Country star John Rich of Big & Rich has criticized Beyoncé's 2025 Grammy win for Best Country Album, calling it a "total joke" and suggesting the award should have gone to Lainey Wilson's "Whirlwind" instead.

Rich claims the victory was influenced by record label deals rather than musical merit, stating on social media that "Labels/publishers all have blocks of votes" and make mutual voting arrangements. He argues this system applies to other major music awards shows, including the CMAs, ACMs, and Billboard awards.

The controversy has sparked debate within the country music community. While Rich criticizes the decision, other country artists like Kelsea Ballerini have defended Beyoncé's nomination, stating on SiriusXM's Fierce: Women in Music that "You don't have to be a country artist to make a country record."

Some critics have linked the win to Jay-Z's previous criticism of the Grammy Awards for never awarding his wife Album of the Year, despite her holding the record for most Grammy wins in history. During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé addressed the genre controversy, stating, "Sometimes I think genre is a code word to keep us in our places as artists," and encouraged artists to pursue their passions persistently.

The debate continues between traditionalists who believe the award should have gone to an established country artist and those who welcome cross-genre experimentation in country music.

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