Grammys Add Traditional and Contemporary Country Categories Amid Beyoncé’s Genre Shift Impact

by
Link
URL copied to clipboard.
US singer Beyonce accepts the Grammy for Best Country Album during the 67th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 02 February 2025. Photo: Caroline Brehman/Shutterstock
Photo: Caroline Brehman/Shutterstock

The Recording Academy is shaking things up ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards, unveiling a series of rule changes and new categories that reflect the evolving music landscape. Chief among them is a split in the Best Country Album category, now divided into Best Contemporary Country Album and a newly created Best Traditional Country Album.

The update arrives just months after Beyoncé made history at the 2025 Grammys, winning Best Country Album for her genre-expanding project Cowboy Carter. That win, which marked her first nomination and victory in the country category, has sparked conversation about the Academy’s sudden reclassification of country music.

@varietymagazine

Beyoncé wins the #GRAMMY for Best Country Album.

♬ original sound – Variety – Variety

A Post-Beyoncé Shakeup?

While the Recording Academy maintains that the category expansion was long in the works, many fans and cultural critics see Beyoncé’s influence as a key catalyst. After her groundbreaking country album swept major awards, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Album of the Year, industry watchers noted the Academy’s swift move to create more granularity within country music recognition.

On social media, some users pointed out a pattern, claiming the Academy tends to redefine genres when Beyoncé wins in traditionally white-dominated categories. “So now it’s “white country” vs “black country” But the whole point in #CowboyCarter is to let it be known that “traditional” country IS black country. Thieves,” tweeted one person. Others described the move as an effort to “move the goalpost” in the face of Beyoncé’s genre-blending success.

Another person flagged how today’s country music could all be considered contemporary given the evolution in the genre, “Most country music today is Contemporary so what’s the point in splitting it lol.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Academy’s Position

According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the change was community-driven. He told Billboard that members within the country music scene had proposed the new category for years, aiming to better represent the genre’s diverse directions.

“The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal,” Mason explained. “They said we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored.”

Mason added that this realignment mirrors other Grammy categories that already distinguish between traditional and contemporary styles, such as in pop, jazz, and blues. “It makes country parallel with what’s happening in other genres,” he said. “But it is also creating space for where this genre is going.”

The Best Traditional Country Album category is expected to spotlight artists who fall outside the commercial mainstream, offering more visibility for roots-focused and heritage-inspired country music. Mason confirmed that while proposals for this category had been submitted before, they were only approved this year.

Other Notable Changes

The Academy also announced updates in packaging and design categories. The new Best Album Cover category will honor visual presentation, while Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package merges with Best Recording Package. Notably, albums sold directly to fans are now eligible for packaging awards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Changes to Best New Artist eligibility will also allow more contributors to be recognized. While contributors to Album of the Year nominees remain largely ineligible for Best New Artist, a revised exception now includes those who would not have qualified under 2023’s stricter criteria.

Social Reactions

The Grammy category shuffle has reignited debate over genre boundaries and inclusivity. Critics and fans alike have voiced skepticism about the timing, while others see it as a step toward greater nuance in music recognition.

Some social media users welcomed the changes, noting that separating traditional and contemporary country could help smaller, roots-focused acts gain deserved attention. Others remain wary, viewing the shift as an effort to gatekeep the genre following Beyoncé’s critical and commercial success in country music.

Whether this move signals broader inclusivity or a defensive restructuring remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, Beyoncé’s presence in country music continues to spark reflection, reaction, and, now, regulation.

The 2026 Grammy Awards will air Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. Nominees are set to be announced on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.

More headlines

Latest

Facebook-f Youtube Tiktok Twitter