Grammy Shake-Up After Beyoncé? Best Country Album SPLITS Into Two—Is It Payback or Progress?

What Just Happened at the Recording Academy?

In a major restructuring, the Recording Academy is eliminating the single Best Country Album category starting with the 2026 Grammys, replacing it with two fresh awards:

This move comes on the heels of Beyoncé’s historic win in 2025 for her genre-bending album Cowboy Carter, which took home both Best Country Album and Album of the Year (TheWrap).

Why Make the Change?

The Academy cites a need to better reflect the evolving and diverse styles within country music—just as it has done for Pop and R&B categories in the past.
The contemporary title builds on existing traditions, while the new traditional category is meant to honor albums featuring classic country instrumentation like banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitar, and genres like Western Swing, Outlaw Country, and more.

Is Beyoncé to Blame—or Did She Open Doors?

Some fans and critics see the timing as suspect—calling it a reaction to Beyoncé’s win and an attempt to “move the goalposts” and preserve country music as a racially exclusive genre.

One Instagram user criticized:

“Traditional Country Album = White. Contemporary Country Album = Black … Your racism is showing again.”

On the other hand, others argue it’s a step toward inclusion, allowing both legendary traditional artists (think Willie Nelson) and contemporary chart-toppers (like Morgan Wallen or Luke Combs) to be recognized without competing head-to-head.

The Academy Speaks

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, stressed that the changes came from listening carefully to members and ensuring rules evolve with music trends.

What Now?

The Recording Academy is shaking up its country categories—likely influenced by Beyoncé’s genre-blurring Cowboy Carter win—splitting the award into two to better honor both classic and modern country styles. Whether it’s a progressive move or a subtle pushback, the music world is talking.