Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny and Argentine hip-hop duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso each claimed five Latin Grammy awards on Thursday in Las Vegas, cementing Bad Bunny’s industry dominance while elevating the lesser-known duo into the spotlight.
Bad Bunny won album of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a genre-spanning work blending Afro-Caribbean rhythms and salsa, which earned him twelve nominations. He also won best urban/urban fusion performance, best reggaeton performance, best urban music album, and best urban song.
The awards further build anticipation for Bad Bunny’s introduction to English-speaking audiences as the halftime performer at the Super Bowl in February. The selection drew criticism from some U.S. traditionalists, including former President Donald Trump, who remarked he had never heard of Bad Bunny.
The Latin music market continues to surge, generating a record $1.4 billion in 2024, accounting for 8.1 percent of total U.S. music revenue, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Bad Bunny, 31, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, also earned six regular Grammy nominations to be awarded on February 2, including the major categories of record, song, and album of the year. He became the first Latin artist nominated in all three categories in the same year.
In winning album of the year, he triumphed over prominent figures such as Spaniard Alejandro Sanz and Cuban-born Gloria Estefan. Sanz won two awards—record of the year for Palmeras En El Jardín and best contemporary pop album for ¿Y Ahora Qué?—raising his career total to 24. Estefan took home best traditional tropical album for Raíces.
Karol G won song of the year with Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido, surpassing Bad Bunny’s title track.
In September, the NFL announced Bad Bunny would headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show on February 8, likely becoming the first performer to deliver an entirely or mostly Spanish set. He previously appeared at the 2020 halftime show with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
Some American football fans, including Trump, reacted negatively to the choice. “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it – it’s, like, crazy,” Trump said in October.
Bad Bunny, a critic of Trump’s immigration policies and supporter of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, reflected on the significance of his wins. “Brother, this is always a special moment for me. And I get just as nervous as the first time. That means that what I do matters to me,” he said, having previously won 12 Latin Grammys.
He later performed Weltita from his album with backing band Chuwi.
Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, who had ten nominations, won best pop song, best alternative music album, best alternative song, best short form music video, and best long form music video.
Paloma Morphy, 25, won best new artist with her debut album Au, noted for its catchy melodies.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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