JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR
Graphic was made by Joseph DeBell
With Beyoncé up for Album of the Year again, there’s a question: can the Recording Academy continue to overlook one of the most influential artists of our time?
Her critically acclaimed album “Cowboy Carter” faces tough competition this year, including Taylor Swift, Charli XCX and Chappell Roan. But if Beyoncé — with her cultural impact and influence — walks away empty-handed, it could cause backlash and raise questions about how the Grammys view Black artists.
On paper, Beyoncé seems like a Grammy favorite. She’s the most awarded woman in Grammy history, with 32 wins and 99 nominations. Yet she remains shut out from one of the industry’s categories — Album of the Year.
Her only win in the “Big Four” categories came back in 2008 for “Single Ladies.”
Taylor Swift has won Album of the Year four times despite mediocre records such as “Midnights.”
The Recording Academy could solve this by awarding Beyoncé her first Album of the Year. “Cowboy Carter” was universally praised. Should it lose to Swift, it will create suspicions that Grammy voters have a pattern of passing over Black musicians.
Beyoncé’s fanbase sees a 2025 victory as a long-overdue acknowledgment of her unmatched career and artistic legacy — a decision the Grammys should have made with “Lemonade” or “Renaissance,” both of which were snubbed despite fan outcry.
“Cowboy Carter” is not just any album. It’s a genre-bending magnum opus that dips into Western imagery and brings a modern twist to country music. It also marks a rare occasion where a Black artist’s album is nominated across country music categories.
Despite its success, country radio largely ignored it, and the Country Music Awards didn’t even bother with a single nomination. The cold shoulder toward Beyoncé sends a message about the genre — showing no matter how praised her contribution may be, she’s an outsider in country music.
It’s not as if this year’s competition is easy. Swift’s 31-track “The Tortured Poets Department” feels like a cloying marathon rather than a classic, and its mediocre reception means it’s her weakest shot at Album of the Year yet. On the other hand, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX had some of their best LPs this year. However, if anyone deserves recognition for redefining what it means to be a global icon in music, it’s Beyoncé.
debelljb22@bonaventure.edu
