Country music star John 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, one half of the duo Big & Rich, claims the win resulted from record label voting deals rather than musical merit. He alleges that music award shows, including the Grammys, CMAs, ACMs, and Billboard awards, operate through a system where labels and publishers trade votes.

The controversy has sparked debate within the country music community. While some artists like Kelsea Ballerini defend Beyoncé's nomination, arguing that "you don't have to be a country artist to make a country record," critics question the authenticity of the win.

Some skeptics point to Beyoncé's surprised reaction at winning, connecting it to Jay-Z's previous criticism of the Grammys for never awarding his wife Album of the Year, despite her holding the record for most Grammy wins in history.

In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé addressed the 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 regardless of genre boundaries.

The debate highlights ongoing discussions about genre boundaries in music and the evolution of country music in particular, with established artists and fans divided over what constitutes authentic country music.

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