Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 took home the album of the year trophy at the 2024 for his 鈥淩adio G眉ira,鈥� not long after receiving record of the year for 鈥淢ambo 23.鈥�
鈥淟et me share this with all the nominees, it is a great privilege to be with you," Guerra said onstage, speaking in Spanish. "I love you, I admire you, and after 40 years of (my) career, I feel joyful to be with you,鈥� said Guerra. 鈥淭he idea of 鈥嬧�嬧�楻adio G眉ira鈥� was from Jesus, completely from Jesus, he gave us wisdom and he gave us understanding so all the glory and honor goes to him.鈥�
It was the performances that stood out Thursday night, and a tribute to salsa really bringing the house down: Marc Anthony and La India powerfully dueted 鈥淰ivir Lo Nuestro," a vivacious set jumpstarted by 鈥淒e M铆 Enam贸rate,鈥� as performed by Tito Nieves and Christian Alicea. Make no mistake: the Latin Grammy Awards brought the fun on and from the very beginning.
Like with 鈥淪i Si Si鈥�! It's the song that Carlos Vives opened the night with in his medley, and a perfect distillation of the spirit of the event. There was a lot to say 鈥測es鈥� to 鈥� especially when he was joined by fellow Colombian musicians Juanes, Sebasti谩n Yatra and Camilo.
He was honored as the Latin Grammys' Person of the Year at a ceremony the night before, and given his award on stage Thursday night by Past winners include Laura Pausini, Marco Antonio Sol铆s, Rub茅n Blades and more.
The first award of the night was given out shortly thereafter: to Car铆n Le贸n for his 鈥淏oca Chueca, Vol. 1.鈥� Then Joe Jonas and Ela Taubert teamed up for a bilingual take on her viral hit, 鈥溌緾贸mo Pas贸?鈥� A few hours later, she'd take home the coveted best new artist trophy, delivering a heartfelt speech.
鈥淚 think any musician or artist dreams of a moment like this,鈥� she said through tears. 鈥淚 want to thank God because he gave me this dream, to my mother for having believed in me from the beginning鈥� to all the nominees, this is yours, I admire and respect you very much, to the people who listen to my music, you brought me here, thank you very, very much.鈥�
Song of the year went to Jorge Drexler for his composition, 鈥淒errumbe.鈥�
Performances hit hard and fast: Kali Uchis, Luis Fonsi, Elena Rose, The Warning, Myke Towers with 鈥淟a Falda鈥� into 鈥淟ala鈥� and Juan Luis Guerra 4.40鈥檚 brought his modern merengue 鈥淢ambo 23,鈥� Danny Ocean鈥檚 鈥淎mor鈥� bled into 脕lvaro D铆az鈥檚 emo-trap rock 鈥淨ui茅n te quiere como el nene.鈥�
Pitbull and Jon Bon Jovi teamed up 鈥淣ow or Never,鈥� a remix song of the latter鈥檚 huge hit, 鈥淚t鈥檚 My Life.鈥�
Anitta brought bossa nova to the awards show, paying tribute to her fellow Brazilian.
Traditional pop vocal album went to Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany Garc铆a for her album, 鈥淕arc铆a.鈥� And Draco Rosa won pop/rock album for his 2024 record, 鈥淩eflejos de Lo Eterno.鈥�
Karol G won m煤sica urbana album 鈥淢a帽ana Ser谩 Bonito (Bichota Season).鈥� Pop vocal album went to Luis Fonsi for 鈥淓l Viaje.鈥�
It's a big year: the three-hour award show celebrated the Latin Grammys' 25th anniversary, held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, in a time when Latin music genres have never been bigger globally.
Most of the awards at the Latin Grammys were presented a few hours before, at the Latin Grammy Premiere. There, 脡dgar Barrera 鈥� and songwriter known for his work with such artists as Madonna, Karol G, Peso Pluma, , Grupo Frontera and beyond 鈥� who led the nominations for a second year in a row, picked up three trophies. Nathy Peluso did the same.
Barrera was up for nine awards. This year, he took home songwriter of the year, producer of the year and best regional Mexican song 鈥� alongside Keytin 鈥� for cowriting Grupo Frontera and Grupo Firme鈥檚 鈥淓l Amor de Su Vida.鈥�
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Associated Press Writer Berenice Bautista in Mexico City contributed to this report.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
