The Recording Academy has announced a new Grammy award category for Best Traditional Country Album, a move that comes just months after Beyoncé made headlines for winning Best Country Album with her chart-topping record “Cowboy Carter.”
The change, revealed in a June 12 press release detailing updates for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, reflects the Academy’s efforts to more clearly distinguish between contemporary and traditional styles within the country music field. As part of the update, the existing Best Country Album category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a new category will now specifically recognize traditional country music.
The timing of the category shake-up appears significant, coming shortly after Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” won Best Country Album—a decision that sparked intense debate, with both praise and criticism from artists, critics, and fans….