On Thursday, June 12, the Recording Academy announced in an Instagram post that a new category will be added — Best Traditional Country Album — and that the Best Country Album category will be renamed to Best Contemporary Country Album.

The Beyhive ran to Beyoncé’s defense in the comments of the announcement post, accusing the Academy of “moving the goalpost” after her album, COWBOY CARTER, took home the Grammy for Best Album and Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys.

Instagram user Kiara Marqui Butler, whose bio says they are “htx born and raised,” commented, “Traditional Country Album = White. Contemporary Country Album = Black… Your racism is showing again.” Others accused the Academy of “segregating the country award” and defended Beyoncé against some of the criticisms she received after her win.

For those who missed it back in February, thousands of country music fans flooded social media posts announcing her Best Country Album win with comments finding fault with the genre label. Many felt that that album, which blends rock, pop, country and more, didn’t fit the bill for a true country album. “Beyonce over Stapleton is actually a joke, just as the grammys,” read one comment under the post.

Many of the singer’s fans felt that Thursday’s Grammy announcement was part of a wider industry shuffle to gatekeep the country genre from a more diverse range of artists.

“Beyoncé broke a barrier just for you to go and put it back up,” commented Instagram user Alexander Hall. Some felt that it was to help keep Nashville artists in the running. Instagram user Kdrama Happiness wrote, “So everytime you can’t compete, y’all are gonna move the goalpost? As usual.”

But if the category reform really has to do with the success of COWBOY CARTER, one Instagram user noted that it shows the singer’s influence in enacting real change in the music industry.

“Go @beyonce for having all the power to switch things up,” wrote Instagram user Jennifer R., from Austin.