The key facts
- Rosalía received five awards out of seven nominations, including Album of the Year for «Lux» — her third win in the category after El Mal Querer (2019) and Motomami (2022)
- Milo J took four prizes, including Record of the Year for Niño; Aria Vega was named Best New Artist
- Daddy Yankee received the Person of the Year award, and Diljit Dosanjh became the first Indian artist to perform at the Latin Grammys
Rosalía's historic third win
At the 27th Latin Grammy ceremony, held on Thursday, November 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Spanish singer Rosalía became the first artist in the awards' history to win Album of the Year three times — she had previously won with El Mal Querer in 2019 and Motomami in 2022. This time the award came for the album Lux, released a year earlier to rave reviews. In total she took home five trophies out of seven nominations: besides Album of the Year, the song La Perla won Song of the Year and Best Pop Song, and she also received Best Alternative Album and Best Short-Form Music Video for Sauvignon Blanc.
Words from the stage
«To everyone who told me I wasn't good enough or that my music was too weird — I'm glad I didn't listen. Now I'm receiving these awards,» said Rosalía, who opened the ceremony with a performance of her biggest hits. In another part of her speech, the artist compared her albums: «If El Mal Querer was a dream and Motomami a bet, then Lux was a leap into the void for me,» adding that she knows «how much there is still to learn» and that her best work is probably still ahead.
An Argentine accent to the evening
Record of the Year unexpectedly went to 20-year-old Argentine Milo J for the song Niño, beating, among others, Karol G, Jorge Drexler, Carin León and Rosalía herself. In total he took home four awards and ended his speech with the words «Long live Argentine folklore.» Another notable share of awards went to the urban duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso. Drexler became the evening's fourth most-awarded artist: prizes went to the album Taracá, the song Ante la duda, baila, and Best Roots Song, recorded with Facundo Balta.
Daddy Yankee and other winners
Person of the Year went to Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee, who was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement award presented by Janet Jackson, who told him in Spanish that his music «inspired an entire generation.» He performed Gasolina and Con Calma together with LL Cool J, French Montana, Bad Gyal and Bizarrap — the latter sharing with him the award for Best Urban Song. Best New Artist was named as Colombian Aria Vega (real name Mariana Padilla) from Barranquilla, and Songwriter of the Year went to Sara Schell. In the pop categories, Alejandro Sanz stood out, bringing his award tally to 24, as did Laura Pausini; Karol G took Best Urban Album and Best Reggaeton Performance for Tropicoqueta.
Ceremony firsts
For the first time at the Latin Grammys, Portuguese-language and Brazilian music was recognized as a separate category — the award went to Anitta, and the corresponding segment of the ceremony was broadcast in Portuguese. The first Indian artist to perform at the awards was Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh, who interrupted his Aura India tour for the occasion: he took the stage during Daddy Yankee's number, with whom he recorded the joint track Pokito. The ceremony also paid tribute to the recently deceased king of salsa, Willie Colón.
What's next
Just days away, when the US National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announces the nominations for the 69th English-language Grammy Awards, Lux is being called a likely frontrunner on the list. It is also worth noting that some of Rosalía's awards — for Pop Song, Alternative Album and Short-Form Music Video — were announced in advance, before the main broadcast.
Rosalía released her fourth album Lux last year to rave reviews
Image source, Getty Images After a career spanning three decades, Daddy Yankee was recognised with a lifetime achievement award
Image source, Getty Images Diljit Dosanjh became the first Indian artist to perform at the Latin Grammys
