Beyoncé Finally Wins Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys and Kendrick Lamar Win Five Awards

 Beyoncé Finally Wins Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys and Kendrick Lamar Win Five Awards

Beyoncé has officially broken the streak. After being shut out in her previous four nominations for Album of the Year, the global icon finally took home the prestigious award at the 2025 Grammy Awards for her album Cowboy Carter. In addition to Album of the Year, Beyoncé also secured wins for Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance, further cementing her historic influence across multiple genres. This victory also solidifies her as the most-nominated artist in Grammy history, with a staggering 99 nominations to date.

A Night of Historic Wins and Stellar Performances

Held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the Grammy Awards aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, with comedian and former Daily Show host Trevor Noah returning to host for the fifth consecutive year. With 11 nominations, Beyoncé led the pack, while Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Charli XCX each secured seven nods. Other top nominees included Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan, each earning six.

Kendrick Lamar dominated the night, sweeping all five categories he was nominated in, including Record and Song of the Year for his powerful hit Not Like Us. Rising star Chappell Roan also made waves, winning Best New Artist amid an incredible breakout year.

Beyond the awards, the show delivered breathtaking performances from Eilish, Roan, Charli XCX, and Carpenter. A surprise appearance from The Weeknd—who had previously boycotted the Grammys—added to the excitement. Though Taylor Swift did not perform, she presented the Best Country Album award to Beyoncé, a moment that had fans buzzing.

Honoring Wildfire Victims

In addition to celebrating musical achievements, the ceremony took a moment to acknowledge the devastating wildfires that recently tore through Los Angeles, claiming at least 29 lives. Noah urged viewers and corporate sponsors to contribute to relief efforts, while local business owners affected by the fires were given air time. A group of Los Angeles County firefighters received a standing ovation as they presented the final award of the night.

The Cowboy Carter Controversy

Beyoncé’s historic win for Cowboy Carter was met with mixed reactions. While many praised her for expanding country music’s boundaries and reclaiming the genre’s Black roots, others debated whether the album should be classified as country at all. Some country purists questioned the legitimacy of her Best Country Album win, while supporters emphasized how the album reintroduced traditional elements of the genre often overlooked in mainstream country music.

Among the Best Country Album nominees were F-1 Trillion by Post Malone and Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves, the latter of whom previously won Album of the Year in 2018. Despite the controversy, Beyoncé’s victory marks a major milestone in music history and represents a step forward in diversifying the country genre.

Other Notable Wins and Moments

Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us was the night’s biggest winner, sweeping all five categories in which it was nominated, including Best Rap Song and Best Music Video. With these wins, Lamar’s Grammy count now stands at an impressive 22.

Doechii made history by winning Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal, becoming only the third woman to ever receive the honor. Her emotional acceptance speech resonated deeply as she encouraged Black girls and women to chase their dreams:

“I know there is some Black girl out there—so many Black women out there—watching me right now, and I want to tell you, you can do it,” she said. “Anything is possible.”

Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan used her moment in the spotlight to advocate for fair treatment of musicians.

“I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry, profiting millions of dollars off of artists, would offer a livable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists,” Roan declared.

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Die with a Smile, with Gaga using her speech to advocate for trans rights.

“I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up—music is love.”

Gaga also took the stage for a stunning performance of her new single Abracadabra, ahead of her upcoming album MAYHEM, set to release on March 7.

Final Thoughts

As always, the Grammys sparked debates over winners and snubs, but this year’s ceremony was undeniably packed with groundbreaking moments. Beyoncé’s long-overdue Album of the Year win, Lamar’s continued dominance, and powerful speeches from artists like Roan and Gaga made this one of the most memorable Grammy nights in recent history. Whether you agree with the winners or not, there’s no denying that the 2025 Grammys showcased the evolving landscape of music and the artists pushing its boundaries forward.