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Billboard Latin Women In Music

Tears, parents, emotional performances and lots of gratitude and respect for Gloria Estefan marked Billboard’s second annual Latin Women In Music gala on June 9 in Miami.
Produced by Telemundo, the show, which aired Sunday night, honored revered icons of Latin music like Gloria Estefan (the Legend Award), salsa Legend La India (the Pioneer Award) and Mexican Powerhouse Ana Bárbara (Lifetime Achievement), as well as Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García (Spirit of Change), Mexican prodigy Ángela Aguilar (Musical Dynasty), Colombian chart topper Kali Uchis (Rising Star) and this month’s Billboard cover star, Camila Cabello (Global Impact).

The show was pre-taped at Telemundo’s studios (with production headed by Cisco Suárez and Macarena Moreno) in Miami, and perhaps the smaller setting, combined with fully live performances, gave the evening a sense of intimacy, collegiality and love — corny as that may sound — that is not usually felt at big award shows.

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“It’s an honor to honor someone who writes her own story,” said Mexican star María José early in the evening as she presented the Lifetime Achievement Award. “Ana Bárbara is an example of someone who does not put brakes on herself. I identify with that strength and determination with which she has chosen to be an artist, but above all, the woman she is.”

It was an assessment that could have well applied to all the honorees in the room, all pioneers in their own right. Even Angela Aguilar, the youngest among them, at 20 years old, and the daughter and granddaughter of legends — Pepe Aguilar, Antonio Aguilar, Flor Silvestre — said as much: “In between this great legacy and this great last name, I’m still trying to find who I am.”

It was uncommon honesty expressed again and again throughout the evening, by the “newer” artists, but also the veterans. La India, emotional as a singer and as a speaker, belted “Ese Hombre” and her classic “Vivir Lo Nuestro,” then shed tears as she thanked her icons — the late Celia Cruz and the living Gloria Estefan — and acknowledged that artists have ups and downs. Ana Bárbara, the first honoree of the night, admitted that when she had first visited Miami, many, many years ago, her dream was to meet Estefan, the great door-opening star that was honored with the Legend award, and who sat through the entire evening cheering her colleagues on.

The sentiment was echoed by García, who said: “I love being among all these women I so admire. The first award show I ever went to in my life, they honored Gloria Estefan, and to see her seated here is one of the most beautiful things in the world.”

Parents were also a recurring theme of the evening. Camila Cabello devoted most of her speech to her mother: “When the world is suffering […] my mom reminds me there is love in this world. I love you, mom. And I love you, Gloria Estefan.”

In the other direction, Aguilar received warm words from her dad, Pepe Aguilar, who sent her a video from Japan, where he is currently.

And at the close of the evening, the Woman of the Year award for Karol G — honored in absentia because she was kicking off her European tour the same evening — was picked up by her father, Guillermo Giraldo.

“Thank you, Billboard, thank you, Telemundo, for opening the door to this little girl who at five years old sang backup for this artist [Giraldo himself is an artist] who wasn’t successful, but who today picks up her recognition as Woman of the Year.”

The evening, after all, was a celebration of doors opening, as Billboard extends its Woman of the Year franchise to the Latin realm.

“Thank you, Billboard, for doing this for women,” said Ana Bárbara receiving her award. “We have many barriers to tear down yet, but we’re doing well.”

The second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music may be a wrap, but we’re reliving every single moment from the gala that aired on Sunday (June 9).Kicking off the two-hour music special, Mexican powerhouse Ana Bárbara, who was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, performed a riveting medley that included “Te Regalo la Lluvia,” “Los Caminos de la Vida,” “Qué Poca” and “La Trampa” accompanied by a live band of 13 musicians and a troupe of fierce dancers.
Her performance set the vibe for the ultra-special night that also included sets by other honorees of the night including La India (Pioneer), Ángela Aguilar (Musical Dynasty), Kany García (Spirit of Change) and Kali Uchis (Rising Star). While they didn’t perform, Gloria Estefan, Camila Cabello and Karol G were also honored this year. Estefan was honored as Legend, Cabello with the Global Impact Award and Karol as the Woman of the Year.
All honorees gave heartfelt speeches as they received their respective awards. García was the first one to take the stage to give a speech after Tommy Torres presented her with the award.
“It’s time for us to not only sing and dance and have a great time,” she said categorically. “It’s time for us to talk more. It’s time for us to use the microphone to not only entertain. We women have experienced such a brutal and incredible imbalance, which is why we’re fighting for something that comes very easily to us. That is why as a woman, being hand in hand with each of the people I see sitting here, receiving this award [is so important].”
At the top of the second hour of the show, Ángela Aguilar took the stage, alongside pianist Arthur Hanlon, to sing Pepe Aguilar’s “Me Vas a Extrañar,” one of her dad’s most iconic songs.
Toward the end of the show, Gloria Estefan was honored by Elena Rose, GALE and Juliana who gave a touching performance of Estefan’s “Mi Tierra” accompanied by an orchestra composed of women.
And Karol G shared a special message, thanking Billboard for the Woman of the Year honor and dedicating this award to the women who have collaborated with her, the women who are part of her team and the women who stream her music. Her father Guillermo Giraldo, also known as Papa G, accepted the award on her behalf. “Thanks to each one of you, to the fans, to the great team, it’s because of them we are celebrating this beautiful day,” he said before Karol’s video played.
“I think there is a part of my heart that feels very nostalgic for these beautiful things that have been happening to me,” Karol continued. “They make me remember all the years of my career, all the years of work, of effort, of obstacles, of closed doors, of mockery, of sacrifices and many tears, but also of happiness. I always say that people are afraid of the process, but the process is the most beautiful thing, the experience that it leaves you.”
See below for all the photos from the Billboard Latin Women in Music ceremony.

La India

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

La India onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Guillermo Giraldo

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Guillermo Giraldo onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Kany García

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Kany García onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

María José & Ana Bárbara

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

María José and Ana Bárbara onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Kali Uchis

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Kali Uchis onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Jacqueline Bracamontes

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Jacqueline Bracamontes onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Ana Bárbara

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Ana Bárbara onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Kany García

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Kany García onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Ángela Aguilar & Arthur Hanlon

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Ángela Aguilar and Arthur Hanlon onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Juliana Velásquez, Elena Rose & Gale

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

JulianaVelásquez, Elena Rose and Gale onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Myrka Dellanos & Penélope Menchaca

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Myrka Dellanos and Penélope Menchaca onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Gloria Estefan & Emilio Estefan

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Camila Cabello

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Camila Cabello onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Andrea Meza

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Andrea Meza onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

La India

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

La India onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

María José

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

María José onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Kali Uchis

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Kali Uchis onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Tommy Torres

Image Credit: John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Tommy Torres onstage during Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música at the Telemundo Center in Miami, FL on June 8, 2024.

Karol G was honored with Woman of the Year at the Billboard Latin Women in Music gala, which aired on Sunday (June 9). Although the Colombian hitmaker is currently on her Mañana Será Bonito European tour, she appeared via video to share a heartfelt message.
But before Karol’s video played, her father, Guillermo Giraldo, aka Papa G, took to the stage to speak about his daughter — one of the most touching moments of the night.

“Good evening, everyone,” he began. “Thank you very much to Leila [Cobo], to Cisco [Suárez], to Telemundo for having opened the door to a little girl who at the age of five was singing backup vocals for this artist who was not as successful,” Papa G said, referring to himself.

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“Today we’re here receiving this great recognition as Woman of the Year. We are very sad because [Karol] could not join us today as she is on her world tour in Zurich, [but] I’m very happy to be surrounded by so many stars, so many legends, so many talented women who today are sweeping the world of music. Thanks to each one of you, to the fans, to the great team, it’s because of them we are celebrating this beautiful day.”

Then, it was Karol’s turn to speak. Sounding emotional and grateful, the “Amargura” singer — who was also named Woman of the Year at Billboard Women in Music in March — began her speech by thanking Billboard for the honors.

Below is Karol’s full speech, with everything translated from Spanish to English.

“Good evening, family. Good evening to everyone watching this. Thank you, Billboard, for this recognition. Woman of the Year for Billboard, Woman of the Year for Billboard Latin. Not just this year, the last couple of years of my career have been the most beautiful. The whole process is incredible, but these last years have been like harvesting so many things that I have sown in my life. I feel very grateful for this recognition. I feel very honored for what it means, for the responsibility behind it as well. I want to infinitely thank all the women who have made it possible for me to receive this tonight — I believe that it is not only my work but the work of all the women who are part of what I do.

“To the women who have collaborated with me in my music, to those who have participated in my projects, to all the women at home who listen to me and who are also part of all this success. What a beautiful way to celebrate women, their work, their commitment, their discipline, their dedication, what we are as people. I also want to thank those who are at home and work every day for their dreams. Do not stop believing in yourselves. I believe it’s not just about pursuing a goal but also about making the world more beautiful, more special, [and] that, in the end, the conclusion is to make this women’s movement bigger in the world.”

“I feel very happy. I think there is a part of my heart that feels very nostalgic for these beautiful things that have been happening to me. They make me remember all the years of my career, all the years of work, of effort, of obstacles, of closed doors, of mockery, of sacrifices and many tears, but also of happiness. I always say that people are afraid of the process, but the process is the most beautiful thing, the experience that it leaves you.”

“This only makes me want to keep working very hard. The number one thing I have on my bucket list is to keep inspiring people around the world. I will be giving my best every day, working, studying, preparing myself to continue bringing a little bit of light. Thank you very much to everyone, to all the women who are there tonight. Congratulations to all of you. I receive Woman of the Year today, but in the future it will be others, just like in the past there were others who gave me this opportunity. I hope this movement does not stop growing. Thank you all very much. I love you all very much.”

La India received the Billboard Latin Women in Music Pioneer award and shined not only with a truly powerful performance, but with a speech full of generosity and gratitude for those who believed in her and supported her in her beginnings, and those who continue to give her new opportunities.
Accompanied by a large orchestra mostly made up of women, and with producer Sergio George — one of her first mentors — on the piano, the “Princess of Salsa” brought all her power and energy to the stage, reminding us why her “godmother” Celia Cruz gave her the nickname “The Princess of Salsa.”

In a spectacular white suit with sequins, she began singing the classic “Ese Hombre” and then performed, along with Luis Figueroa, her hit originally recorded with Marc Anthony “Vivir lo Nuestro.” With obvious joy and passion for her craft, she sang and danced smiling, infecting everyone with her energy.

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Moments later, she received the Pioneer award from her friend, actress Maripily Rivera.

“First of all, I want to thank God for creating us and music. I want to thank Billboard for always being here by my side since I was very young,” she said excitedly, thanking a series of key figures in her career, including her manager, as well as producer Sergio George and the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz.

La India performs in the special Billboard Latin Women in Music, on June 8, 2024, at the Telemundo Center, in Miami.

John Parra/TELEMUNDO

“I know that from heaven, she is proud of me. And I dedicate this to her and her ‘Little Cotton Head,’ my godfather Pedro Knight,” she said, pointing up with a smile. Also, “I would like to thank Gloria Estefan for inspiring us,” she added.

Since the release of her first album, Dicen Que Soy in 1994, La India inspired the beginning of a new era and sound for the salsa genre, representing female empowerment and becoming a voice for Latin women.

In its second annual edition, Billboard Mujeres en la Música also honored Karol G as Woman of the Year, Gloria Estefan as Legend, La India as Pioneer, Ángela Aguilar with the Musical Dynasty Award, Camila Cabello with the Global Impact award, Kany García as Spirit of Change and Kali Uchis as Rising Star.

In addition to airing on Telemundo on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, the ceremony is also available on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

Gloria Estefan was the most applauded of the night when she received the Legend award at the Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 gala, and she did so at the hands of her husband, the visionary music producer Emilio Estefan, who surprised her as the presenter of the recognition and gave a moving introductory speech.
“It’s the first time in our career that I’ve given an award to Gloria, but when they told me to do it, I had to do it because I’m honestly so proud of you,” he said with evident admiration for the singer and songwriter, who started while she was still a teenager as part of her group Miami Sound Machine. “We had a sound that was different, and it was so difficult because no one believed in us,” Emilio recalled, noting that together they reached “the most important corners of the world” as young Cuban immigrants.

“Receiving this award is more than anything to let a new generation know that, even though we come from other countries, we have to maintain our culture, we have to maintain our nationality and be proud of where we come from. That’s what made Miami Sound Machine famous. But tonight, more than anything, is to celebrate our union of more than 45 years,” he added to the cheers of the audience, who asked for “kiss, kiss” and became even more excited when the couple joined their lips in a tender moment.

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Amid shouts of “Glory,” the superstar accepted the honor with joy and gratitude, and said how at 17 she went to a friend’s wedding where an orchestra was playing in which a young man who “had incredible charisma” played the accordion. It turns out that he — Emilio — had already heard her sing at a mutual friend’s house and invited her to perform a couple of songs with them.

“I sang ‘Sabor a Mi’ and ‘Tú Me Acostumbraste,’ and of course, everyone at the wedding had heard me sing since I was a little girl and they gave me an impressive ovation, which obviously impressed him,” she said making those present laugh. “And that night he told me, ‘You know, I would love for you to join the group because there is no group that has a woman at the front.’ How things have changed!” Gloria exclaimed.

“To all the queens who are sharing this night with me, I adore each one of you. I am very proud every time I see a woman succeed, it fills my heart with joy and happiness. Thank you, Billboard, for always being there through everything my career. Thank you Leila [Cobo] for creating this impressive way to celebrate the women that we have to celebrate ourselves whenever we can,” she concluded.

Since rising to stardom in the ’80s as the lead vocalist of Miami Sound Machine alongside Emilio, Gloria Estefan has helped infuse Latin flavor into English-language pop music, breaking barriers with hits like “Conga” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” and singing in parallel in Spanish.

On the Billboard charts, she has placed 29 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, three of them at No. 1 (“Anything for You” in 1988, “Don’t Wanna Lose You” in 1989, and “Coming Out of the Dark ” in 1991); and 30 songs on Hot Latin Songs, 15 of which reached the top (from “No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar” in 1986 to “Hotel Nacional” in 2012). Her first Spanish-language album, Mi Tierra (1993), spent an impressive 58 weeks atop Top Latin Albums and earned her the first of her three Grammy Awards.

Juliana Velásquez, Elena Rose, and Gale during their tribute to Gloria Estefan at the Billboard Latin Women in Music gala at the Telemundo Center in Miami, on June 8, 2024.

John Parra/TELEMUNDO

Before receiving the Legend award, Estefan was honored by three emerging Latin American singers and songwriters — Venezuelan Elena Rose, Puerto Rican GALE and Colombian Juliana Velásquez — who performed for her a beautiful version of “Mi Tierra” accompanied by an orchestra entirely composed by women. From their seats, Gloria and Emilio did not stop smiling with emotion, and in the end, they were rewarded with a standing ovation.

In its second annual edition, Billboard Latin Women In Music also honored Karol G as Woman of the Year, Gloria Estefan as Legend, La India as Pioneer, Ana Bárbara with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Ángela Aguilar with the Musical Dynasty award, Camila Cabello for Global Impact and Kali Uchis as Rising Star.

The ceremony is airing on Telemundo and streaming live on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

At only 20 years old, Ángela Aguilar received the Musical Dynasty award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music gala for continuing the legacy of an emblematic family in Mexican music that includes her father, Pepe Aguilar, and her grandparents Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre.
After a sublime performance of an old song of her father’s, “Me Vas a Extrañar,” accompanied only by the piano of Arthur Hanlon, the Mexican star – in a romantic and floaty white dress with blue flowers – was surprised by her dad, who from Japan sent a video message expressing the great pride he feels for his daughter.

“A lot of thoughts come to mind from when she was little, two and a half years old when I started training her, I started teaching her how to sing, when I started teaching her the craft that my parents taught me and that I am sure that she will follow it just as I have followed it,” said Pepe Aguilar. “I think they are people who lead and continue to lead the Aguilar dynasty, like her brother [Leonardo], in a very dignified way. Congratulations daughter.”

Moved and with a maturity beyond her years, Ángela expressed feeling “a great relief and a great privilege” to be part of a family that has already experienced everything she is preparing to experience.

“I feel like they grab me, hug me, and take care of me and lead me on the right path. And not only with words but with actions,” she expressed with aplomb. “With my grandmother I learned to be a good woman, with my mother I learned to always express myself. My father taught me that what you don’t know how to say with words you know how to sing. I am very grateful to be able to receive this because I know that this is not because of me, but it is due to generations of sweat in the throat, sleepless nights, and composed melodies.

“More than anything, I want to thank the people who have supported me, because between this great legacy and this great last name, I am still trying to find who I am among all of it,” she concluded.

In its second annual edition, Billboard Mujeres en la Música also honored Karol G as Woman of the Year, Gloria Estefan as Legend, La India as Pioneer, Ángela Aguilar with the Musical Dynasty Award, Camila Cabello with the Global Impact award, Kany García as Spirit of Change and Kali Uchis as Rising Star.

In addition to airing on Telemundo on Sunday, the ceremony is also available on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

The 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music Awards are set to air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday (June 9) via Telemundo. 
This year’s honorees include: Gloria Estefan (Legend Award), La India (Pioneer Award), Ana Bárbara (Lifetime Achievement Award), Kany García (Spirit of Hope Award), Kali Uchis (Rising Star Award), Ángela Aguilar (Musical Dynasty Award), Camila Cabello (Global Impact Award) and Woman of the Year Karol G. 

Billboard caught up with some of the star-studded night’s guests to share a sneak peek of what fans can expect from their performances at the ceremony. 

Ana Bárbara: “It’s a medley of some of the hits that my fans have made possible, because they are not mine — they are part of the people, really. I will give this to them with lots of love, and thank you, Billboard, for thinking of this Mexican woman for this grand moment.” 

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Kali Uchis: “This last month and a half has been a blur. I’ve been pretty tired, but I was just excited to come and be honored. I’m going to do a performance that’s stripped back, really jazzy. It’s going to be a lot of fun and very freestyle.”

Kany Garcia: “I’m going to sing ‘García’ and ‘Te Lo Agradezco.’ I’m happy because when you have the opportunity to do two songs — one with the illusion of what is coming and that just launched, and another that allows you to have that retrospective moment that has brought you a lot of wonderful things— it’s like a perfect moment.

María José: “I’m going to premiere my new single, ‘Mi Rey, Mi Santo,’ with a composition by Ana Bárbara, and also sing it as a duet with her. Imagine on this day that we are giving her a special award for her career. I am giving it to her and suddenly having this premiere with her, on this night. It’s triple special.”

Julianna: “I am going to participate in the tribute of who I believe is one of the most incredible artists that the world of music has had in the world. I am deeply happy to sing a song that is a Latin American anthem. I admire Gloria Estefan’s ability to be integral and her tenacity to get up as many times as necessary to continue doing what she loved.”

From Gloria Estefan to Kali Uchis and Ana Bárbara, Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 honorees walked the red carpet ahead of the music special, set to air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET. This year, Karol G will be celebrated as Woman of the Year; Gloria Estefan will receive […]

2024’s Billboard Latin Women in Music celebrated its powerful honorees and music executives at an intimate get together at the Cardozo Hotel in Miami Beach on Friday night (June 7).

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Hosted by Billboard, Loud And Live, and Only in Dade, the private celebration included star-studded guests such as Gloria Estefan, Ana Bárbara and La India, who will receive the Legend Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Pioneer Award, respectively, at the second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music awards on Sunday (June 9). Award-winning hitmaker Emilio Estefan and breakthrough salsa artist Luis Figueroa were also in attendance.

“It’s a pleasure to be here, honoring a room of extraordinary women in an extraordinary year for Latin music,” Leila Cobo, chief content officer of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español, said during her welcome speech. 

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“When I started at Billboard, a bit over 20 years ago, I never saw myself as an executive. I saw myself as a journalist because I was a journalist,” she continued. “It took me a long time to see myself as an executive despite the fact that I began constructing a business that didn’t exist. I realized that I didn’t see myself as an executive because there wasn’t a role model that was doing the same thing that I was trying to do, and that made me aware of the importance of having role models in this business.” 

Cobo then congratulated all of the powerful women in the room, expressing that “Billboard takes great pride in shining a light on those [women] who have been ahead and giving a platform to those who are coming.” 

Following Cobo’s speech, 2024 honorees La India and Estefan shared a few words, and even flaunted their beautiful friendship that has endured over the years. “You deserve this so much, you’ve been such a good, beautiful woman […] I don’t get a chance to tell her, and I want you to know that you’ve always been very supportive towards me,” the salsa singer told Estefan.

In addition to Estefan, La India and Ana Bárbara, Billboard will honor the following artists: Kany García (spirit of change award), Kali Uchis (rising star award), Ángela Aguilar (musical dynasty award), Camila Cabello (global impact award) and the woman of the year, Karol G.

The Colombian superstar, who is currently on the European leg of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, was not in town for the event but did send colorful preserved roses by Lovely Roses to gift to all of the honorees in the room.

The 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music is set to air exclusively at 9 p.m. ET on June 9 on Telemundo. 

Just ahead of Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 — where Kany García will be honored with the Spirit of Change Award on Sunday (June 9) — the Puerto Rican star sat down with Billboard to talk about her new album, García, her friendship with Young Miko and what it means to receive this special honor for her activism.
Her new album, released May 2, includes collabs with Edén Muñoz, Christian Nodal, Carla Morrison and Young Miko, someone who she says is “on an incredible path.” Says Garcia: “I feel it is important in the albums to make room for the new generations who are doing important things like her.”

The two artists met last year at Billboard Latin Music Week, where Young Miko expressed admiration for García. “When we met, it was beautiful,” García adds.

Throughout her career, García has placed 30 songs on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart and eight albums — including five in the top 10 and one No. 1, 2019’s Limonada — on Top Latin Albums. Her latest, García, follows her 2022 El Amor Que Merecemos.

“There are two or three key people in my life who have been like anchors and people whose opinions have been important to me who don’t call me Kany and [instead] call me García,” the singer-songwriter says, explaining the meaning behind the album’s name. “These are people who care for me. In the song ‘García,’ I speak to myself and I want to give importance to what I am saying to myself, so I named it that. I love it because it was a way of giving it a certain place to the people who care about me and call me that.”

On receiving the Spirit of Change Award, García says, “On the one hand, it’s like a hug within the effort and the struggle. It’s an opportunity I have to continue inspiring new women who are coming up, and with women who are speaking up.”

Watch Kany García’s interview above.

Billboard’s 2024 Latin Women In Music airs Sunday, June 9, on the Telemundo network (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. Central), and will stream live on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.