3 minute readrundown
In the days leading up to the Grammy Awards, Beyoncé sparked rumors that she was teasing the third act of Renaissance with her Valentine’s Day collection. Describing the choker in particular, she called it “a little rock’n’roll with a lot of sexiness.” But the star didn’t fuel any further speculation tonight. She was not present at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Beyoncé was not a presenter or performer tonight, and she did not release any new music during this year’s awards eligibility period. Last year, she won Album of the Year for “Cowboy Carter.”
In her acceptance speech, she said, “I feel so full and so honored. It’s been so many years. I want to thank the Grammys, all the songwriters, all the collaborators, all the producers, all the hard work. (Linda) Ma I want to dedicate this to you, the first commercially successful black female country artist. God bless you all. Thank you.”
Backstage, Beyoncé gave a rare interview to Entertainment Tonight and talked about how she felt about winning the prestigious award after so many years in the industry.
“(Winning Album of the Year) is so surreal. For 25 years, I just worked hard and did my best to keep growing and keep doors open,” she said. “So I’m very honored, very honored. And I’m happy that my daughter (Blue Ivy, who attended the ceremony) was able to see it.”
In October 2024, she spoke to GQ about the trilogy, which explores a different genre with each album. “Renaissance” and “Cowboy Carter” were her first two films.
“From the beginning of my career and on every album, I’ve always mixed genres,” she began. “R&B, dance, country, rap, zydeco, blues, opera, gospel, they’ve all influenced me in some way. I have favorite artists in every imaginable genre. I believe genres are traps that both box us in and separate us. I’ve experienced this for 25 years in the music industry. Black artists and other artists of color have been creating and mastering multiple genres since forever.
“This is why it was so important to me to sample composer Joseph Bologne, known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, in the song ‘Daughter’ from ‘Cowboy Carter.’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 3 No. 1: II. Adagio was created in the 1700s. This is a testament to Chevalier’s vision. I hope this inspires artists as well as fans to dig deeper and learn more about Black people.”Some of the musical innovators who came before us never get the mainstream acclaim they deserve, especially when they go against the norm. ”
She didn’t give any details about the direction of her third act, but she did talk about her approach to music and why she doesn’t often attend big industry events in between projects. “Through my work, I hope people can look within themselves and come to terms with their own creativity, strength, and resilience. I focus on storytelling, growth, and quality. I don’t focus on perfectionism. I focus on evolution, innovation, and changing perceptions. ‘Cowboy Working on ‘Carter’ music and starting this exciting new project doesn’t feel like a prison or a burden. In fact, I only work on things that free me. Don’t see me on the red carpet, and that’s why I disappear until I have art to share.”
