Carter, AOTY

On Metacritic, the album has an average score of 92/100 — an extremely impressive number, surpassing most of this year’s Grammy nominees.

Beyoncé has been nominated for Album of the Year four times: I Am… Sasha Fierce , Beyoncé , Lemonade , and Renaissance . All have been hailed as contemporary masterpieces — but all have lost to white artists like Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele, and Harry Styles.

In particular, Lemonade (2016) is considered one of the biggest “cultural slaps” the Grammys have ever received, when it was criticized by the public and artists in the industry for “ignoring” a revolutionary album.

Giving Cowboy Carter Album of the Year isn’t a token “compensation.” It’s a well-deserved recognition for an artist who has repeatedly changed contemporary music — and this time, she’s doing it with an album that’s not only great, but also politically, socially, and culturally significant.

The BeyHive — Beyoncé’s fan base — has long been known as a powerful and loyal force. But with Cowboy Carter , the support seems stronger than ever , not just from fans, but from cultural activists, academics, and artists in the industry.

A campaign calling for the Grammys to “get it right” is spreading across social media with hashtags like #JusticeForBeyonce, #AOTYforCowboyCarter, and #BeyFinally. Discussions about racism, genre restrictions, and awards standards are also being sparked by the album.

With media pressure mounting, the Recording Academy could hardly ignore the enormous social impact Cowboy Carter had created.

While Taylor Swift with The Tortured Poets Department or Billie Eilish with Hit Me Hard and Soft are strong contenders, in terms of cultural stature, social message, and artistic boldness, no album can fully compete with Cowboy Carter .

Taylor has won. Billie has had her moment. But Beyoncé is still missing a trophy—and 2025 is the perfect time.

Cowboy Carter is more than an album – it’s a musical statement, a political act, and a supreme artistic expression . It’s the work of an artist at the peak of his powers, one who dared to venture forth, to challenge, and to break every limit the industry had ever imposed.

If the Grammys are to retain their original meaning—to celebrate art, innovation, and cultural impact—then Cowboy Carter should be in the mix. And Beyoncé, after years of rejection, will finally step up to the plate to receive what she has long deserved: Album of the Year.