If Daddy Yankee got one surprise on Thursday (Nov. 12) while being honored as Person of the Year during the Latin Grammys, it was the reunion with American icon Janet Jackson, with whom he recorded the duet “Made for Now” in 2018.
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Jackson attended the awards gala to present the tribute to the Puerto Rican reggaeton singer, offering him heartfelt words: “It takes vision and courage to help change the sound of music and to create new possibilities for artists who come after you,” she said. “His artistry helps bring reggaeton to audiences around the world and open doors for generations of Latin urban artists.”
“Ramon, I once said you have a beautiful soul and a great energy and I’m that then and I need it tonight,” she added using Yankee’s real name. “That spirit is part of what makes your impact reach beyond the music. Tu música ha inspirado a toda una generación (Your music has inspired an entire generation).”
Yankee couldn’t hide his emotion upon hearing those words and reciprocated. “She’s a great inspiration, a colleague, a person with such a kind heart and an impressive legacy, from an incredible family of talent,” he expressed as he took the stage to receive the recognition. “Janet, I love you so much, you know I respect you a lot. When we did that song, it was incredible! It’s one of my favorite songs ever, so I wanna thank you for being here,” he added in a mix of Spanish and English.
Speaking about the genre he helped internationalize, Yankee said: “This was music that started from the bottom, started, as we say, in the underground, where our music was challenged. This started with cassette tapes, on the streets. At one point, even the government thought we were criminals and said we had no future.”
“Today, I want to tell you that my dream was to be a baseball player, but I thank you because now we’re dropping beats in the big leagues of the Grammys,” he added.
Earlier in the evening, he delivered one of the most impressive performances at the ceremony, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with a medley of some of the hits that made him a pioneer and a giant of reggaeton and urban music, and which had everyone dancing reggaeton. Draped in a massive cape with the Puerto Rican flag, the Big Boss kicked off his show alongside Argentine DJ and producer Bizarrap, with whom he recorded “BZRP Music Session #/66” in 2025.
He also performed “Ella Me Levantó,” “Con Calma,” and “Dura” with Bad Gyal, as well as “BOTZ.” The megahit “Despacito,” which he recorded with Luis Fonsi in 2017 and revolutionized Latin music, was also part of the performance, along with “Lo Que Pasó, Pasó,” “Sonríele,” “Rompe” with Colombian star Feid, and “Pokito” with Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, before concluding with his anthem “Gasolina.” One of the most impressive moments was marked by the surprise appearance of LL Cool J and French Montana.
Yankee was honored as the Latin Recording Academy 2026 Person of the Year in a celebration that began on Wednesday night (Nov. 11) with a grand tribute at the MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom in Las Vegas, with figures like J Balvin, LL Cool J, Feid, Trueno and others revisiting his greatest classics.
In 2022, he announced his retirement from music and his conversion to Christianity, but returned three years later with renewed faith and the commitment to make “music with purpose.” His faith-inspired album Lamento en Baile (2025) includes the lively track “Sonríele,” which reached No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart last October. He is currently promoting his new studio album, La Postal, featuring collaborations with Cardi B, Myke Towers, Danny Ocean and others, and is scheduled to perform at the Coachella Festival in 2027.
Below is Daddy Yankee’s full speech upon receiving the Person of the Year award during the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony:
First of all, good evening to all of you, to all my beautiful people watching here. This was music that started from the bottom, started, as we say, in the underground, where our music was challenged. This started with cassette tapes, on the streets. At one point, even the government thought we were criminals and said we had no future.
Today, I want to tell you that my dream was to be a baseball player, but I thank you because now we’re dropping beats in the big leagues of the Grammys, so thank you very much. Incredible! I want to thank all my colleagues, all those pillars who started with me, all the DJs, all the dancers, all those fans who are with us now, but have been with us since day one. Thank you for being with me from the first day when I wasn’t a business! Thank you for being with me from the heart. I thank you.
To my family who are here tonight, Yamilette, Jeremy, thank you so much. There’s nothing more beautiful than you saying “blessings, daddy” every day. That means so much. Yami, Jeremy, who have become entrepreneurs. Jeremy for fully managing the La Postal project. Thanks to my father, my mother, my siblings here tonight. My sister Coral, my friends. Thank you for being there when the lights go out, but above all, I want to tell you that even though I have traveled the world, what has most filled my soul is meeting my best friend, Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. And as it says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6), the one who began the good work in me will perfect it until the day Christ returns.
God bless you always,
Ramón Ayala
