Milo J and Rosalía dominate 27th Latin Grammys as Daddy Yankee receives top honor
A 20-year-old Argentine singer took Record of the Year while a surprise appearance by Janet Jackson honored reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee.
By Neha Kapoor ·
The 27th annual Latin Grammy Awards concluded in Las Vegas on Thursday night, producing a historic shift in the industry's highest honors. A 20-year-old Argentine artist and a Spanish pop star dominated the ceremony, claiming the top prizes in a night that highlighted the continued rise of folk-influenced music alongside traditional reggaeton.
Milo J, who had not previously dominated mainstream charts, secured four awards. He won Record of the Year for his single Niño and Best Folk Album for La Vida Era Más Corta. He also took home Best Urban/Urban Fusion performance and Best Recording Package. This victory occurred in a market where reggaeton beats and polished pop productions typically control sales and airplay.
Spanish vocalist Rosalía collected multiple top categories. She won Album of the Year and Best Alternative Album for her release LUX. Additionally, she received Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Short Form Music Video. Colombian artist Karol G also won in two categories, taking Best Urban Music Album and Best Reggaeton Performance.
The ceremony included a surprise presentation of the Academy's Person of the Year award to Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee. Janet Jackson appeared without announcement to hand him the statuette. In his acceptance speech, Yankee noted that the Puerto Rican government once attempted to criminalize reggaeton musicians, labeling them criminals with no future during the genre's earliest days.
Tejano musician Bobby Pulido received his third Latin Grammy for Best Tejano Album. Pulido, who won the race for Texas' 15th congressional district last Tuesday, accepted the award as a newly minted U.S. congressman.
Performances featured music from various Spanish-speaking regions. Rosalía opened the show with a medley from LUX, incorporating elaborate dancing and stage design. Milo J performed alongside members of a Uruguayan theatrical ensemble that accompanied him at his spring Tiny Desk Concert. The night included a star-studded homage to Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez, featuring both mariachi and a three-piece rock band. A posthumous celebration of salsa pioneer Willie Colón included Nathy Peluso, Luis Figueroa, and Colón's son Miguel Colon, backed by Colón's original 13-piece salsa band.
Daddy Yankee closed the musical portion of the evening with a choreographed medley of his hit songs. The performance referenced the genre's origins as a mix tape phenomenon and its global success with the song Despacito.
