Beyonce wins album of year Grammy for country record

Beyonce has won the top prize at music's Grammys Awards, taking album of the year for the first time in her career with her country record Cowboy Carter.

The superstar singer triumphed over Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and others to claim the trophy that had eluded her even as she collected more lifetime Grammys than any other artist.

"I just feel very full and very honoured. It's been many, many years," Beyonce said on stage on Sunday.

"I wanna dedicate this to Miss Martell, and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors," she said, referencing Linda Martell, a pioneer for Black artists in country music.

Beyonce also won the Grammy for best country album for Cowboy Carter - her first venture into the genre.

The album was snubbed by voters for the Country Music Awards in their nominations in September.

"Really I was not expecting this," Beyonce said after she was handed the country trophy by presenter Taylor Swift.

"I want to thank God that I'm able to still do what I love after so many years."

Tame Impala (aka Kevin Parker) - one of three Australian artists up for an award - won best dance/electronic recording for Neverender, his collaboration with Justice.

Kendrick Lamar was another of the night's big winners, claiming record and song of the year for Not Like Us - a diss track in his feud with Canadian rapper and singer Drake.

It was the second hip-hop single to ever win the category. The first was Childish Gambino's This Is America.

"We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," Lamar said before shouting out Los Angeles area neighbourhoods.

The track also earned Lamar Grammys for best rap song and best rap performance.

Pink Pony Club singer Chappell Roan was named best new artist and used her time on stage to urge record labels to pay musicians a living wage with healthcare benefits.

Roan nudged aside Sabrina Carpenter to win the Grammy, capping a remarkably explosive rise to fame for an artist dropped by her last record label.

Roan, who is openly queer and taps into drag culture, was the sassy toast of the pop world in 2024 with tracks including Good Luck, Babe!, Red Wine Supernova and Hot To Go! from her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

In her speech, she called for record labels to give a livable wage and health care, especially for developing artists.

"It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanised," Roan said.

Carpenter won best pop vocal album for Short n' Sweet, minutes after she performed hits Please Please Please and Espresso on the Grammys stage.

"This is my first Grammy so I'm going to cry," Carpenter said as she accepted the trophy.

Doechii became the third woman in Grammy history to win best rap album for Alligator Bites Never Heal.

As she accepted the award, she offered words of encouragement to Black women and girls.

"Anything is possible," Doechii said as she held her trophy.

"Don't allow anyone to project any stereotypes on you."

Beyonce and Miley Cyrus won the trophy for best country duo or group performance for II Most Wanted.

The Grammy festivities were revamped to be part awards show and part fundraiser for people affected by the wildfires, which were contained on Friday after killing 29 people and displacing thousands including many musicians.

Broadcast live on CBS, the show opened with an all-star rendition I Love LA featuring Altadena-based band Dawes backed by John Legend, Brad Paisley, St Vincent and Brittany Howard.

"Tonight, we decided we are not just celebrating our favourite music. We are also celebrating the city that brought us so much of that music," said host Trevor Noah, who directed viewers to donation options throughout the show.

Grammy winners are chosen by the 13,000 singers, songwriters, producers, engineers and others who make up the Recording Academy.

with AP