Recording Academy Responds to Beyoncé’s Historic Win by Splitting Country Category
The Recording Academy just made a bold move that’s got the industry buzzing. Beginning with the 2026 GRAMMYs, the category for Best Country Album will be split into Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Traditional Country Album. This change follows Beyoncé’s groundbreaking win with COWBOY CARTER at the 2025 GRAMMYs — a moment that shook up the genre and the entire awards scene.
This update isn’t just about categories — it’s about representation and recognition. Internal committee discussions at the Recording Academy have been heating up for years, but Beyoncé’s historic win clearly lit the final spark. It also prompted fans and artists to demand that country music’s full range be seen and honored.
“It makes country parallel with what’s happening in other genres, but it is also creating space for where this genre is going,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in an interview with Billboard.
He added, “The issues have been, traditionally, a lot of people that weren’t sure whether [an album] was Americana or roots or folk or country were just jamming everything into one category.”
This means no more crowding out the true diversity in country music. And it opens up the door for underrecognized artists to get the shine they deserve.
Harvey Mason Jr. Explains Why This Change Is Bigger Than Just a Category Shift
Harvey Mason Jr. didn’t hold back in breaking down why this shift was necessary. For years, the GRAMMYs have lumped wildly different country styles into one box — muddying the waters for voters and keeping some deserving artists from getting their flowers.
“There are obviously nuances between the different genres,” Mason explained. “Those experts in those genres understand those nuances, and I’m quite certain now you’re going to see the right people going into Americana versus folk versus traditional country.”
He continued, “[The change] gives us an opportunity to put things in more specific categories.”
By doing this, the Academy is keeping the music real and letting the culture breathe. This change wasn’t just born overnight either. According to Billboard, it came after multiple proposals from the Recording Academy’s Awards & Nominations committee. That shows just how much groundwork went into this moment.