Tina Knowles Admits Shock That Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’  Album Won 2 Grammys

Beyoncé walked away from the recent Grammy Awards with three new trophies, including two for Cowboy Carter. The global superstar won both Best Country Album and Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, wins that shocked her mother, Tina Knowles.

“I was at her house and I was there to help [her] and Blue get ready. I was just not expecting it; I was really, really shocked,” Knowles says on The Jennifer Hudson Show (via People). Knowles recalls being with her granddaughter, Rumi, and grandson, Sir, when the winner was revealed.

“For a second, we were just sitting there,” she adds. “I couldn’t believe it because there’s been so many times that I thought that would happen and it didn’t.”

Cowboy Carter was released last March. When Beyoncé dropped the ambitious 27-track project, she knew the record might not be universally received.

“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift,” she says (via Billboard). “But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me … There was a time in my life when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth and your dreams into your art, it’s impossible to go backward.”

Beyoncé’s Reaction to Winning Best Country Album

Knowles wasn’t the only one surprised by her daughter’s win. Beyoncé also seemed shocked when accepting the trophy, especially after not receiving any nominations at the 2024 CMA Awards..

“Wow, I really was not expecting this,” Beyoncé said when accepting the award. “Wow. I wanna thank God, oh my God, that I’m able to still do what I love after so many years … I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this album, 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 wanna encourage people to do what they’re passionate about… to stay persistent.”

“I’d like to thank my beautiful family, all of the artists that were collaborators,” she continued. “Thank you, this wouldn’t have been this album without you. I’d like to thank God again, and my fans, and I still am in shock. So thank you so much for this honor.”