With 11 Grammy nominations, Beyoncé snuck into the ceremony, channeling Cowboy Carter. The singer wore a nude gown with white paisley embroidery—a custom design by Schiaparelli. Like Bey, the brand’s artistic director, Daniel Roseberry, grew up in Texas, marking another subtle nod to the her home state and country roots.
Beyoncé is up for Record of the Year (“Texas Hold ’Em”), Album of the Year (Cowboy Carter), Song of the Year (“Texas Hold ’Em”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Bodyguard”), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Levii’s Jeans” featuring Post Malone), Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Spaghettii” featuring Linda Martell and Shaboozey), Best Country Solo Performance (“16 Carriages”), Best Country Song (“Texas Hold ’Em”), Best Country Album (Cowboy Carter), and Best Americana Performance (“Ya Ya”). Ahead of the ceremony, she already won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus).
She already won Best Country Album, which Taylor Swift presented to her.
When Grammy nominations were announced in November, Beyoncé chose to focus on Martell sharing a nomination with her rather than on all her other nods. “Congratulations to my queen Linda Martell on your nomination and your contribution to Country Music,” she wrote on Instagram.
In September, Beyoncé spoke to GQ about mixing genres throughout her discography, including on Cowboy Carter. “Whether it is R&B, Dance, Country, Rap, Zydeco, Blues, Opera, Gospel, they have all influenced me in some way,” she said. “I have favorite artists from every genre you could think about. I believe genres are traps that box us in and separate us. I’ve experienced this for 25 years in the music industry. Black artists, and other artists of color, have been creating and mastering multiple genres, since forever.
“This is why it was so important for me to sample the composer Joseph Bologne, known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges, in the song ‘Daughter’ on Cowboy Carter. Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 3, No. 1: II. Adagio was created in the 1700s. This is a testament to Chevalier’s vision. I hope it inspires artists, as well as fans, to dig deeper and learn more about the Black musical innovators who came before us. Some of the most talented artists never achieve the mainstream praise they deserve, especially when they defy the norm.
“I was so hyped to see a song like ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ gain worldwide acceptance. Even more exciting was how it helped reinvigorate the Country genre across music, fashion, art, and culture, and introduced the world to so much great talent like Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.”
