
Bad Bunny
Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Bad Bunny, Rosalia, Juanes & More: 5 Unforgettable Moments From The 2019 Latin GRAMMYs
The Biggest Night in Latin Music proved to be exactly that last night, Nov. 14, as the Latin GRAMMYs celebrated 20 years of Latin music excellence at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and brought together musical stars from all over the world and of many genres. Ricky Martin, Roselyn Sanchez and Paz Vega hosted the night that saw 26-year-old Spanish superstar and flamenco ambassador Rosalia take the coveted Album Of The Year award, a Metallica surprise for Latin GRAMMY Person Of The Year honoree Juanes and performances that included something for every generation.
Here are some moments you may have missed:
Rosalia Wins Album Of The Year
The Spanish "Con Altura" singer kicked off the night with a win in the Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album category for El Mal Querer and Best Urban Song for "Con Altura," with J Balvin but that was only the beginning. Rosalia, who has been using reggaeton, R&B and hip-hop inspired beats to bring Spain's flamenco influence to the world, ended her night with the most renowned award of the show: Album Of The Year. The moment came as a surprise to the 26-year-old sporting grillz and a black blazer, bra and skirt. "I'm serious, I'm in shock," she said after accepting the award. "This is the last thing I expected."
While she took three wins, her album El Mal Querer also won Best Engineered Album and Best Packaging. The singer put down her golden gramophones before her last win to do a performance of a medley featuring "Con Altura."
The Fernandez Dynasty Leave The Room Standing With Performance
The Latin GRAMMYs celebrates generations of music and nothing represented the sentiment more than a performance by three generations of ranchera music singers. Mexico's Vicente Fernandez, the most iconic living ranchera singer in the world, performed alongside his son, renowned pop-ranchera singer, Alejandro Fernandez, and his rising ranchera singing grandson, Alex Fernandez in a medley performance that ended with a standing ovation and the room in Vegas asking for an encore. The Fernandez are known for singing Mexico's most traditional music genres: mariachi and ranchera. They awed the crowd, each with their own powerhouse vocals and ended together with Vicente's "Volver Volver."
Volver, Volver @AlexFdezMusica @_VicenteFdez @alexoficial #LatinGRAMMY pic.twitter.com/9AHp7OeVBT
— Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) November 15, 2019
Vicente, who was awarded the President's award at the end of the medley and was nominated for Best Mariachi/Ranchera Album category which also included his grandson Alex, has been a key figure in bringing Mexican traditional music to the world. In his acceptance speech, he recognized Latin America's embrace. "[Thanks] to my fans, which I feel are like family," he said. "All of South and Central American and the U.S., who know will stay [in my heart] until the day I die."
Metallica's Lars Ulrich Surprises Juanes
That Look on a superstar's face when one of his heroes walks on stage to present him with an award. Right after Latin Recording Academy Person Of The Year Juanes finished his epic performance on the show last night, a voiceover announced Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who walked out on stage to a roar of applause and an unforgettable reaction from Juanes.
¡Que emoción! @Juanes Persona del Año 2019 #LatinGRAMMY pic.twitter.com/ErzEAWp9wX
— Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) November 15, 2019
A little backstory: Juanes has been a Metallica fan for a long time, something Ulrich learned when the two first met years ago in Mexico. But as the Danish drummer presented the Colombian singer/songwriter with the Person Of The Year Award, he honored his friend and fellow musician, saying "Tonight, we've come full circle. I proclaim myself a Juanes fan!"
The magical moment was sealed by a big hug between Juanes and Ulrich, perhaps the biggest hug on the Biggest Night In Latin Music.
Alicia Keys Joins Miguel, Farruko And Birthday Boy Pedro Capó
The big GRAMMY news this week was that 15-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys will return as host for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26 on CBS. But last night in Vegas, she lit up the stage, joining Miguel, Farruko and Pedro Capó.
¡Felicidades! @PedroCapo Canción del Año #LatinGRAMMY #20AñosDeExcelencia pic.twitter.com/Cp5KyDppmy
— Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) November 15, 2019
Together they performed a medley of "Show Me Love" and "Calma," which earned Capó Song Of The Year honors with the song's co-writers, Gabriel Edgar González Pérez and George Noriega. The best part? It all happened on Capó's birthday!
Bad Bunny Brings It Home
Not long after Puerto Rican rising star Bad Bunny won Best Urban Music Album for his debut album, X 100Pre, and performed alongside GRAMMY winners Ricky Martin and Residente, he was back on stage to close the 20th Latin GRAMMYs.
Callaíta @sanbenito #LatinGRAMMY pic.twitter.com/bJzBuAVGqS
— Latin GRAMMYs (@LatinGRAMMYs) November 15, 2019
In his larger-than-life fashion, the recent first-time Latin GRAMMY winner went big for the show's finale, enlisting a full orchestra to perform a medley leading into "Callaíta." The fully covered Bad Bunny still managed to deliver a passionate performance through the mask, and his intoxicating closing act served as the perfect nightcap for Latin Music's Biggest Night.
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