Award

Why Beyoncé Has Not Won an Album of the Year Grammy

Published January 31, 2025

Beyoncé has been adored by the Grammys since receiving her first nomination with Destiny’s Child 25 years ago. From that moment, she has achieved a record 99 nominations, ultimately becoming the artist with the most Grammy wins in history, reaching her 32nd award in 2023.

Despite this incredible success, there is one significant honor that has eluded her: the Album of the Year award. Beyoncé has been nominated for this award four times—"I Am ... Sasha Fierce" in 2010, "Beyoncé" in 2015, "Lemonade" in 2017, and "Renaissance" in 2023. Each time, she has walked away without the trophy.

During a recent Grammy ceremony, her husband Jay-Z pointed out the absurdity of this situation. While accepting an award, he highlighted how Beyoncé has more Grammys than anyone else yet has never won Album of the Year. He asked the audience to consider how this discrepancy appears, saying, "Think about that. The most Grammys, but never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”

Looking back at her nominations, her first came in 2010 for "I Am ... Sasha Fierce." This album included major hits such as "If I Were a Boy," "Halo," and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." That year, she competed against other heavyweights like Taylor Swift with "Fearless" and Lady Gaga with "The Fame." Losing to Swift's album was considered fair, as it was a beloved massive hit.

Five years later, when Beyoncé released her self-titled album in 2015, it marked a shift in the way artists released music, accompanying visual content for each song. Despite this groundbreaking achievement, she lost the Album of the Year to Beck's "Morning Phase," a decision some fans believed was unwarranted.

The most pronounced moment of disappointment came at the 2017 Grammy Awards when her album "Lemonade" lost to Adele’s "25." Released amidst impressive cultural impact and significant critical success, "Lemonade" was celebrated as a transformative work for both Beyoncé and the music industry. When Adele won, she famously admitted, "I can’t possibly accept this award. My artist of my life is Beyoncé... This album is just so monumental.”

Beyoncé's most recent loss came in 2023 when she was nominated for "Renaissance" but lost to Harry Styles’ "Harry’s House." This further fueled the conversation on why such an influential artist has not yet captured the top prize.

Although it’s disappointing for many fans to see Beyoncé miss out on this honor repeatedly, it’s essential to note that other legendary artists, like Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, and Prince, have also not won Album of the Year, placing her in a broader context of significant musical figures.

As her fans anticipate the upcoming Grammy ceremony with her latest album "Cowboy Carter" leading all nominations, questions about her chances for Album of the Year linger. It’s a testament to her remarkable body of work, making it even harder to understand why she hasn’t secured the award yet. With many supporters hoping this will be her year, only time will tell.

Beyoncé, Grammy, Music