Grammys Update Country Categories Following Beyoncé’s Win

The Grammys update country music awards for 2026, inspired by Beyoncé’s historic win with Cowboy Carter.

To better reflect the evolving landscape of the genre, the Grammys are revamping how they recognize country music artists in the wake of Beyoncé's historic win. The 68th annual ceremony in 2026 will feature a new method of recognizing the best in country music.

The Grammy Awards are modifying their country music categories. The title of Best Contemporary Country Album will replace Best Country Album. Additionally, the Grammys are adding a new category called Best Traditional Country Album. These changes follow Beyoncé's historic triumph of Best Country Album earlier this year by becoming the first Black artist to win with her album Cowboy Carter. The Recording Academy declared that the Best Country Album category will now be divided into two categories for the 68th  Grammy Awards, which will take place on February 1, 2026. Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy., said that "artists from various subgenres of country styles came to us with a proposal." They wanted a broader range of their music to be acknowledged by the Grammys. Country artists felt like their music needs greater room to be recognized and appreciated. The new Best Traditional Country Album category will recognize recordings that showcase the traditional roots of country music, whether they are instrumental or vocal.

This category includes songs with the genre’s distinctive lyrics, singing styles, and rhythms. The acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums are among the instruments frequently included in classic country music. Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country are other styles that fall under this genre.