Sierra Ferrell accepts award for Best Americana Album for Trail of Flowers onstage during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony at Peacock Theater. Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards highlighted a mix of country, Americana, roots and Christian music alongside pop, hip-hop and R&B, with several Nashville artists making notable appearances throughout the night.

One of the most significant moments of the evening came when Beyoncé won her first Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, marking a milestone in Grammy history. She also became the first Black artist to win Best Country Album, an achievement that signals ongoing shifts in the genre. Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar dominated the night, winning five awards, the most of any artist. Rising pop force Chappell Roan was named Best New Artist, emerging victorious in a highly competitive category.

Taylor Swift presented Best Country Album to Beyoncé, a moment that captured widespread attention, with Beyoncé appearing genuinely surprised by the honor. Shaboozey made his Grammy debut with a performance that started with a verse of “Good News” before transitioning into his 19-week No. 1 hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” The performance quickly turned into one of the night’s most interactive, with the entire room joining in.

One of the evening’s many collaborations featured Brad Paisley and Sheryl Crow, who joined Dawes, Brittany Howard, John Legend and St. Vincent for a performance of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” The tribute honored the city’s resilience following the recent wildfires and brought a touch of country to the stage.

In a tribute to Quincy Jones, Lainey Wilson teamed up with Jacob Collier for a high-energy performance of “Let The Good Times Roll.” Wilson’s Southern twang blended seamlessly with Collier’s intricate arrangements, offering a fresh take on the classic.

As always, the majority of awards were handed out during the pre-telecast, where country, Americana and bluegrass artists saw major wins. Chris Stapleton won Best Country Solo Performance for “It Takes A Woman”, though he was not in attendance to accept. Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II MOST WANTED.” Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne took home Best Country Song for “The Architect.”

Musgraves, who accepted the award, remarked, “There’s so much darkness in this world right now, and it just feels so good to be able to fight some of that darkness through song. It’s such an honor.”

Americana standout Sierra Ferrell had a dominant night, winning all four of her nominated categories: Best Americana Album (Trail of Flowers), Best American Roots Song (“American Dreaming”), Best Americana Performance (“American Dreaming”) and Best American Roots Performance (“Lighthouse”). Ferrell was in attendance and humbly accepted each award. Billy Strings took home Best Bluegrass Album for Live Vol. 1, further cementing his reputation as a leader in modern bluegrass.

The In Memoriam segment paid tribute to a number of industry legends, including Kris Kristofferson, Cissy Houston, Dickey Betts, Joe Bonsall, Sandra Crouch, Joe Chambers, Duane Eddy, Will Jennings, Kinky Friedman, Mary Martin, Sam Moore, Ella Jenkins, Richard Perry, Lanu Simmons, JD Souther, John Titta, Toby Keith and Ben Vaughn, who tragically passed last week.

From major wins to standout performances, Nashville’s presence was undeniable throughout the night.

Bobby Bones will debut his new special Comedically Inspirational on CMT tomorrow (Feb. 4) at 8 p.m. CT.

This unique show, blending comedy, music and inspiration, toured sold-out theaters nationwide. Bones shared stories ranging from his small hometown of Mountain Pine, Arkansas (pop. 577) to the glitz of Hollywood and everywhere in between. Comedically Inspirational features advice from Dolly Parton, a surprise performance by Jake Owen, a Raging Idiots concert and vibrant conversations with audience members from all different backgrounds.

An encore airing of the special will take place Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. CT, following CMT’s Hot 20.

Bones recently announced his annual “Million Dollar Show,” with the Raging Idiots benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will take place on March 4 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Beyoncé will hit the road this spring and summer for her “Cowboy Carter Tour,” beginning April 28.

The 22 date trek will kickoff with four dates at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, and will include stops in Chicago, London, the singer’s hometown of Houston and more, before ending with a two night run at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium July 10-11. The tour will be produced and directed by Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation.

The tour is named after Beyoncé’s eight studio album, Cowboy Carter. The project has left a mark on the music scene, blending elements of country, rock and roll, folk, R&B, pop, psychedelic soul and bluegrass. The album incorporates radio segments from the fictional “KNTRY Radio Texas,” with country icons like Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson taking on roles as DJs and collaborators across multiple tracks. Upon release, it soared to No. 1 on various charts, including the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums chart, making Beyoncé the first black woman to achieve this milestone. At the Grammy Awards last night (Feb. 2), Cowboy Carter took home three Grammy wins for Album of the Year, Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“II Most Wanted”), while earning a total of 11 nominations this year. With 99 nominations and 35 wins, Beyoncé is now the most-nominated and most-awarded artist in Grammy history.

The “Cowboy Carter Tour” marks the first time the award-winning album is brought to life in a full concert setting, following the live performance of “BEYONCÉ BOWL” at Netflix’s inaugural NFL 2024 Christmas Gameday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The halftime show drew over 27 million viewers in the U.S. alone.

The BeyHive presale will begin on Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. local time, followed by the artist presale on Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. local time. Citi cardholders and Verizon customers will also receive presale opportunities on Feb. 12 at 12 p.m. local time for the U.S. dates. For the U.K. and France, there will be a Mastercard presale on Feb. 12 at 12 p.m. local time. General on sale will take place on Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. local time here.

“Cowboy Carter Tour” Dates:
April 28, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
May 01, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
May 04, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
May 07, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium
May 15, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
May 17, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
May 22, 2025 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
May 24, 2025 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
May 25, 2025 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
May 28, 2025 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
June 05, 2025 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 07, 2025 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 10, 2025 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 12, 2025 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
June 19, 2025 – Paris, France – Stade de France
June 21, 2025 – Paris, France – Stade de France
June 28, 2025 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium
June 29, 2025 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium
July 04, 2025 – Washington, D.C. – Northwest Stadium
July 07, 2025 – Washington, D.C. – Northwest Stadium
July 10, 2025 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes Benz Stadium
July 11, 2025 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes Benz Stadium

Kelsea Ballerini headlines Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Catherine Powell

Kelsea Ballerini reached a defining moment in her career on Friday night (Jan. 31), delivering a sold-out, milestone performance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Label-mate MaRynn Taylor set the tone for the evening, captivating the crowd with originals like “Make You Mine,” “Season 2 of Friends” and “Get To Know Me.” She effortlessly led a sing-along to “Fast Car” and “Since U Been Gone” before closing with the heartfelt “Same Girl Same.”

Kelsea Ballerini headlines Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Catherine Powell

Next, Sasha Alex Sloan took the stage with an air of understated cool, commanding attention with her signature melancholic anthems, including “Cowboys Cry,” “Thoughts” and “Smiling When I Die.” She shared her poignant duet with fellow Nashvillian Sam Hunt, “When Was It Over,” offered a reverent take on Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” and wrapped up her set with fan favorites “Older” and “Dancing With Your Ghost.”

When Ballerini finally emerged, she wasted no time, launching into the title track of her 2024 album Patterns. As she transitioned into her latest hit, “Baggage,” the energy inside Bridgestone Arena soared, with the crowd’s deafening cheers signaling that Ballerini had entered a new echelon of stardom.

She beamed as she took in the moment, but her focus never wavered.

“I cannot believe we’re at a sold-out night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee,” Ballerini told the roaring crowd. “I’ve been in this room a million times. This is the arena where I see my favorite artists!”

Kelsea Ballerini headlines Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Catherine Powell

She took the audience on a journey through her career, revisiting early hits like “Love Me Like You Mean It,” reveling in romance with “Heartfirst” and reflecting on personal growth with “This Time Last Year.” The arena erupted for the playful “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” and “Hole In The Bottle,” sending rhinestone-clad fans twirling with their best friends.

One of the evening’s most breathtaking moments came with “First Rodeo.” A carousel bathed in sunset hues illuminated the LED screens, setting the stage for an intimate, dreamlike performance.

The energy surged once again as Ballerini leaned into her bolder side, delivering electric performances of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’s “Blindsided,” her fiery No. 1 hit “Miss Me More” and Patterns’ “We Broke Up.”

“Well, aren’t we a sassy crowd?” Ballerini teased with a grin.

Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban play Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Catherine Powell

She then showcased her pop sensibilities with “Mountain With a View,” “Interlude” and “Wait!” before shifting to a more introspective moment. After moving the crowd with the tender “Cowboys Cry Too,” she welcomed surprise guest Keith Urban to the stage for a stunning duet of “Stupid Boy.”

“This is the most badass show, Kelsea!” Urban praised before exiting to thunderous applause.

Ballerini brought the night full circle with “Peter Pan,” kept the crowd on their feet with “Muscle Memory” and celebrated female friendship with a mashup of “I Would, Would You” and the timeless “Lean On Me.”

After “How Do I Do This,” she left the stage—only to be drawn back for an encore. She closed the unforgettable night with her career-defining hit “Penthouse,” bidding her hometown audience farewell as she embarked on the next chapter of her tour.