J Balvin, Rosalía, Ozuna win Latin Grammys; Karol G performs
NEW YORK ( AP) — Thirteen- time nominee J Balvin picked up the first award during the live telecast of the 2020 Latin Grammys, and the Colombian superstar has a chance to make history if he wins the top prize, album of the year, later in the show.
Balvin won best urban music album for his fifth solo release, “Colores.” He was nominated twice in the category, also competing with his collaborative album with Bad Bunny, “Oasis.”
He wore a mask as he accepted the honor at Thursday’s event, airing live on Univision. Because of the pandemic, the Latin Grammys will not have a live audience and did not have a red carpet.
Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the show with a strong message about Latin music. Speaking in Spanish and English, he said Latin music “unites all of us and makes us human.”
“This is our night,” he added.
That was followed by an all- star performance featuring Ricardo Montaner, Victor Manuelle, Jesús Navarro, Ivy Queen, Rauw Alejandro and Sergio George.
Karol G, nominated for record and song of the year, performed alongside classical musicians to give a new edge to her global hit “Tusa,” which features Nicki Minaj rapping in Spanish and English. Karol G gave a shout-out to the rapper during the performance, much like she does on the original song.
Some of the performances Thursday – most of them pre-taped – featured band members and dancers sporting masks as they entertained onstage.
Hours before the show during the pre- telecast, Spanish singer Rosalía — who made history when she won album of the year at last year’s Latin Grammys — continued her winning streak, picking up three more honors. She won best urban song and best urban fusion performance for the hit “Yo X Ti, Tu X Mi,” sharing both wins with her song’s costar, Ozuna.
She also won best short form music video for “TKN,” which features rapper Travis Scott.
It marked the first Latin Grammy wins for Scott and Ozuna, one of the several popular reggaeton and Latin trap musicians who were shut out of the top categories at last year’s show but found redemption this year. Ozuna scored eight nominations and he was only behind Latin trap kings J Balvin and Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny was also an early winner Thursday, picking up best reggaeton performance — a new category — for “Yo Perreo Sola.” Double winners during the pre- telecast included Natalia Lafourcade, Fito Paez and Carlos Vives, while Ricky Martin and Residente — the most decorated act in the history of the Latin Grammys — also won honors.
Balvin and Bad Bunny have a chance to make history at the 2020 Latin Grammys. Both performers are double nominees for album of the year thanks to their collaborative project “Oasis” as well as their solo albums — Bad Bunny’s “YHLQMDLG” and Balvin’s “Colores.”