Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles explained why she was left in disbelief as her daughter finally won her Album of the Year Grammy with Cowboy Carter.

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Tina Knowles Says She Was “Shocked” When Beyoncé Won Grammy for Album of the Year

Tina Knowles has no doubt about Beyoncé’s power.

But even she was left speechless when her eldest daughter took home her first Album of the Year win for Cowboy Carter.

In Fact, Miss Tina shared that she was with Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s 7-year-old twins Rumi Carter and Sir Carter, watching as her daughter was joined by Blue Ivy Carter, 13, onstage for the big moment.

“I was at her house, I was there to help she and Blue get ready,” Tina said during a Feb. 24 appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show. “I just really was not expecting. I was really, really shocked. So shocked.”

“In fact, I sat there for a second and didn’t believe it was true,”she continued. “I was sitting there with my granddaughter Rumi and my grandson Sir, and for a second, we were just sitting there. I couldn’t believe it.”

Indeed, after watching Beyoncé win for Best Country Album (a moment that left her visibly stunned before she took the stage) Album of the Year still didn’t seem possible, as the “Cuff it” singer—who has 99 total Grammy nominations and 35 wins—had never taken home the trophy in that category.

It’s been so many times that I thought that would happen,” the 71-year-old said of her daughter’s four prior nominations in the category. “And that didn’t.”

Beyoncé not only maintained her spot as the most decorated artist in Grammys history with her three wins during the evening but became the first Black woman to win Album of the Year in the 21st century.

While accepting the award, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer addressed the years she went overlooked in the category and made sure to honor her predecessors like country legend Linda Martell.

Beyoncé, Grammys 2025
Sonja Flemming/CBS

“I just feel very full and very honored,” she said onstage at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2. “It’s been many, many years. I want to dedicate this to Miss Linda Martell, and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors.”

Amid the success—and some push back by some artists in country music—of the genre-bending album, the “16 Carriages” singer previously explained the inspiration behind her decision to go country.

“It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she wrote in a March 2024 Instagram post.

“But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.

It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”

Keep reading to look back at Beyoncé’s historic Grammys run…

Destinys Child, Beyonce at the Grammys
Kirby Lee/WireImage

2000: Grammy Destiny

2000 marked Beyoncé‘s first-ever time at the Grammy Awards as part of Destiny’s Child, which then included Kelly Rowland, Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams.

The group was recognized with two first-time nominations, but they went home without any Grammy gold.

Destiny's Child, Beyonce at the Grammys

David McNew/Newsmakers

2001: First Grammy Gold

This time as trio, Destiny’s Child returned to the Grammy Awards the following year, serving now-iconic matching looks. The group was up for five awards and went home with two statues.

Prince, Beyonce at the Grammys
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2004: A Night With a Prince

For her solo debut at the Grammys, Beyoncé joined Prince on stage for an electric duet as they performed a medley of his hits together.

Beyonce at the Grammys

Steve Granitz/WireImage

2004: Beyoncé Shines

Growing her Grammy Award collection, the singer went home with five statues after being nominated in six categories as a solo artist.

Beyonce at the Grammys
KMazur/WireImage

2007: Listen Up

In addition to being up for an award in four categories—and winning Best Contemporary R&B Album—the Dreamgirls star also took the audience’s breath away with a performance of her hit song from the film, “Listen.”

Tina Turner, Beyonce at the Grammys
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2008: Two Proud Marys

Once again a nominee—this time in three categories—Beyoncé made Grammy history as one half of an unforgettable performance of “Proud Mary” with Tina Turner.

Beyonce, Grammy Awards 2010

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2010: Wins for Sasha Fierce

One of Beyoncé’s biggest nights at the Grammys came in 2010 when she went home with six statues—her most to date for one show.

Beyonce at the Grammys
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

2014: Steaming Up the Grammys

On the heels of her surprise fifth album, Beyoncé, the star and her husband Jay-Z kicked off the 2014 Grammys with an unforgettably sexy performance of their collaboration, “Drunk in Love.”

The following year, the couple won two Grammy Awards for the song.

Beyonce at the Grammys
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

2017: Double Duty

If you were to deem any year in Grammys history as Beyoncé’s year, 2017 was it. Following the release of her iconic album Lemonade in 2016, the singer garnered a whopping nine nominations.

The star, who was also pregnant at the time with twins Rumi and Sir, ultimately won in two categories—Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video.

She also pulled double duty as a performer that night, delivering a stunning medley of songs from her hit record.

To top things off, she was on the receiving end of praise from Adele, who basically used her acceptance speeches for Record of the Year and Album of the Year to fangirl over Queen Bey.

Jay-Z, Blue Ivy and Beyonce, Beyonce at the Grammys
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2018: The Carter Family

If you ever wanted to see Grammy royalty, look no further than this 2018 appearance from Beyoncé, Jay-Z and their oldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

Beyonce, 2021 Grammy Awards, Winners
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

2021: No. 1 Most Nominated Female Artist

Beyoncé was not only a winner at the 2021 Grammys, but also a history maker. Thanks to her four wins during the show, she became the most awarded woman artist in Grammy history.

Beyonce, Jay-Z

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

2022: Tying With Jay-Z

In November 2022, Beyoncé was nominated for nine Grammys for the 2023 awards, tying her husband as the artist with the most Grammy nominations in history.

Beyonce, Grammys 2023
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2023: Queen of the Grammys

Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in all of Grammys history when she nabbed her 32nd golden gramophone.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional and I’m trying to just receive this night,” she tearfully said, after Renaissance was named Best Dance/Electronic Album.

“I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three chid, who are at home watching.

I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys.”

Beyoncé
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood

2024: Most Nominated Grammy Artist of All Time

When the nominations for the 2025 award ceremony were announced, Beyoncé landed 11 nods—making her the most nominated Grammy artist of all time with a grand total of 99.

2025 Grammys, Beyonce accepts Grammy for Best Country Album
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

2025: First Album of the Year Win

The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer ended a 25-year record at the 2025 ceremony, where she became the first Black woman in the 21st century to win Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter.

The award was also Bey’s first-ever victory in the category.

“I just feel very full and very honored,” said the singer, who had been locked out of a win for over two decades. “It’s been many, many years.”