Bad Bunny makes Grammy history with album of the year win

Bad Bunny must be toasting himself with a "Pitorro de Coco" after making history at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. 

The Puerto Rican superstar clinched a historic win during Sunday night’s ceremony when his album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," earned him the album of the year honor, marking the first Spanish-language album in Grammys history to do so.

The achievement comes three years after the singer's first album of the year nomination for his fourth album, "Un Verano Sin Ti."

"I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams," Bad Bunny said during his acceptance speech. "To all the Latinos in the world and all the artists who came before and deserved to be on this stage getting this award, thank you."

In his emotional remarks, the singer thanked God, his album collaborators and the Recording Academy, as well as gave a heartfelt tribute to his native Puerto Rico. "There's nothing we can't do," he said.

Before Bad Bunny's victory, only two Latino artists, legendary guitarist Carlos Santana and rapper Cardi B, have had a shot at the album of the year award, though none for a slate of songs in Spanish.

Santana, who was born in Mexico, won in 2000 with "Supernatural," while Cardi, daughter of Dominican and Trinidadian parents, was nominated in 2019 for her debut album "Invasion of Privacy." 

Earlier in the night, the 31-year-old won the best música urbana album prize, beating reggaeton veteran Yandel and his "Oasis" collaborator, Colombian singer J Balvin, among other top acts. He was also nominated for record of the year and song of the year.

The reggaeton singer, who is slated to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, concluded his album of the year speech with a personal shoutout to his mother and longtime supporters: "Thank you to my mom for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico. ... Thank you for all the love, I love you."

Bad Bunny reconnects with roots on Grammy-winning 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos'

Released in January 2025, Bad Bunny's sixth album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" marks a commercial and artistic peak for the singer, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. The album's eclectic throwback sound pays tribute to the singer's Boricua roots, incorporating traditional genres such as Plena, salsa and jibaro into his signature Latin urbano style.

The album topped the Billboard 200 chart for four weeks and spawned five top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Meanwhile, all 17 of the album's tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, making Bad Bunny the first Latin artist in history to have over 100 entries on the chart.

Bad Bunny brought the album to the stage with his historic concert residency, No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí, which took place at Puerto Rico's José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. Following the residency's conclusion in September, the singer hit the road with the Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, which kicked off in November and is scheduled to run through July.

Having orgullo, or pride, for his Latino heritage has been a career throughline for Bad Bunny. He's never let his fans or the world forget it.

"Never stop dreaming and being yourselves. It doesn't matter where you come from; don't forget where you come from and don't forget where you're going," Bad Bunny said at the Latin Grammys in November, where he also won album of the year. "There are ways to show patriotism and defend our land — we chose music."

The rest of 2026 is shaping up to be just as bright for the "Eoo" singer.

Aside from his world tour, Bad Bunny will perform at the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8, a feat that signals the singer's cross-cultural appeal and growing icon status.

Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY