The 2025 Grammy Awards had their share of eyebrow-raising moments. Still, nothing felt more out of place than Beyoncé walking away with Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter. While her stunned reaction quickly became a meme, the real shock came from her mother, Tina Knowles—who, like the rest of us who love and respect country music, didn’t think this was supposed to happen.
During a recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Knowles admitted she never expected Beyoncé to win—and frankly, neither did anyone who understands what real country music is.
Tina Knowles Didn’t Expect a Country Grammy for Beyoncé
Knowles watched the Grammys unfold from Beyoncé’s home, sitting with her grandchildren, Rumi and Sir Carter. And when Beyoncé’s name was announced for Best Country Album, Knowles was just as dumbfounded as her daughter.
“I just was not expecting it. I was really shocked,” she told Hudson. “In fact, I sat there for a second and didn’t even believe it was true.”
She didn’t react at first—because it didn’t feel real.
“When she did this [mimics Beyoncé’s shocked look], I said, ‘It’s real!’ I couldn’t believe it,” she recalled. “It’s been so many times where I thought that would happen and it didn’t.”
That last part says it all—Beyoncé has been repeatedly passed over for Album of the Year despite delivering some of her most critically acclaimed albums. Yet, when she finally did win big, it wasn’t for Renaissance, Lemonade, or any of the projects that defined her artistry. It was for a country album that, let’s be honest, isn’t really country. Even Beyoncé herself said so.
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A Country Grammy That Should Have Never Happened
Beyoncé’s win for Cowboy Carter was historic in one sense—it marked the first time a Black woman won Best Country Album. But history doesn’t always mean progress, and in this case, it felt more like an industry move than a real win for country music.
Let’s be clear: country music has been pushed aside for years in favor of genre-blending, pop-leaning projects that barely resemble the real thing. This win was yet another step in the wrong direction.
For artists who have dedicated their careers to country music, seeing an album that leans heavily on R&B, pop, and experimental sounds win country’s top honor felt like a slap. This wasn’t about celebrating country’s roots, storytelling traditions, or the artists who have kept those traditions alive. It was about giving the Grammys a headline-worthy moment.
Even Beyoncé herself admitted that Cowboy Carter is not a country album—so why was it even considered for a country category in the first place? If the artist behind the project tells you it doesn’t belong in that space, why did the Recording Academy decide otherwise? The fact that even Beyoncé’s own mother couldn’t believe it happened tells you everything you need to know.
This Wasn’t a Victory for Country Music
There’s no denying Beyoncé’s influence—she’s a powerhouse in the music industry. But country music doesn’t need saving, reinventing, or redefining by outsiders who see it as a temporary project. It must be protected, respected, and honored by the people who have lived and breathed it for generations.
Tina Knowles’ shock wasn’t just a mother being surprised by her daughter’s success—it was the reaction of someone who, deep down, knew this win didn’t make sense. And for those of us who fight to keep country music real, pure, and rooted in its traditions, it was a moment that proved just how out of touch the industry has become.
