The 66th Annual Grammy Awards unfolded in a dazzling spectacle of music, fashion, and anticipation. Among the stars and legends, Karol G first shined bright on the red carpet. Then the Colombian reggaeton star made Grammy award history.
Karol G won the Best Música Urbana Album award for her album, Mañana Será Bonito. Bad Bunny won it last year.
It marks her first-ever Grammy, and a first for a woman in the new category.
She was up against formidable male contenders: Rauw Alejandro and his album “Saturno,” and Tainy with his album “Data.”
During the ceremony, Oprah Winfrey was even caught vibing to Karol G’s music after the Latin star’s victory.
In what has to be a Grammy first, the winner introduced herself during her acceptance speech, as if the admiring crowd didn’t know her: “Hi, everybody. My name is Karol G. I am from Medellin, Colombia.”
"This is my first time at Grammys, and this is my first time holding my own Grammy," she continued, smiling, holding her award. "I'm super happy, I'm super nervous, I'm super excited to be in front of so many legends that I admire and respect."
Before being escorted off stage, Karol G gave a special shoutout to “Tainy and Rauw … and Latinos.”
Karol G Makes Grammy History
Karol G, born Carolina Giraldo Navarro, began her public musical journey as a teenage contestant on the Colombian version of the X Factor, El Factor X. She was signed to a Puerto Rican record label soon after the show.
“However, she found it difficult to break through as a female reggaeton artist as the genre focused on male stars,” Biography explains.
After years of ups and downs, Karol G signed with a new record label, in 2016, and soon burst onto the music scene with her infectious blend of reggaeton, trap, and urban beats.
Before tonight’s win, Karol G has received several prestigious awards and nominations throughout her career. She's won five Latin Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Europe Music Awards. an American Music Award as well, and ten Premios Lo Nuestro awards.
The Winning Grammy Moment
In her acceptance speech, when Karol G made her Grammy history, the star expressed gratitude to her fans — the lifeblood of her success. “My album, Mañana Será Bonito, has given me the best memories of my life,” she declared. “My fans came, enjoyed my music, and healed with me. Thank you so much.”
She looked at the legends seated before her. “I promise you to give my best always,” she vowed.
Behind the glitz and glamor lies a story of vulnerability and resilience. “The two weeks before the album came out, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat,” she confided to Rolling Stone. “Being so exposed in my music was very psychologically heavy.”
Yet, her music resonated. Even in moments of love, she wove heartbreak into her lyrics. “You can put on the saddest songs in the world, and it’s as if you were healing,” she told the outlet.
As the confetti rained down, Karol G clutched her Grammy, still smiling. The Colombian superstar had etched her name in music history, and her promise echoed: “This is the first of so many.”
