Since the Grammy Awards celebrated its inaugural show in 1959, only 12 Black artists have won album of the year.
Most recently, Beyoncé won for “Cowboy Carter” after four unsuccessful bids for the top prize.
She joined an esteemed yet brief list of singers and superstars, listed in chronological order below.
1974, 1975, 1977: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder became the first Black artist to win album of the year in 1974 for his 16th studio album, “Innervisions,” 15 years after the inaugural Grammys ceremony.
He won again in 1975 for “Fulfillingness’ First Finale,” becoming just the second artist ever to win the award in consecutive years, after Frank Sinatra in the ’60s.
Along with Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Taylor Swift, Wonder is one of just four artists who has won album of the year three different times; Wonder won again in 1977 for “Songs in the Key of Life,” and he remains the only artist in Grammy history to win with three consecutive studio albums.
1984: Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson won album of the year in 1984 for his magnum opus, “Thriller.”
That year, Jackson became the first artist ever to win eight Grammy Awards in one night. The record was later tied by Santana in 2000.
1985: Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie won album of the year in 1985 for “Can’t Slow Down,” his second solo album.
1991: Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones won album of the year in 1991 for “Back on the Block,” an album he produced that features various artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Ice-T, and Ray Charles.
1992: Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole won album of the year in 1992 for “Unforgettable…With Love,” her 12th studio album.
1994: Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston won album of the year in 1994 for the soundtrack of “The Bodyguard,” a film she starred in.
Houston recorded most of the soundtrack’s songs, and also served as the album’s co-executive producer with Clive Davis.
1999: Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill won album of the year in 1999 for her debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
She became the first-ever hip-hop artist to win the prestigious award. Hill is also one of just five artists to win album of the year and best new artist in the same night, a feat most recently achieved by Billie Eilish.
As Billboard notes, Hill is the only female artist in Grammys history to win album of the year for an album on which she was the sole producer.
2004: Outkast
Outkast won album of the year in 2004 for “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” the duo’s fifth studio album.
2005: Ray Charles
Ray Charles posthumously won album of the year in 2005 for “Genius Loves Company,” his final album. The album’s two co-producers, John Burk and Phil Ramone, accepted the award on Charles’ behalf.
2008: Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock won album of the year in 2008 for “River: The Joni Letters,” a tribute album comprised of Joni Mitchell covers.
2022: Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste won album of the year in 2022 for “We Are,” his sixth studio album.
Batiste was up for the award again in 2024 for “World Music Radio,” but lost to Taylor Swift’s “Midnights.”
2025: Beyoncé
Beyoncé finally won album of the year for the first time for “Cowboy Carter,” her eighth studio album and Nashville-inspired opus. She also became the first Black woman to win best country album.
She was previously nominated in 2010 for “I Am… Sasha Fierce,” 2015 for “Beyoncé,” 2017 for “Lemonade,” and 2023 for “Renaissance,” but lost to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele, and Harry Styles, respectively.
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