Laura Pausini was recognized with the Billboard Icon Award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday (Oct. 23), airing live on Telemundo. The Italian superstar received her trophy from Puerto Rican singer Ozuna.
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“Thank you so much, Billboard, for this important recognition,” explained Pausini, elegant in a long black lace and beaded dress, evidently moved. “The fact that you consider me an icon makes me feel like a rare gem. It fills me with pride that after more than 30 years of career, I have the good fortune to be here, in front of all of you.”
“I’ve always said it: being from Italy and at the same time feeling so Latina is an enormous privilege that you have allowed. You have adopted me since I was a teenager,” she continued, adding that this time she would do something she had never done before: “I’m going to thank this hardworking Laura who hasn’t given up when she’s been told no, which has been many times, by the way.” And she went on to perform a cappella part of her hit “Víveme.”
Finally, she dedicated it to her family and her team, to God, and to the songwriters who’ve always inspired her. Moments before, Pausini performed her take of Gianluca Grignani‘s classic “Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos” on a simple stage decorated with fog and white orbs of light.
The Billboard Icon Award honors artists whose careers have not only remained relevant over the years, but also those who have established themselves as some of the most distinguished artists in their genres, celebrated globally for achieving both musical and commercial success.
With over 75 million records sold and 6 billion combined streams throughout her 30-year-plus career, Pausini is the most internationally-recognized Italian voice and a global pop icon. Among other recent achievements, last November she earned her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 with a version of her 1990s hit “Se Fue” featuring Rauw Alejandro. In 2023, she was honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year.
Her latest releases are “Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos” and Bad Bunny’s “Turista,” both to be included in her upcoming covers album Yo Canto 2, while she recently announced a new world tour for 2026.
Additionally, Pausini participated in Billboard Latin Music Week in a highly anticipated “Icon Q&A” session, where she delighted fans with her charm, sang “Turista” and offered details about her upcoming releases.
