State Champ Radio Latin Grammys
Trending on Billboard
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music, a two-hour special “highlighting Latin music’s lasting impact and widespread influence in the United States,” is set to air Sunday, Dec. 28 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
NCIS actor and producer Wilmer Valderrama and singer/songwriter, actress and producer Roselyn Sánchez will co-host the show, which joins the short list of genre-specific Grammy-branded specials. A Grammy Salute to Gospel Music aired in 2006, followed by A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change in 2021, which focused on socially conscious music, and A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop in 2023.
The special features performances by a mix of Latin and pop stars, including Ángela Aguilar, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Gloria Estefan, Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Aymée Nuviola, Laura Pausini, Prince Royce and Jon Secada. The show will also feature three collaborations — Carín León and Nuno Bettencourt, who recently released “We Made It Look Easy/Hicimos Que Pareciera Facil”; Robin Thicke and Orianthi; and The Warning with Billy Idol and Steve Stevens. The show will also feature a performance by the cast of Broadway’s Buena Vista Social Club, which received 10 Tony nominations this year (winning four) and is currently nominated for a Grammy for best musical show album.
The show will feature interviews with Daddy Yankee, Emilio Estefan, John Leguizamo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis Miranda, Rita Moreno, Carlos Santana and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. Luis Miranda, who is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s father, is a Puerto Rican political consultant, activist and philanthropist. In 1977, Moreno, now 93, became the first Latin performer to win an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). In 2000, Santana’s band of the same name tied Michael Jackson’s record for the biggest one-night sweep of the Grammy Awards.
The special taped on Oct. 19 at the FiftyFive Creative Hub TV studio complex in Doral, Florida, near Miami. Former MTV executive José Tillán and Mason are executive producers. The POPGarage and GRAMMY Studios are producing.
The special will air a little more than a month before CBS airs its final Grammy Awards telecast before the Grammys move to Disney in 2027. Bad Bunny is one of the top contenders for album of the year at the Feb. 1 ceremony. He is also nominated for record and song of the year. The Marias, which perform songs in both English and Spanish, are nominated for best new artist.
CBS aired the Latin Grammys from 2000-2004, but the show moved to Univision starting in 2005.
Most Grammy-branded specials have been salutes to one artist, including The Beach Boys, Cyndi Lauper, the Bee Gees, The Beatles, Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elton John, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Prince.
Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
Nominated participants: Big Jay, La Paciencia, MAG & Tainy, producers; Antonio Caraballo, Josh Gudwin, Luis Amed Irizarry & Roberto José Rosado Torres, engineers/mixers; Marco Daniel Borrero, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Marcos Efrain Masis, Jay Anthony Nuñez & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
Notes: Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer, Latin/Español, made the case for Bunny’s album beautifully in her story announcing the Latin Grammy winners: “Bad Bunny, the big favorite, walked away with the all-important album of the year win for his acclaimed DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the collection that took him back to his Puerto Rican roots, spurred a love fest with his island and its traditions, spawned his record-breaking residency and ultimately paved the road for his upcoming Super Bowl LX halftime show performance.”
The Recording Academy announced on Nov. 3 that it had extended invitations to all voting members of the Latin Recording Academy to join their membership as well. Many took them up on the offer. That infusion of new voters could help Bunny win album of the year on his second try.
Also, the racist backlash that followed the announcement that Bunny was set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show could work in his favor in Grammy voting, as voters seek to show that they have his back.
There’s a precedent for Grammy voters taking the political climate into account in their voting. The Chicks, then known as Dixie Chicks, swept the Grammys in 2007 – including album, record and song of the year – at least in part because voters were signaling that they supported the group in their war of words with then-President George W. Bush.
The trio experienced a severe backlash after lead singer Natalie Maines harshly criticized Bush during a 2003 concert in London. Her comment (“Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas”) led to country radio boycotts and a shutout for the group in the 2006 CMA Awards nominations. The Chicks’ sweep of all five of their Grammy nominations was widely seen as Recording Academy members using their votes to support the band and take a stand against what we can now see was an early example of cancel culture. From the Grammy stage, Maines said: “I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message.”
If Bunny wins, he’ll become just the second artist to win in the same year that he or she performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. If I gave you 30 guesses to name the first performer to do this, you probably still wouldn’t get it, so I’ll just tell you: Tony Bennett participated in the multi-artist halftime show in January 1995, a little more than one month before he won album of the year for MTV Unplugged.
Whether he wins or just misses this year, Bunny is getting closer to winning the top award. In 2023, when he was first nominated in this category for Un Verano Sin Ti, Bunny was thought to be a bit further back in the pack. Harry Styles’ Harry’s House won the award; Beyoncé’s Renaissance is assumed to have come in second; and Bunny’s album probably fought it out for third place with Adele’s 30 and Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Trending on Billboard The 2025 Latin Grammys were full of big wins and hot performances from Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso, Karol G and more! Keep watching for the full breakdown of the award show! Jessica Roiz: Big winners. And incredible performances. Hi, I’m Jessica Roiz for Billboard and this […]
Alejandro Sanz stuns, Bad Bunny falls short, and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso dominate.
11/14/2025
Trending on Billboard Latin Grammys week kicked off with a wave of industry events that led to the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday night (Nov. 13). Prior to the awards ceremony—where Bad Bunny, Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso, and Edgar Barrera led the nominations—Billboard took over the bustling Las Vegas to take readers inside the […]
Read on to find out who made the top of our list.
11/13/2025
Trending on Billboard On the heels of winning best urban song for his heartfelt “DtMF,” Bad Bunny took center stage to perform with Chuwi at the 2025 Latin Grammys on Thursday night (Nov. 13). Their performance kicked off with the emerging Puerto Rican band singing their suave salsa single “Tikiri,” released in 2022. Soon after, […]
Trending on Billboard Nearly naked muscled bodybuilders, towering mountains modeled after a hat, sewing machines and unapologetic Versace flamboyance — this was the vibe at one of the most jaw-dropping performances of the 2025 Latin Grammys on Thursday night (Nov. 13). CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso turned the stage into a spectacle of pure originality, embracing […]
Trending on Billboard
Raphael was all smiles upon receiving — this time on camera — his 2025 Person of the Year award from the Latin Recording Academy on Thursday night (Nov. 13) during the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony.
After being honored at a star-studded gala the previous eve, the legendary 82-year-old artist took to the stage for a memorable performance, accompanied by more than a dozen musicians who delivered a big band sound. The iconic Spanish singer-songwriter performed classics including “Qué Sabe Nadie” and “Mi Gran Noche” with his characteristic power and interpretive sensitivity.
Raphael, who last year was diagnosed with primary brain lymphoma, looked cheerful and classy in a dark two-piece suit and tie as he accepted his award from Gloria Estefan and Marco Antonio Solís.
“There are artists who have defined decades, and then there’s you, Raphael,” said Estefan, who called the honoree her “personal idol.” Solís added: “With that talent you’ve crossed generations and borders, but that style is something you’re born with.”
Clearly pleased, Raphael accepted the award from his colleagues to a standing ovation from the audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“Here it is!” he exclaimed, showing off his trophy. “On this new trip, I’m happy to meet so many friends, both from Spain and from here. Delighted to be here. I solemnly promise I’ll be back.”
“They gave me this last night, and it’s wonderful that I get to hold it today,” he added with a smile. “Thank you so much.”
Considered one of the pioneers in the internationalization of Latin music, Raphael, whose real name is Rafael Martos, was born in Linares in 1943 and raised in Madrid. His talent was evident from an early age, being awarded Best Child Voice in Europe at the age of 9 at the Salzburg Festival. He gained international recognition by representing Spain in Eurovision with songs such as “Toco Madera” (1988), “Maravilloso, Corazón, Maravilloso” (1989) and “Escándalo” (1992), which reached No. 2, 7 and 9 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, respectively. In 2022, he was recognized with the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year award honors musicians for their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts. Raphael joins a list of previous honorees that includes Carlos Vives (2024), Laura Pausini (2023), Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001), and Emilio Estefan (2000).
In its 26th edition, the Latin Grammys ceremony is hosted by Maluma and Roselyn Sánchez and broadcast live on Univision. For a full list of winners, click here.
Trending on Billboard DannyLux, Kakalo and Iván Cornejo, three young voices in Mexican music, delivered one of the most heartfelt performances on Thursday (Nov. 13) during the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony. On a stage decorated solely with blue and white lights, showcasing the most contemporary sounds of the genre, the three artists — who […]
