Snubs & Surprises at Latin Grammy Awards 2025

Even Alejandro Sanz seemed a little shocked when his name was announced as the winner of record of the year for “Palmeras En El Jardín.” As he accepted the award, Sanz glanced at Bad Bunny, who was heavily favored to win for “Baile Inolvidable,” and quipped with good humor, “Te lo he robado” (“I stoled it from you”). The moment captured the surprise felt by much of the audience. Sanz’s understated ballad stood out for its gut-wrenching delivery and elegant production, but wasn’t seen as the kind of track to eclipse the major contenders. Even CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso (“El Día Del Amigo”) and Karol G (“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”) seemed buzzier as potential winners.

No shade on Paloma Morphy — her win for best new artist is well deserved — but it continues a pattern seen in recent years, where introspective female singer-songwriters like Ela Taubert (2024), Joaquina (2023), Silvana Estrada and Angela Alvarez (2022), and Juliana Velásquez (2021) frequently take home the prize. This year, however, the category included standout nominees like Spanish flamenco guitarist Yerai Cortés. A win for Cortés would have marked a departure from the predictable trends of recent years, highlighting instrumental virtuosity on Latin music’s biggest stage.

While CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso have been riding a wave of success — from their viral Tiny Desk performance to being named Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise in April — their clean sweep at the 2025 Latin Grammy pre-telecast still caught many off-guard. The Argentine duo won all five categories they were nominated in (including best pop song and best alternative music album), edging out more mainstream contenders with massive followings. Known for their experimental sound and unapologetic creativity, their wins signal an unexpected but exciting shift toward recognizing genre-pushing artists in Latin music. For fans and industry insiders alike, their dominance was a pleasant surprise that solidified their place among this year’s breakout stars.

The loss of “Me Jalo” in the best regional song category feels like the culmination of a larger snub for Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera at this year’s Latin Grammys. Hands down, “Me Jalo” is a massive hit, effortlessly blending Fuerza Regida’s riveting pop-corridos style with Grupo Frontera’s accordion-driven Tex-Mex sound — a collaboration that topped both Billboard‘s Latin Airplay and Regional Mexican Airplay charts.

While norteño legends Los Tigres Del Norte’s “La Lotería” ultimately took home the prize, its heartfelt narrative on immigration struggles — a relevant and resonant theme — deserves recognition. Yet, for two groundbreaking acts who are actively redefining the sound and global reach of regional Mexican music, the omission of “Me Jalo” from the winners list feels like a significant snub. Adding to the sting, Fuerza Regida was only nominated once this year, despite their record-breaking success with 111XPANTIA, and Grupo Frontera earned just two mentions.

Brazilian singer-songwriter Liniker proved she’s a force to be reckoned with at this year’s Latin Grammy, winning every Portuguese language category she was nominated in: three. Her 2024 album Caju took home best Portuguese language contemporary pop album, defeating contenders like Julia Mestre’s Maravilhosamente Bem and January’s Fugacidade. The title track also snagged best Portuguese language urban performance. Finally, Liniker’s ballad “Veludo Marrom” earned her best Portuguese language song.

Her wins are a pleasant surprise and signal an important step for representation at the Latin Grammys. As the first Black trans woman to ever win a Latin Grammy back in 2022, her continued success this year is a powerful reminder of her unique artistry and ability to open doors for marginalized communities in Latin music. She was also vying for major categories, including song of the year, which put her in direct competition with heavyweights like Karol G and Bad Bunny.

One of the night’s biggest snubs may have come at the hands of the Latin Recording Academy itself. By nominating two songs from both Bad Bunny (“Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF”) and CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso (“El Día Del Amigo” and “#Tetas”) in the highly competitive song and record of the year categories, the Academy inadvertently diluted votes for these clear frontrunners. Rather than solidifying either artist as an obvious winner, the divided support may have paved the way for unexpected outcomes. Alejandro Sanz (“Palmeras En El Jardín”) and Karol G (“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”) ultimately took home the prizes, but it’s hard not to wonder how different the results might have been if only one standout track represented each artist.