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The Recording Academy announced on June 12, 2025, that the 68th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, will feature two new categories in country music: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album.
“The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a new Category, Best Traditional Country Album, has been added,” the announcement read, as per Variety.
This came in the wake of Beyoncé winning the Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys for her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter. She was the first Black artist to win in the category. Now, amid the Recording Academy's latest revelation about country album categories, the internet is having diverse reactions.
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For instance, X user @TayBeyDefender commented on @TheGrammyGuru's post on the recent addition by writing:
“So, best white country and best black country? @RecordingAcad Shame on you.”
Many people joined the conversation and shared similar reactions on the platform.
“So, now it's ‘white country’ vs ‘black country.’ But the whole point in #CowboyCarter is to let it be known that ‘traditional’ country IS black country. Thieves,” a person wrote.
“Not Beyoncé winning the last best country album Grammy before they split the categories,” another person wrote.
“OH, BEYONCÉ GOT THEM SHOOK,” a fan wrote.
Others continued to chime in.
“Most country music today is Contemporary, so, what’s the point in splitting it lol,” a netizen wrote.
“Beyoncé just keeps setting standards,” another netizen wrote.
“This is so weird for them idc Beyoncé impact >>>>” one fan wrote.
Notably, Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy's CEO, explained to Billboard why the change was implemented.
“The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal and said we would like to have more variety in how our music is honored. They said, ‘We think we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored,’” Harvey stated.
He added that two categories in country music will ensure that contemporary and traditional albums are recognized simultaneously, just like in other genres. He also mentioned that the proposal for the split had been in place for the past few years until it was approved this year.
“It makes country parallel with what’s happening in other genres. But it is also creating space for where this genre is going,” Mason shared.
Beyoncé has also not addressed the latest development.
More about Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ drama amid Grammy Awards change
Over the years, Beyoncé has reportedly had a complex relationship with the country music industry. For instance, she performed Daddy Lessons with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 Country Music Awards (CMAs), which earned her criticism.
Later, in March 2024, she released her country-pop album, Cowboy Carter, but stated that she did not expect to receive any awards for it. Notably, the concept album primarily explores how Black pioneers in American musical and cultural history have been largely overlooked for decades.
Regardless of Queen Bey's speculation, she ended up taking home the Best Country Album at the 67th Grammy Awards, alongside Album of the Year and Best Country Duo/ Group Performance for the album's single, II Most Wanted. With 11 nominations at this year's Grammys, Cowboy Carter also became the third-most-nominated album in Grammy history.
Despite the victories, some called them undeserved, tagging Cowboy Carter as not a typical country album. Meanwhile, Beehive celebrated the wins.
Subsequently, the album also topped many country music charts. It became the number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, a first by a Black woman. The song Texas Hold 'Em topped the Hot Country Songs chart.
However, Beyoncé did not earn any nominations for her album at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards (CMAs) in November 2024 and the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs) in May 2025. Many considered that Queen Bey was snubbed at two of the most prestigious and notable country music awards.
Nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards will be announced on November 7, 2025, according to The Recording Academy's latest announcement, as reported by Variety.
