Whoopi Goldberg is coming to Beyoncé‘s defense after a Fox News pundit criticized the global icon for winning best country album at the 2025 Grammys on Sunday. Conservative author Raymond Arroyo appeared on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, where he labeled Beyoncé’s Grammy wins a “ridiculous outcome.” The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer took home awards for best country album and album of the year for Cowboy Carter, in addition to best country duo/group performance for “II Most Wanted,” featuring Miley Cyrus.
Arroyo claimed, “The country artists are not really happy about this. I’m gonna put this in some context, Laura: Dolly Parton has 10 Grammys. Frank Sinatra had 11 Grammys. Beyoncé has 35. How is that possibly commensurate with that talent? I mean, come on.” He further contended that the voting process was flawed by suggesting, “Basically, Lady Gaga’s cat sitter voted for best reggae and best country album, so that’s why you get this ridiculous outcome that has nothing to do with the country audience or the country musicians.”
Goldberg took a moment on The View Tuesday morning to slam Arroyo for his remarks, stating, “Sir, are you aware that you have to be in the music industry to be a Grammy voter? So, the cat sitter can’t just vote.” The EGOT winner elaborated, “Are you aware that when the Grammys began in 1959, there were only 28 categories, now there are 94? The year that Frank Sinatra got six nominations despite having two No. 1 albums, he only won one Grammy that night for his album cover—not even for his singing, for the album cover. Listen, man. You can’t do that. She earned it.”
Addressing Arroyo directly, Goldberg continued, “You want to hold on to country music like white people didn’t also buy her country album. Come on, man! People voted for it. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. Same with the Oscars. Sit down! Music does not have the issues you have. Music is about the people.”
Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024, was a historic effort from Beyoncé. It not only spotlighted other Black artists in country music but also ignited cultural conversations about Black artists reclaiming the genres they started, including country music. The singer has expressed feeling “unwelcomed” in the country genre when she initially entered the scene years ago. Last year, Beyoncé was infamously snubbed from the CMA Awards, despite Cowboy Carter being one of the top albums and spending four weeks atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
On Sunday, Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to win the Grammy for best country album, further solidifying her place in an industry that has often marginalized voices like hers. The significance of this win cannot be overstated, as it opens doors for more diverse representation in country music, reaffirming that talent knows no boundaries.