“Cowboy Carter’s win for Best Album of the Year at the 2024 Grammys has stirred up some controversy, especially among Billie Eilish fans. As Beyoncé sung her praises of her team and her hopes for the future, the camera panned down to Eillish with tears in her eyes. Eilish’s 2024 album ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ was nominated for the same category and many fans deem her loss as unfair. A user on X wrote ‘The scammys really snubbed Billie again…I’m throwing a brick at my TV.’
‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ has been praised for its innovative sound and emotional depth. As well as this, many have used their anger at the loss to question the caliber of ‘Cowboy Carter,’ saying that the number of streams ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ garnered was enough proof that it was superior. Despite the commercial success of Hit Me Hard and Soft, Cowboy Carter is considered by many to have deserved Album of the Year, and I have to agree.
The cultural impact Cowboy Carter has had is undeniable–Beyoncé pushed the boundaries of what ‘country’ is and resisted the prejudiced lens that many critics viewed her work through. The writing and storytelling on this album is incredibly impactful and the homages paid to other Black artists are beautifully done. The influences it is rooted in are done justice in every sense of the phrase. Beyoncé not only proved her artistry and cultural relevancy with this album, but used its success to uplift other artists. The amount of hate she is receiving is uncalled for.
Many people are calling her ‘irrelevant’ and blatantly ignoring the impact that ‘Cowboy Carter’ has had on the cultural landscape. As well as this, it is clear that much of the hate Beyoncé is facing is due to race. Many fans of Eillish who have chosen to lay into the Beyoncé hate are using it as an opportunity to say anti-black things about her and her music. It’s so easy to be over-critical of women of color in the music industry. They are often demonized far more than their white counterparts; there is something to be said in the fact that Sabrina Carpenter, a white woman, beat Eilish for Best Pop Album, and yet no one is sending hate in her direction.
Artistry of this caliber deserves to be celebrated with no question–this controversy reflects deeper issues within the music sphere that need to be addressed. The Grammys should celebrate musical achievements without fueling hate, especially on the basis of something as trivial as gender and race. Cowboy Carter deseverves the acalades it is reciving; its craftsmanship should not be ignored. You can listen to Cowboy Carter on Spotify or Apple Music.
