Karol G notches historic award win
Karol G made history at Wednesday night’s Billboard Women in Music awards ceremony.
“This is the first time, ever, a Latina is named woman of the year,” Karol G began her acceptance speech after a fiery performance of her reggaetón hit, “Amargura.” And so, in honor of that incredible feat, she delivered the rest of her speech in Spanish.
The global superstar received the award after a lively introduction from her “Griselda” co-star Sofia Vergara.
Of course, Karol G is used to making history at this point. Last month, she became the first woman to win in the best música urbana category at the Grammys. Last year, her album “Mañana Será Bonito” became the first Spanish-language album by a female artist to hit
No. 1 on the Billboard
200. (Not only that, but “Mañana Será Bonito” is the first Latin album — by a Latina — to reach No. 1 on the albums chart since Selena Quintanilla’s posthumous “Dreaming of You,” did in 1995 following her high-profile murder.)
Karol G also became the first Latina to headline at many of the venues where she performed. To call Karol G’s rise meteoric wouldn’t be hyperbole.
In the crowds above the stage at California’s YouTube Theater, fans wielded glowing light sticks — official merchandise for the K-pop girl group NewJeans, who attended, performed an animated medley of its hits “Super Shy” and “ETA,” and were awarded the title of group of the year.
Later, the audience lead chants of “Bichota” — an affectionate nickname for Karol G, derived from Puerto Rican slang “bichote.” It might’ve temporarily confused
host Tracee Ellis Ross, who otherwise masterfully guided the crowd throughout the evening, but it certainly underscored a major theme of the evening: to celebrate women in the music business is to celebrate women globally.
A new award category heralding performers who are “global forces” were given to women from around the world for their needle-moving contributions to their home countries, including Annalisa representing Italy, Sarah Geronimo from the Philippines and Luísa Sonza from Brazil, who performed and was joined by Demi Lovato for “Penhasco2,” their Portuguese power ballad.
‘Dragon Ball’ creator dies:
Akira Toriyama, the creator of the bestselling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics,
has died, his studio said Friday. He was 68.
Toriyama’s Dragon
Ball manga series, which started in 1984, has sold millions of copies globally and was adapted into hugely popular animated TV shows, video games and films.
Toriyama died March 1 of a blood clot in his brain, Bird Studio said.
“He was working enthusiastically on many projects, and there was still much he was looking forward to accomplishing,” the studio said.
Actor Joyce Van Patten is 90. Journalist Charles Gibson is 81. Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 76. Actor Juliette Binoche is 60. Actor Emmanuel Lewis is 53. Actor Oscar Isaac is 45. Actor Matthew Gray Gubler is 44. Actor Brittany Snow is 38. Rapper Bow Wow is 37. Actor Cierra Ramirez is 29.