Bad Bunny Makes History With Album of the Year Win

Bad Bunny made Grammy history on Sunday night, winning Album of the Year for DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS, becoming the first artist to receive the Recording Academy’s top honor for an album recorded entirely in Spanish.

The Puerto Rican artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, appeared visibly emotional as his name was announced. He embraced presenter Harry Styles before stepping onstage, pausing to take in the moment as the audience rose in a standing ovation.

“Puerto Rico,” Bad Bunny said simply as he began his acceptance speech, grounding the moment in his roots before continuing largely in Spanish. He thanked God, the Recording Academy, and the collaborators who helped shape the album, as well as his family. “Gracias a Mami por darme la vida en Puerto Rico,” he said, adding that the project and the award belonged to everyone who believed in him throughout his career.

Halfway through his remarks, Bad Bunny switched briefly to English to dedicate the win to immigrants and those who have been forced to leave their homelands in pursuit of opportunity. He also addressed listeners who have experienced personal loss, saying the album and the recognition were for those who have endured hardship while continuing forward. He closed by acknowledging Latin artists who came before him, many of whom, he said, deserved similar recognition.

The win marked a significant milestone for the Grammys, which have long been criticized for its limited recognition of non-English-language music in its major categories. While Spanish-language albums have previously been nominated, none had ever won Album of the Year until Sunday.

This year’s category was notably competitive, featuring a slate of first-time contenders. Nominees included Justin Bieber (Swag), Sabrina Carpenter (Man’s Best Friend), Clipse (Let God Sort ’Em Out), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Lady Gaga (Mayhem), Leon Thomas (Mutt), and Tyler, the Creator (Chromakopia). None of the nominated artists had previously won Album of the Year, guaranteeing a historic outcome regardless of the winner.

Speculation ahead of the ceremony centered on whether Kendrick Lamar or Tyler the Creator would become the first male solo rapper to win the category, while Gaga and Bad Bunny were widely viewed as frontrunners. Ultimately, Bad Bunny’s victory marked a broader breakthrough for Spanish-language music on the Grammy stage.

The artist was previously nominated for Album of the Year in 2023 for Un Verano Sin Ti, which became the first Spanish-language album ever recognized in the category. That year, the award went to Harry Styles for Harry’s House. Last year’s ceremony also made history when Beyoncé won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, her first victory in the category.

Bad Bunny now holds three Grammy wins from 16 career nominations. DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS earned six nominations this year alone, further cementing his place as one of the most influential global artists of his generation. The album also made him the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for Album, Record, and Song of the Year in the same Grammy cycle.