Beyoncé Dedicates Historic Grammy Wins to Miss Martell, Credits Her Artistic Inspiration

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who is already the most-decorated and nominated artist in Grammy history, has set a new bar adding another three awards to her name, including the elusive album of the year prize.

When accepting the night’s top prize on Sunday, she only mentioned one person by name.

“I want to dedicate this to Miss Martell, and I hope we keep pushing forward and opening doors,” Beyoncé said at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles

Linda Martell is an 83-year-old singer who became the first Black female artist to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1969. Martell, known for songs “Color Him Father” and “Bad Case of the Blues,” opened up doors for women of color in country music. Beyonce brought on Martell as a collaborator for “Cowboy Carter,” featuring her on tracks “Spaghetti” and “The Linda Martell Show.”

Beyoncé had been nominated for album of the year four times previously. But despite being the most-awarded artist in Grammys history, she had yet to win it. With her groundbreaking country music album, the award is finally hers.

Beyoncé had started the awards strong by taking home the award for best country duo/group performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus. Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for a country music song since the Pointer Sisters won in a similar category in 1975.

The “16 Carriages” singer then won best country album for “Cowboy Carter.” Taylor Swift presented the award, an accolade Swift won in 2010.

“Wow I really was not expecting this,” Beyoncé said. “I want to thank God that I am able to still do what I love after so many years. Oh my God.”

This year, Beyoncé became the leading nominee with a total of 11 nods, including the top prize — album of the year — for her acclaimed eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” For the first time, she was also up for awards in the Country & American Roots field. In total, seven different songs from the album were nominated across four different genres.

Before Sunday, no Black female solo artist had ever won a Grammy for country music. Four years ago, Mickey Guyton became the first Black female solo artist to be recognized in a country music category when she received a nomination for her song “Black Like Me.”

Tina Turner’s debut album “Tina Turns the Country On!” was nominated for a Grammy in the best female R&B vocal performance category in 1975.

This year also marked the first time a Black woman has been nominated for the top prize of album of the year for a country album. Ray Charles was nominated for album of the year for “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” in 1962.