Rosalía joined the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame on Thursday night and the Spanish superstar used the occasion to celebrate the Latin music legends who helped pave the way for her career.
Accepting the award, presented by Dominican icon Juan Luis Guerra, Rosalía paid tribute to the singer-songwriter, describing him as a “maestro de maestros” (“master of masters”). “Your songs have made me cry, made me dance, made me feel alive,” she told Guerra. “I’m in shock, and I’ll never forget this moment.”
Rosalía went on to acknowledge the generations of artists whose work has inspired her, name-checking Celia Cruz, Rocío Dúrcal, Vicente Fernández, and Daddy Yankee alongside Guerra.
“I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it weren’t for the artists who came before me and paved the way,” she said.
The singer reserved a particularly heartfelt message for Latin America, thanking the region for embracing her music and shaping her artistic journey. “Thank you to Latin America for giving me the place you’ve given me, for all these years of inspiration and learning,” she said, adding that she hopes to find ways to repay the affection and generosity she has received.
Later in the ceremony, Rosalía also took home the award for Top Latin Pop Album of the Year for LUX. She jokingly questioned whether the record even qualifies as pop before expressing her pride in making Spanish-language music and celebrating Latin American audiences.
The honors follow the conclusion of her 57-date LUX world tour in Miami in September, but another major awards ceremony is already on the horizon: the 2026 Latin Grammys, where Rosalía is among the most nominated artists.
Watch Rosalía full acceptance speech below.