Bad Bunny wins album of the yr at 2025 Latin Grammys : NPR

Bad Bunny gained 5 awards, together with album of the yr, on the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday.

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Valerie Macon/Getty Images

On Thursday night time, Puerto Rican celebrity Bad Bunny took residence the most important prize on the Latin Grammy awards: His genre-bending homage to his island, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, gained album of the yr. Despite the truth that he had a dozen trophies in his case earlier than the night time even started, he had by no means gained any within the present’s three main classes — album, document or tune of the yr.

The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio appeared perplexed as he walked onstage throughout the Las Vegas ceremony, initially heading within the improper route earlier than he corrected course and approached the microphone to just accept the night time’s closing golden gramophone. The 31-year-old thanked his household and collaborators, and devoted the award to all of the younger folks of Latin America and Puerto Rico specifically. “Hay muchas maneras de hacer patria y defender nuestra tierra — nosotros escogemos la música,” he mentioned. (“There are many ways to show patriotism and defend our land — we choose music.”)

Bad Bunny gained 4 extra Latin Grammys within the city and reggaeton classes. The Latin Grammy victories have the potential to kick off a season of wins for the rapper. He can be nominated for six awards on the Grammys, (together with album of the yr, tune of the yr and document of the yr) and can headline the halftime present throughout the Super Bowl in February.

When it got here to the opposite main classes on the twenty sixth annual Latin Grammys — tune of the yr and document of the yr — the Latin Recording Academy awarded acquainted faces. Colombian pop-reggaetonera Karol G acquired tune of the yr for her Dominican-infused merengue hit, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” alongside her fellow songwriters Edgar Barrera and Andres Jael Correa Rios. Record of the yr went to Spanish artist and composer Alejandro Sanz for his sluggish pop ballad, “Palmeras En El Jardín.”

“Benito, I stole it from you. Forgive me,” Sanz joked in Spanish as he accepted the award, referring to Bad Bunny by his first title. Cameras panned to Bad Bunny, who laughed and clapped.

The Latin Grammys spanned 60 classes in all, which included a variety of genres in addition to behind-the-scenes awards for manufacturing, arranging and visible media. The majority of these awards got out earlier within the night, earlier than the primary ceremony started in Las Vegas.

Another large winner of the night time was the Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, who took residence 5 awards throughout the pop, different and music video classes for his or her exuberant but satirical album Papota. (Around half of the album was recorded throughout their efficiency at NPR’s Tiny Desk final yr, and one NPR engineer is listed among the many nominees for his contributions to the album.) The childhood greatest mates delivered one of the vital energetic performances of the ceremony, a medley of their songs that featured prop stitching machines and bodybuilders as on-stage extras and culminated in CA7RIEL and Paco perched on prime of workplace chairs.

The award for greatest new artist went to Mexican alt-pop singer Paloma Morphy. Legacy artists like Gloria Estefan, Fito Páez and Rubén Blades additionally acquired awards within the conventional tropical, rock and salsa classes, respectively.

Brazilian soul singer Liniker — who made historical past in 2022 as the primary trans lady to ever win a Latin Grammy — was nominated for six awards, together with album of the yr, tune of the yr and document of the yr. She gained for greatest Portuguese language album, greatest Portuguese language city efficiency and greatest Portuguese language tune for her challenge Caju. But Liniker stole the present throughout a efficiency close to the tip of the ceremony, dancing her method by means of the funky “Negona Dos Olhos Terriveis” and getting celebrities like Karol G, Gloria Estefan and Elena Rose transferring alongside together with her.

Winners and presenters largely prevented addressing heightened political tensions and anxieties confronted by Latino communities within the United States, focusing as an alternative on celebrating pan-Latin music and artistry. Legendary corrido band Los Tigres del Norte was an exception. During their efficiency of the socially aware “La Lotería,” the group performed with devices decked out in Latin American flags. Behind them, they projected photographs of immigrants rights protests throughout the nation.

When energy duo Gloria and Emilio Estefan accepted the Grammy for greatest conventional tropical album for Raíces, they ended their speech with a nod to the Latin diaspora. “Se lo dedico a todos los Latinos que seguimos triunfando en todas partes del mundo,” Emilio Estefan mentioned. “Viva la musica Latina.” (“I dedicate this to all of us Latinos who keep succeeding all over the world. Long live Latin music.”)