John Rich of Big & Rich has publicly 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 voting process is influenced by record labels making deals, stating "Labels/publishers all have blocks of votes. They make deals with each other... It has ZERO to do with who made the best music." He further alleged this practice extends to other award shows like the CMAs, ACMs, and Billboard.

The controversy has sparked debate within the country music community. Kelsea Ballerini defended Beyoncé's nomination, arguing on SiriusXM's Fierce: Women in Music that "You don't have to be a country artist to make a country record" and that having respected artists from other genres celebrate country music "would be anything but great."

Critics have questioned the legitimacy of the win, pointing to Jay-Z's previous comments about his wife never winning Album of the Year despite 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 "stay persistent" in pursuing their passions.

The debate continues to highlight broader discussions about genre boundaries and recognition in the music industry, with supporters and critics on both sides weighing in on the significance of this historic win.

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