2025 Latin Grammy Awards Recap

The 2025 Latin Grammys, hosted by Maluma and Roselyn Sánchez, aired on Thursday, Nov. 13, from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. This event recognizes the culture and international legacy of Latin music. Bad Bunny, Gloria Estefan, Karol G, and Raphael were among this year’s standout artists who received major recognition. Here is a recap:

With 12 nominations, Bad Bunny was this year’s leading nominee. His latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, was named Album of the Year and Best Urban Music Album. Bad Bunny’s “DTMF” won in two categories: Best Urban/ Urban Fusion Performance and Urban Song. His single, “Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR”, received the Best Reggaeton Performance award. Bad Bunny is also slated to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show in February 2026. (Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, an Argentine duo, join Bad Bunny as the leading winners of the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso received Latin GRAMMYs for five categories. The duo received an award for Best Pop Song (“El Día del Amigo”). Their album, Papota, was named Best Alternative Music Album.)

With a five-decade musical career, Gloria Estefan is widely recognized as a Latin icon. Estefan’s Raíces was nominated in the Best Traditional Tropical Album category. Gloria Estefan took to the stage at the 2025 Latin GRAMMY Awards. She dedicated this Latin GRAMMY to her husband, who stood beside her onstage. Gloria Estefan’s Raíces is a celebration of her Latin roots, spirituality, and a love letter to her community. It’s also her first Spanish-language album in 18 years.

Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” was named Song of the Year. With two new gramophones, Karol G has eight Latin GRAMMYs. In an empowering speech, Karol G talked about why she loves creating music as a liberating form of self-expression. She also shared that this album represents a defining moment of embracing her cultural roots and writing music from a place of intent and purpose. Colombian singer Karol G also encouraged her fans to ignore the naysayers and chase their dreams.

Karol G habla: “Lo único que quedó de todo eso para mí fue volver a la raíz y volver a la intención y volver al propósito de que yo estoy haciendo lo que hago porque lo amo.”

Raphael was named the 2025 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. A true Latin music icon, Raphael’s career spans over six decades. Raphael’s “Estuve Enamorado” and “Mi Gran Noche” are some of his most popular hit songs. This year, Raphael’s contributions to the Latin genre were recognized by the Latin GRAMMYs. Raphael is celebrated as a multifaceted artist and pioneer who helped launch the global movement of Latin music.

To recap, Bad Bunny and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso (Argentine duo) were the leading winners of the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs. Natalia Lafourcade also received major recognition for Cancionera, as it was named the Best Singer-Songwriter Album and Best Engineered Album. ‘Cancionera’, a track on Lafourcade’s new album, won a Latin GRAMMY for Best Singer-Songwriter Song. The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs celebrated cultural icons like Gloria Estefan and Raphael. This awards show also recognized the contributions of pioneering singer-songwriters who helped shape the international cultural movement of Latin music.

Pentatonix, Jimmy Fallon launch new holiday-themed music

This week, Pentatonix and Jimmy Fallon launched new holiday-themed music. Here is a quick recap:

Pentatonix’s new album, Holidays Around the World, showcases the elements of technicality and syncopation. The group’s signature harmonious sound is consistent throughout this album. A new video launched for Track 6: “Prayers for This World”. With over 300k views, it quickly emerged as one of the Top 5 most-watched videos on their YouTube channel. This song emphasizes peace and hope as a power that creates positive change. Its lyrics describe the art of healing by uplifting others: “Raise up our hands and rise together / It’s got to be now / It’s now or never / Prayеrs for this world / We’ve got to save us all…”

Holidays Around the World features collaborations with Meghan Trainor, Lang Lang, Lea Salonga, and more… This album celebrates diversity, world music, and the power of harmony!

Jimmy Fallon announced his new holiday-themed single live on The Tonight Show. This year, Fallon collaborated with Dolly Parton. Also, Fallon shared that Dolly Parton is “one of my favorite people of all time”. Jimmy Fallon shared that he wrote the song they sang together as a duet. This single was released today on all streaming platforms and iTunes. “Almost Too Early for Christmas” is released through Republic Records (UMG). This fun, upbeat tune captures the excitement towards Christmas and the holiday season. Also, Jimmy Fallon shared that he is a fan of Mariah Carey’s music:

…Can we listen to Christmas music? Is it too early? Can we put on Mariah Carey now? I say, ‘Yeah, if it’s good, you should be able to,” Jimmy Fallon said on The Tonight Show.