Watch: Grammys 2025 Recap: Beyoncé‘s Huge Win, Viral Moments & More Surprises!
Beyoncé made sure to say Rumi Carter‘s name.
The “16 Carriages” singer made history at the 2025 Grammys by extending her lead as the most decorated artist in Grammys history with 35 trophies, including her first ever Album of the Year win for Cowboy Carter.
And, while Beyoncé—who was accompanied by daughter Blue Ivy, 13, on stage as husband Jay-Z watched from the audience—dedicated the award to trailblazing country singer Linda Martell and thanked “the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer” during her acceptance speech, she wished she had given another specific shoutout.
“It’s very surreal, and it’s been 25 years of just working really hard and trying my best to keep growing and keep opening up doors,” the singer gushed to ET after her big win. “I was just very honored, very honored. I’m happy that my daughter got to see that.”
“[She’s] taller than me, I don’t like it at all!” she added of Blue. “I’m so happy that she was here and Rumi, who was on the album, my youngest daughter, she was watching. I forgot to thank her, so I can thank her now. Thank you, Rumi!”
(Rumi, 7—who has a twin brother Sir—can be heard speaking to her mom on the song “PROTECTOR” off of Cowboy Carter.)
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer did manage to thank her family earlier in the night while accepting the award for Best Country Album, which she became the Black woman to win in the history of the Grammys.
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
“I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this album,” Beyoncé said. “We worked so hard on it. I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists and I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about, and to stay persistent. Wow! I’d like to thank my beautiful family, all of the artists that were collaborators, thank you, this wouldn’t have been this album without you.”
The 43-year-old’s big night at the Grammys came one year after Jay-Z called out the Recording Academy for repeatedly failing to award Album of the Year to his wife, despite four previous nominations.
“We want y’all to get it right—at least get it close to right,” the “99 Problems” rapper said while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 2024 Grammys. “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady—but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year.”
“Think about that: The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year,” he added. “That doesn’t work.”
Keep reading for more about Beyoncé’s history at the Grammy Awards.
2000 marked Beyoncé‘s first-ever time at the Grammy Awards as part of Destiny’s Child, which then included Kelly Rowland, Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams. The group was recognized with two first-time nominations, but they went home without any Grammy gold.
This time as trio, Destiny’s Child returned to the Grammy Awards the following year, serving now-iconic matching looks. The group was up for five awards and went home with two statues.
For her solo debut at the Grammys, Beyoncé joined Prince on stage for an electric duet as they performed a medley of his hits together.
Growing her Grammy Award collection, the singer went home with five statues after being nominated in six categories as a solo artist.
In addition to being up for an award in four categories—and winning Best Contemporary R&B Album—the Dreamgirls star also took the audience’s breath away with a performance of her hit song from the film, “Listen.”
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Once again a nominee—this time in three categories—Beyoncé made Grammy history as one half of an unforgettable performance of “Proud Mary” with Tina Turner.
One of Beyoncé’s biggest nights at the Grammys came in 2010 when she went home with six statues—her most to date for one show.
On the heels of her surprise fifth album, Beyoncé, the star and her husband Jay-Z kicked off the 2014 Grammys with an unforgettably sexy performance of their collaboration, “Drunk in Love.” The following year, the couple won two Grammy Awards for the song.
If you were to deem any year in Grammys history as Beyoncé’s year, 2017 was it. Following the release of her iconic album Lemonade in 2016, the singer garnered a whopping nine nominations. The star, who was also pregnant at the time with twins Rumi and Sir, ultimately won in two categories—Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video. She also pulled double duty as a performer that night, delivering a stunning medley of songs from her hit record. To top things off, she was on the receiving end of praise from Adele, who basically used her acceptance speeches for Record of the Year and Album of the Year to fangirl over Queen Bey.
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If you ever wanted to see Grammy royalty, look no further than this 2018 appearance from Beyoncé, Jay-Z and their oldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Beyoncé was not only a winner at the 2021 Grammys, but also a history maker. Thanks to her four wins during the show, she became the most awarded woman artist in Grammy history.
In November 2022, Beyoncé was nominated for nine Grammys for the 2023 awards, tying her husband as the artist with the most Grammy nominations in history.
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Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in all of Grammys history when she nabbed her 32nd golden gramophone.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional and I’m trying to just receive this night,” she tearfully said, after Renaissance was named Best Dance/Electronic Album. “I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three chid, who are at home watching. I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys.”
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When the nominations for the 2025 award ceremony were announced, Beyoncé landed 11 nods—making her the most nominated Grammy artist of all time with a grand total of 99.
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer ended a 25-year record at the 2025 ceremony, where she became the first Black woman in the 21st century to win Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. The award was also Bey’s first-ever victory in the category.
“I just feel very full and very honored,” said the singer, who had been locked out of a win for over two decades. “It’s been many, many years.”
