The queen got her crown.
Beyoncé has finally won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The “Ya Ya” singer, 43, took home the Recording Academy’s top prize on Sunday for her album “Cowboy Carter.”
Members of the Los Angeles County Firefighters presented Album of the Year, drawing a standing ovation.
Earlier in the evening, Beyoncé was left gobsmacked after learning she’d won Best Country Album, with her daughter Blue Ivy having to tell her to go to the stage to accept her award.
“It’s been many, many years,” Beyoncé said in her speech. “I want to dedicate this to Ms. Martell,” she added in reference to Linda Martell, the first black woman to play at the Grand Ole Opry.
She also paid tribute to the firefighters, who’ve worked around the clock since Jan. 7 as fires tore through the city.
“I’d like to acknowledge all of the firefighters for keeping us safe,” Beyoncé shared. “I just feel very full and very honored.”
“We finally saw it happen, everyone,” host Trevor Noah said as he closed out the telecast, acknowledging the collective sigh of relief felt by Beyoncé’s fans around the world.
Among Bey’s devotees reveling in the moment was none other than her AOTY competitor, Taylor Swift. The “Fortnight” singer was seen clinking glasses with Mr. Carter himself, Jay-Z, after Beyoncé’s emotional speech.
Bey was considered the frontrunner for AOTY at the 2025 Grammys after years of losing in the category, for “I Am … Sasha Fierce” in 2010, her surprise self-titled LP in 2015, “Lemonade” in 2017 and “Renaissance” in 2023.
Though widely beloved, the genre-bending country creation faced serious challengers, including Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Charli xcx’s “Brat,” Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and Album of the Year record holder Taylor Swift‘s “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Beyoncé’s AOTY win may have been propelled at the eleventh hour by her Christmas Day Texans-Ravens halftime show streamed by Netflix.
“Cowboy Carter” fans have another reason to celebrate beyond Bey’s big win: the singer just announced her Cowboy Carter Tour 2025.
Beyoncé seemed stunned by her big night — which saw her win three Grammys, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Miley Cyrus for “II Most Wanted.”
She got emotional when accepting her award for Best Country Album.
“I really was not expecting this. Wow,” Beyoncé said with tears in her eyes. “Genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists.”
“I’m still in shock,” she added. “Thank you so much for this honor.”