Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has become the first artist to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards with a record performed entirely in Spanish. His sixth project, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos, a deeply personal tribute to Latin musical traditions, triumphed over entries from Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Sabrina Carpenter.
The 31-year-old, who is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show next week, dedicated his victory to immigrants, noting the sacrifices of those who leave their homelands in pursuit of dreams. His speech capped a ceremony where several artists criticized the U.S. government’s immigration policies, with stars such as Olivia Dean, Kehlani, Gloria Estefan, and Billie Eilish voicing solidarity.
Bad Bunny collected three awards in total, including Best Música Urbana Album. During his acceptance, he directly addressed immigration enforcement, declaring: “ICE out. We are humans, not aliens.”
Other highlights included:
- Billie Eilish winning Song of the Year for Wildflower, her third in the category since 2020.
- Kendrick Lamar securing Best Rap Album for GNX, surpassing Jay-Z’s record with 27 Grammys, and later winning Record of the Year for Luther, a duet with SZA.
- Lady Gaga earning Best Pop Album for Mayhem, while London’s Lola Young won Best Pop Performance for Messy.
- Olivia Dean crowned Best New Artist, celebrating her immigrant heritage in her acceptance speech.
The night also featured memorable performances: Rosé and Bruno Mars electrified the audience with a rock version of their hit APT; Sabrina Carpenter staged an elaborate routine for Manchild; and Justin Bieber stripped down for an intimate rendition of Yukon. Tributes were paid to legends including Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, and Ozzy Osbourne.
Bad Bunny’s historic win reveals the growing influence of Latin music globally, propelled by streaming platforms that have broken language barriers. Last year, he was Spotify’s most-played artist, with nearly 20 billion streams.
