Grammys Will Split Best Country Album Category Starting Next Year Because Of Beyoncé

[RAMROD 116,700]

 

The academy is adding a new category, best traditional country album.

The existing best country album category has been renamed best contemporary country album.

Mason spoke to Billboard’s Melinda Newman about the new country category. He also discussed it with Grammy.com. “Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume. Traditional country has a timeless, distinct sound that’s inspired generations of musicians throughout the years. It’s an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognized with intention.”

The rule for Best Traditional Country Album: “For albums – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.

“Nominees are artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.”

The rule for Best Contemporary Country Album: “For albums – vocal or instrumental. This category recognizes contemporary country music recordings, both vocal and instrumental, which utilize a stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content, and/or musical presentation to create a sensibility that reflects the broad spectrum of contemporary country style and culture. The intent is to recognize country music that remains reminiscent and relevant to the legacy of country music’s culture, while also engaging in more contemporary music forms.

“Nominees are artist(s) of greater than 50% playing time on the album. Grammy statuettes awarded to artist(s), producer(s), engineer/mixer(s), if other than artist(s), of greater than 50% playing time on the album.”

 

https://www.billboard.com/lists/10-grammy-rule-changes-2026/

 

This will make Beyoncé the first AND LAST black woman who won Best Country category , and also the final recipient of the award as it was. 

[Ronnie 6,098]

It's about time! Country music doesn't even sound like country music anymore. 

[Bronco 23,626]

Honestly I am willing to put money down now that the noms and winner of ths traditional country wont actually be traditional country. 

They'll just be white and racist.

[Republicanne 7,740]

Drag me but this is racism 

[Bronco 23,626]

8 minutes ago, LadyEnigma said:

Yep like I guess I get what they mean bc the genre has expanded a lot but you could say that about what goes into pop categories sometimes, it feels like a way to shut out POC.

I mean it truly makes sense and should have been done in the 90s. 

But finally doing it after everyone got angry a black woman won? Beyond obvious. 

Like yeah there is a resurgence of classical country in the likes of Sam Barber and Charlie Crockett - hell even Orville Peck's debut was classical country. 

But we all know that didnt move the dial.

[ImMatt 2,054]

There's so many genres that the Grammy's don't cover but, sure, let's have two awards honouring the same genre. 

[Magic Mike 2,756]

The Grammys are so pathetic.

[Anderson123 42,416]

They always change rules because of Beyoncé.  After Gaga won Best Dance/Electronic Album and Record for The Fame and Poker Face they changed it so it’d be a DJs/Producer thing and now they changed it back again so she could win for Renaissance and Break My Soul. 

[MACATL 2,092]

2 hours ago, clownery said:

Drag me but this is racism 

 No it’s not. Cowboy Carter was not a country album.  Period.  There are currently black country artists that make music in the actual country genre.  They would absolutely qualify for the traditional category. 

[weed 78,553]

Would Million Reasons, Sinner's Prayer be contemporary

[Bronco 23,626]

1 minute ago, weed said:

Would Million Reasons, Sinner's Prayer be contemporary

I'd argue yes. Although they're borrowing more from outlaw than the nashville sound, they lean too heavily into pop production methods to truly be traditional over contemporary. 

Sinners Prayer would have more of a chance than Million Reasons - but I doubt it'd pass a purity test. 

[Bronco 23,626]

15 minutes ago, MACATL said:

 No it’s not. Cowboy Carter was not a country album.  Period.  There are currently black country artists that make music in the actual country genre.  They would absolutely qualify for the traditional category. 

CC was as much of a country album as anything else put out by contemporary country artists which have been consistently popifying country ever since the 70s. 

CC isn't my cup of tea, but its links to the roots of country and blues music is undeniable by anyone who actually knows that genre's history. And its modernisation is no different to anything being done by contemporary country acts like Lady A, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Reba etc 

There are absolutely black artists making country music that will fit in the traditional country music category and making good music that should qualify for it.

I'd put money on them not getting nominated though given the state of the Nashville industry which dominates american country. 

[Pandauralife 973]

4 hours ago, MACATL said:

 No it’s not. Cowboy Carter was not a country album.  Period.  There are currently black country artists that make music in the actual country genre.  They would absolutely qualify for the traditional category. 

A little too convenient though how this is only just after a Black woman wins an award for Best Country Album, don't you think? 

[NemoMyName 2,079]

6 hours ago, Bronco said:

They'll just be white and racist.

I'm not from US but based on what i've read, isn't that traditional country music?

[salty like sodium 2,230]

So unnecessary and also kind of gross. A black woman won it once so they needed to change the rules? Like for real? They could have just kept it "Best Country Album", it was unlikely another Cowboy Carter was going to pop up. It feels like such a waste of time and energy to do this.