Beyoncé's country win has highlighted questions about this year's Grammy Awards

Representatives for Beyoncé did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment. The win prompted discussion about long-standing racial tensions in country music and how awards classifications reflect that history.

Beyoncé's Grammy win in the country category prompted public debate and discussion. Representatives for Beyoncé did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment. The conversation has drawn attention to long-standing racial tensions and the historical segregation of musical traditions in the United States. Commentators referenced early 20th-century distinctions in record marketing that separated Appalachian music into 'hillbilly records' and separate 'race records'. Key facts: - Representatives for Beyoncé did not respond to BBC requests for comment. - The controversy highlighted claims that early 20th-century record marketing segregated Appalachian music into 'hillbilly records' for white audiences and 'race records' for Black audiences. - Beyoncé's album Cowboy Carter emphasised Black roots in country music and included banjo by Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens on the track 'Texas Hold 'Em'. - Nashville's Country Music Association did not nominate Beyoncé the same year she won the Grammy for Best Country Album. Summary: The Grammy outcome renewed attention to country music's history and to how awards categories are defined and applied. Some industry figures suggested the Recording Academy's decision could influence other organisations as the genre evolves. Undetermined at this time.