At the 67th annual Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025, Beyoncé finally took home her long-awaited Album of the Year (AOTY) award for her recent album, Cowboy Carter, for the first time ever. While there are still controversies surrounding whether her album deserved this honor or not, the fact that universal opinions have all come to the same agreement is a powerful testament to the changes Grammys was attempting to make after years of facing accusations of racial bias. Beyoncé’s win not only marks a new milestone in her career but also serves as a striking example of this positive progress, giving hope for a more inclusive future.
Taking a reflection on the previous Grammys, this award marks Beyoncé’s first win in the Grammys’ most important category after four nominations. The Texan artist even takes aim at the Recording Academy on the track “Sweet★Honey★Buckiin,” which features Shaboozey and is produced by Pharrell Williams. In the song, she sings: “A-O-T-Y, I ain’t win/ I ain’t stuntin’ ’bout them/ Take that sh— on the chin/ Come back and f— up the pen.” Beyoncé’s lyrics also echo remarks made by her husband, Jay-Z, at last year’s ceremony, where he called out the Grammys for the lack of recognition for Black artists. Beyoncé accepted her trophy with her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, and opened her speech by thanking the LA County Fire Department, who came on stage to present her with the award. “I just feel full and very honored,” she said after thanking the firefighters. “It’s been many, many years. I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work.”
Additionally, Beyoncé also made history at the 2025 Grammys by becoming the first Black woman in Grammy’s history to take home the award for Best Country Album. With this victory, Beyoncé became the most-awarded female artist in Grammy’s history, strengthening her legacy not just as a musical icon but as a force for cultural representation. Her win is a reminder that Black excellence continues to shape the structure of mainstream music, and it’s only getting stronger.
In her speech, Beyoncé said, “It’s been so, so many years…” which could serve as the theme for this year’s Grammy Awards. Why? Because it’s been so many years Beyoncé has been waiting for her long-awaited award, so many years for Kendrick Lamar to finally get the honor that he deserved long ago, so many years for The Weeknd to make a re-debut on the Grammys stage since the boycott and so many years that we as the audience eventually witnessed the positive changes from the Grammys Council when it comes to Black artists representation.
Besides Beyoncé, there are various Black artists who have contributed to this historic night of the 67th Grammys. Kendrick Lamar, one of the most awarded rappers in Grammys’ history, has ironically never won a major Grammy award despite winning a Pulitzer Prize. This is notable because the Pulitzer Prize is traditionally known for favoring classical and academic music, which is nothing related to Lamar’s works. In comparison to the Grammy Awards, its neglect of Lamar reflects the general disregard for rap music even during the genre’s most prosperous era. This trend also echoes the ongoing tendency to categorize the work of Black artists under the misleading label “Urban,” a concern that Tyler, The Creator, and The Weeknd have addressed for years. Although it was a bit late, after all, this year Kendrick Lamar finally received the glory he deserved when bringing home two awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year with “Not Like Us.”
Another significant record for Black artists is when Doechii became the third woman in history to win the Best Rap Album Award for “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Another touching performance of this year happened when the Grammys invited Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, and many other Black artists to pay tribute to Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer who passed away at the age of 91 in 2024. “This past year, we lost one of the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our times — Quincy Jones,” Said Will Smith, “In his 91 years, Q touched countless lives, but I have to say, he changed mine forever. You probably wouldn’t even know who Will Smith was if it wasn’t for Quincy Jones.” Smith then handed off the tribute to superstar after superstar, from Cynthia Erivo singing “Fly Me to the Moon” followed by Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder leading the entire auditorium in a “We Are the World” singalong. Finally, Janelle Monáe took the stage, channeling Michael Jackson for an energetic performance of “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”
From the very first moments of broadcasting, the 2025 Grammy Awards received a large number of viewers and high discussion across social media. One of the most surprising and shocking moments at the 2025 Grammys was the re-debut of The Weeknd on stage as a performer. Chief executive officer of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr. officially introduced The Weeknd’s return at the Grammy Awards, ending the four-year boycott of the award from this singer. “I remember waking up to the headlines that the Weeknd called out the Academy for lack of transparency in our awards. He went so far as to announce he was boycotting the Grammys,” said Mason from the Grammys stage. “That made for some interesting reading over breakfast. But you know what? Criticism is okay. I heard him. I felt his conviction.” Mason let it be known that the Canadian singer was heard loud and clear. “What we all want is an organization dedicated to the wellbeing of all music makers and one that reflects the entire music community for now and for future generations,” Mason said on stage. “So over the past few years, we’ve listened, we’ve acted, and we’ve changed.” The Weeknd had previously boycotted the Grammys due to perceived injustices, but the Academy has since made changes. “Since we started our transformation this year, the 13,000 voting members of the Academy nominated their peers and voted for the winners that you’re seeing on this stage tonight. It’s a system rooted in fairness, integrity, and the principle that every voice in our community matters,” said the CEO of the Recording Academy. Now, The Weeknd is back at the Grammys, and although the impact of these changes is yet to be seen, there is hope that they will lead to positive outcomes for the future of the awards.
It’s safe to say that the Grammys have undergone significant reform thanks to the public boycott of major artists. Since then, The Academy has added new members representing BIPOC, women, and the LGBTQ+ community to better reflect the diversity of contemporary music. This example is a clear reminder that without boycotts, there is little change, and without change, there is little progress. Each voice matters and together, we can shape the future of the music industry.
Overall, the 67th Grammys were a resounding celebration of Black culture, artistry, and activism. With historic wins for Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and others, the music world sent a clear message that multicultural voices can no longer be ignored. As we look toward the future, the hope is that these victories will lead to more inclusive practices and greater recognition for artists who continue to break barriers.
References:
https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/beyonce-album-of-the-year-grammys-2025-rcna189792
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/entertainment/the-weeknd-grammys-boycott/index.html
