After four losses in the Grammys’ top category to artists like Adele, Taylor Swift, Beck and Harry Styles—sparking accusations of racial bias from fans and critics—Beyoncé finally claimed album of the year in a historic win on Sunday night, making her the first Black woman to win the award in the 21st century, following in the footsteps of Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, and Natalie Cole.
After a fun evening of performances and presenters that stretched music's biggest night into the three-hour mark, the star-studded attendees packing the Crypto.com Arena still had enough energy to erupt into cheers when Beyoncé's win was announced for the award show's grand finale. A Los Angeles firefighter, helping to announce the category, gasped before even reading "Cowboy Carter" aloud.
