Beyonce slammed by country legend over Grammy win amid DEI push to make awards more diverse

Country music legend John Rich has slammed Beyonce for winning Best Country Album at Sunday’s Grammy Awards amid backlash over the show’s move to become more diverse and inclusive.

In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), the singer-songwriter, 51, exposed how voting for awards shows like the Grammys really works, while also claiming that Beyonce doesn’t sing country music – despite the Cowboy Carter hitmaker sweeping the country categories at this year’s ceremony.

‘Folks are asking me “how do music award shows work?” Labels/publishers all have blocks of votes,’ he explained.

‘They make deals with each other “you vote for mine, we’ll vote for yours” type thing,’ he continued.

‘It has ZERO to do with who made the best music, thus, Beyonce with “Country album of the year.”

‘Nice, right? The same thing is true with the CMA’s, ACM‘s, Billboard, etc… all work exactly the same.’

He finished, ‘Last night, the Grammy’s outed themselves in a big way.’

When a fan then responded by saying, ‘I did not realize Beyoncé sang country music’, Rich bluntly responded, ‘She doesn’t.’

Beyonce took home both Best Country Album and Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, in addition to Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Miley Cyrus for II Most Wanted.

Her victory comes after Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. made major changes to diversify the Grammy voters after taking over in 2020.

In addition to adding 3,000 female voting members, Mason Jr. has also increased the racial diversity.

‘The Grammy electorate is now younger, nearly 40 percent people of color, and 66 percent of our members are new,’ he boasted.

‘It’s a system rooted in fairness, integrity, and the principle that every voice in our community matters.’

He added, ‘There’s still work to be done, but I firmly believe we’re on the right path.’

Fans have sounded off about the initiative, with some supporting it while others have labelled this year’s ceremony the ‘DEI Grammys.’

‘It’s not lost on me that after the Grammys reorganized their voting body, the ceremony now feels closer to accurately reflecting the culture,’ wrote one.

‘Honestly, shoutout Harvey Mason Jr. for highlighting the importance and growth of diversity in the Grammys staff and voting members during such a disgusting time of hate and bigotry,’ wrote another.

‘Now you’ve become the DEI Grammys,’ complained a third.

Some music fans are even convinced that this year’s Grammy Awards were rigged after Beyoncé won the accolade for Best Country Album.

Many people tuning in on February 2 claimed that the outcome was fixed and referenced Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z, who lambasted the Recording Academy industry at the 2024 ceremony after his wife failed to win an award.