Although often overlooked by the Recording Academy at its main awards show, Latin music will have its moment of recognition by the institution later this month.
“A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music” will be a two-hour television special honoring the genre’s “lasting impact and influence in the United States,” according to a CBS press release. The show will air on December 28 on the Tiffany Network at 8 pm Pacific Time.
Actor Wilmer Valderrama and singer-songwriter Roselyn Sánchez will co-host the show, which will feature performances by Ángela Aguilar, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Gloria Estefan, Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Laura Pausini, Prince Royce, Carín León, el Aviso, Robin Thicke and Billy Idol.
The cast of the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Buena Vista Social Club,” which is nominated for a Grammy for musical theater album, will also take the stage.
The show will feature interviews with Latin music and Grammy icons including Daddy Yankee, Emilio Estefan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno and Carlos Santana.
Moreno earned her only Grammy nomination and won at the 15th Grammy Awards for Children's Music Album for her work on “The Electric Company.” His Grammy was the second jewel in his EGOT quest, which he completed in 1977 with his Emmy for his appearance on “The Muppet Show.”
Santana's 1999 album, “Supernatural,” tied the record for most Grammy Awards in one night with eight at the 42nd Grammy Awards, tying the record set by Michael Jackson's “Thriller” in 1984.
The show is modeled after previous Grammy recognition shows, known as “salutes,” for artists such as the Beatles; the beach boys; Prince; the Bee Gees; Whitney Houston; Earth, Wind and Fire; EltonJohn; Pablo Simón; Cyndi Lauper and Stevie Wonder.
“A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music” will air just over a month before the 68th Grammy Awards, which will take place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
Latin artists feature prominently at the upcoming awards show, with Bad Bunny becoming the first Spanish-speaking artist to earn nominations in several major categories for his critically acclaimed album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which includes record, album and song of the year.
Eccentric Argentine duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso They received their first Grammy nomination for Latin or Alternative Rock Album for their nine-track EP, “Papota.” If they win, they will be the second Argentine team to win in that category; The Fabulous Cadillacs won in 1998 when the series first appeared.
Recording Academy darling Edgar Barrera earned his third consecutive nomination for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) for his work with Karol G, Juanes, Shakira, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera, Young Miko, Marco Antonio Solís, Manuel Turizo and Santana.
independent band the marias were nominated in the new artist category alongside global girl group Katseye, which features Cuban-American Venezuelan dancer and singer Daniela Avanzini.
