Juanes performs in Havana, Cuba on Sunday
Photo: Sven Creutzmann/ Getty Images

The Obama administration has been hinting at a possible thaw in the half-century standoff with Cuba, and on Sunday, Colombian pop star Juanes did his best to further the cause by headlining a massive concert for peace in Havana's famed Plaza de la Revolución.

Playing in front of several hundred thousand fans at the Peace Without Borders concert, Juanes bucked the authoritarian regime led by the Castro brothers by chanting, "Cuba libre! Cuba libre!" ("Free Cuba!") before segueing into a call for "One Cuban family! One Cuban family!" He was appealing to the many Cuban exiles who, according to The Miami Herald, had criticized the show because they feared it would appear to lend support to the authoritarian communist Castro regime. In an ominous and telling sign, a gigantic image of communist icon Che Guevara towered over the plaza where the concert was held, which has been the site of many long-winded political speeches from former leader Fidel Castro over the past 50 years.

The crowd was reportedly filled mostly with young Cubans, many of whom had arrived early in the morning to get prime spots near the stage. "I can't believe it. This is the most beautiful dream of peace and love,'' Juanes said while taking the stage to chants of his name. "Whatever differences we have, at the end we are all brothers," he added, segueing into his hit plea for peace, "A Dios le Pido" ("I'll Ask God").

Telling the young crowd "the future is in your hands," Juanes played his anthem of hope, "No Creo en el Jamas" ("I Don't Believe in Never"), and a rock song about a kidnap victim called "Sueños" ("Dreams") that he turned into a hushed ballad as he explained that it was for "everyone who is imprisoned unjustly and seeks liberty.''

The Herald said that while historic, the show was viewed as a triumph for the Castro regime by Republican U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami, who decried the fact that there was no mention made of human-rights violations by the regime or of the political prisoners behind bars for speaking out against Castro.

For a few hours, anyway, all that political drama was pushed to the side as the packed crowd took in 15 artists from six Latin American countries, including Cuba's Los Van Van and Silvio Rodriguez and island rap/funk group X Alfonso, one of many acts that included subversive lines in their songs. Despite signing a pledge not to make political statements, a female rapper with X Alfonso sang, "Down with the control. Down with those who manipulate you."

Spanish pop singer Miguel Bosé told the crowd, "We're all here together — for the dream of concord, for the dream of dialogue!" and was later joined by Cuban singer/songwriter Carlos Varela for the latter's "Muro," ("Wall"), which speaks of longing for a world outside Cuba's seawall.

Also on the bill were Puerto Rican singers Olga Tañon and Danny Rivera, Cuban artists Amaury Pérez and Carlos Varela, Orishas Italian rapper Jovanotti, Spain's Victor Manuel and Luis Eduardo Aute, New York-based Cuban singer Cucu Diamantes, and the band Yerba Buena.

• Juanes

Juanes at the Latin Grammy Awards
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/ AFP/ Getty Images

Colombian rocker Juanes was the night's big winner Thursday in Houston, walking away with five Latin Grammys — one for each category he was nominated in.

According to The Associated Press, Juanes made a clean sweep at the Latin Grammys, taking home the statuette for Record of the Year (for his track "Me Enamora"), Song of the Year, Best Short-Form Music Video, Best Male Pop Vocal Album, and Album of the Year (for his latest, La Vida ... Es un Ratico).

Juanes — who opened the show with "If You Are Out There," his duet with John Legend — also set a new record for total Latin Grammy wins. His total is now 17 trophies — three more than the previous record-holder, Alejandro Sanz, AP reports.

"I can't believe it. I am very, very happy, very grateful to life, to music, to God, to the Academy," Juanes told reporters after the event. "For me, this has been incredible. It's a dream."

Meanwhile, Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla also won two Latin Grammys on Thursday, as the producer on Juanes' Record of the Year and Album of the Year. The night's other big winners included Puerto Rican singer Kany García, who took home the awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Album for Cualquier Día, and Mexican alternative rockers Café Tacuba, who were honored with six nominations and ended up taking home awards for Rock Song of the Year ("Esta Vez") and Alternative Song of the Year ("Volver a Comenzar"). Mexican singer/songwriter Julieta Venegas also picked up two Latin Grammys for Best Long-Form Video and Best Alternative Music Album.

• Juanes Rules The Latin Grammys

• Juanes
• Gustavo Santaolalla
• Kany Garcia
• Julieta Venegas

Alicia Keys
Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

In what could turn out to be her big coming-out moment, indie rocker and Best New Artist nominee Feist, famous for the "1234" song featured in a ubiquitous iPod ad, has been added to the list of performers for the upcoming Grammys Awards ceremony. Also joining the performer list are Alicia Keys and country star Brad Paisley, as well as a special tribute to the Beatles featuring the casts of the Las Vegas show "LOVE by Cirque du Soleil" (based on the Fab Four's music) and the Beatles-inspired big-screen musical "Across the Universe."

(Check out the top Grammy nominees right here.)

The 50th annual awards show, which takes place on February 10, also announced the first slate of presenters, which will feature a variety of past Grammy winners including Natalie Cole, Juanes, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and Bonnie Raitt. And the prime-time spot for Canadian songwriter/ sometime Broken Social Scene member Leslie Feist will give the "1234" singer her biggest national (and international) exposure to date.

The Grammys previously announced performances by Beyoncé, Foo Fighters (with special guest conductor Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones), Carrie Underwood, a gospel segment featuring Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, the Clark Sisters, Israel & New Breed and Trin-I-Tee 5:7, and Rihanna performing with reunited Minneapolis funk band the Time.

After fears the show might be crippled by the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, it was announced this week that the writers guild had given its members a waiver to work on the golden-anniversary show. And though her English publicity firm recently said plans still call for six-time nominee Amy Winehouse to make an appearance at the event, her recent decision to enter a rehabilitation facility to treat substance abuse has once again cast that appearance into question.

Don't sleep until February 10 — geek out on the Grammys with MTV News' complete coverage right here!

• 2008 Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters

• Alicia Keys
• Feist
• The Beatles
• Rihanna
• Juanes

Shakira
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Colombian-born songstress Shakira leads the list of nominees for the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America with six nods in all, including Best Video, Best Female Artist, Best Pop Artist and Artist of the Year.

The fourth annual MTV Video Music Awards Latin America (or the VMALAs) will take place on October 20 at the Great Tlachco Theater in Xcaret, Playa del Carmen on Mexico's Carribbean coast — the first time the event will take place in a Latin American country. The festivities will air on MTV Latin America in 24 countries, as well as MTV2 in the United States. Shakira, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and the Foo Fighters are all set to perform during the program.

Colombian singer Juanes and Argentinean group Miranda! each earned five nominations. Molotov and Reik, both from Mexico, and Colombia's Andrea Echeverri (lead singer of Aterciopelados) nabbed four nods.

Shakira has two Best Video noms — for "No" and "La Tortura" clips, the latter of which she performed with Alejandro Sanz at the MTV Video Music Awards last weekend — giving the singer a 40 percent chance of taking home one of the ceremony's top honors. Juanes (for "La Camisa Negra"), Miranda! ("Don") and Molotov ("Amateur") are also nominated.

Artist of the Year nominees include Café Tacuba and Diego Torres along with Juanes, Miranda! and Shakira.

Several American artists are in the running for VMALAs, as well. Ashlee Simpson, Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson are nominated for Best International Pop Artist (as are the Backstreet Boys and Hilary Duff) as well as Best New International Artist (along with the Killers and My Chemical Romance).

Coldplay, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, Green Day and the Foo Fighters will vie for the title of Best International Rock Artist; 50 Cent, the Beastie Boys, the Black Eyed Peas, Missy Elliott and Eminem earned nods for Best International Hip-Hop/ R&B Artist.

• Shakira
• Cafe Tacuba
• Simple Plan
• Good Charlotte
• Foo Fighters

Julieta Venegas at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

The united colors of the Americas were on display at the third annual MTV Video Music Awards Latin America, as the Black Eyed Peas, Avril Lavigne, Maroon 5, Julieta Venegas, Café Tacuba and La Ley all took home awards.

The show's performances were equally diverse: the Peas, Lenny Kravitz, the Beastie Boys and rapper Pitbull represented the U.S., while Venegas, Molotov, Juanes and others held it down for Latin America. Unity was on display during the Peas' show-opening set, as the group was joined by Diego Torres, La Ley and Venegas for Spanish-language covers of songs including "Yeah!," "Hey Ya!" and their own "Hey Mama" and "Let's Get Retarded."

The show, which took place Thursday night in Miami, saw multiple awards handed out to Venegas (who dominated the show with three wins), Mexican group Café Tacuba and L.A.'s Maroon 5, who each took home two awards.

Although the ceremony was scripted entirely in Spanish (including an introduction from Bono and banter from other English-speaking artists), international acts were well represented. Maroon 5 were crowned Best International Rock Artist and International New Artist, besting acts like Franz Ferdinand and Yellowcard. Avril Lavigne won Best International Pop Artist for the second consecutive year (beating out Beyoncé, Hilary Duff, Joss Stone and Nelly Furtado), while the Black Eyed Peas won the new category of Best International Hip-Hop/R&B Artist over 50 Cent, Beastie Boys, Outkast and Usher.

Latin award-winners included Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, who won for Best Pop Artist (for which host Rubio was also nominated), and up-and-comer Belinda, who took home a trophy for Best New Artist: Mexico. Rockers Airbag won Best New Artist: Argentina, and Torres won Best Artist: Argentina. (Mexico, Argentina and Central America received individual awards for the artist and new artist categories.)

Instead of receiving a Moonman statue, as the winners of the U.S. VMAs do, each winning artist at the MTVLA VMAs was presented with a replica of a large pink tongue pierced with the MTV logo, which represents the Spanish language that unites most Latin Americans in the region.

Nominees in each of the 18 categories were chosen by the MTV Music and Video Academy, which is made up of music-industry professionals and MTV viewers. The winner in each category was determined by Latin American viewers who cast their votes online at MTV Latin America's Web site between September 7 and October 5.

The awards show, which took place at the Jackie Gleason Theater, will air on MTV on October 30 at 11 p.m. PT/ET.

• Julieta Venegas
• Café Tacuba
• Black Eyed Peas
• Lenny Kravitz
• Beastie Boys

Molotov
Photo: Universal Latin

Political rap-metal band Molotov were on fire at MTV Latin's second annual music awards Thursday night, winning Video of the Year, Best Group or Duo, Alternative Artist and Best Mexican Artist.

Another big winner was Mexican singer/songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, who won three awards: Best Solo Artist, Pop Artist of the Year and Best New Mexican Artist. Colombian artist Juanes, who took five Latin Grammys earlier this year (see "Juanes Sweeps Latin Grammys; Celia Cruz Honored"), walked away with Artist of the Year and Best Rock Artist. Bersuit Vergarabat was awarded Best Artist from Argentina and Vicentico won Best New Artist from Argentina.

Several rock performers from non-Latin nations were also handed awards. Avril Lavigne won Best New International Artist, Coldplay took Best International Rock Artist and Evanescence were given the New International Artist award.

MTV Latin's event took place at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts in Miami Beach and was hosted by actor Diego Luna. Performers included Juanes, Vicentico and Ricky Martin.

• Molotov
• Juanes
• Natalia Lafourcade
• Bersuit Vergarabat
• Vicentico

Juanes
Photo: Universal

On a night when late flashy salsa queen Celia Cruz was honored with an all-star tribute, it was singer/songwriter Juanes who sparked the most fireworks at the fourth annual Latin Grammy awards.

During the show Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, the one-named Colombian sensation swept the major categories, winning in all five in which he was nominated.

Juanes took the big three: Record, Album and Song of the Year ("Es Por Ti"), as well as Best Rock Song ("Mala Gente") and Best Rock Solo Vocal album for Un Dia Normal, his second solo album. Already a four-time Latin Grammy winner before the program, Juanes, 31, became one of the most celebrated artists in the show's short history.

The program opened with a tribute to Cruz, who died in July at age 77 (see "Queen Of Salsa" Celia Cruz Dead"). The medley featured Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony shouting Cruz's signature phrase, "azucar!," and singing a number of her most famous songs alongside such Latin legends as Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco, Arturo Sandoval and Oscar D'Leon. Just last year, Cruz opened the show with one of her typically over-the-top performances before winning an award for Best Salsa Album.

Miami's Bacilos won Best Tropical Song for their humorous account of trying to make it, "Mi Primer Millon," which they performed on the broadcast. Band leader Sergio George came into the awards with six nominations, but was overshadowed by Juanes, though Bacilos also scored the Best Pop Album by a group for Caraluna.

Spain's curly-haired David Bisbal, who came to prominence last year after winning Spain's answer to "American Idol," "Operation Triumph," was named Best New Artist for his album Corazón Latino. Rockers Molotov won the Best Video Award for their clip "Frijolero," and Cuban guitarist and Buena Vista Social Club member Ibrahim Ferrer won the award for Best Traditional Tropical Album for Buenos Hermanos.

Though such crossover artists as Thalia, Shakira and Luis Miguel went home empty-handed, Enrique Iglesias represented, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Album for his Spanish-language effort, Quizás.

In addition to performances from Thalia, Molotov and Ricky Martin, the show aimed for a broader audience by pairing Latin stars with more mainstream acts, such as Juanes and the Black Eyed Peas and "American Idol" singer Kelly Clarkson with Brazil's Alexandre Pires.

For the second year in a row, the inclusion of Cuban artists in the show was shrouded in controversy. Though Miami — hosting the Latin Grammys for the first time — has a large Cuban population and 12 Cuban artists were nominated, a small contingent of protesters gathered outside the venue to demonstrate both against and for the nomination of artists from the communist country.

According to reports, none of the Cuban acts was able to obtain visas in time to attend the show. Cuban hip-hop band Orishas, who won the Best Rap/Hip Hop Album award for Emigrante and who now live in Europe, did not attend the show as a sign of solidarity with their fellow Cuban musicians.

Miami was to host the second edition of the show in 2001, but the event was moved to Los Angeles after anti-Castro demonstrators threatened to protest the show; it was ultimately canceled due to the 9-11 terror attacks (see "Latin Grammy Winners Will Get Trophies But No Ceremony").

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Juanes
• Celia Cruz
• Bacilos
• David Bisbal
• Molotov

Shakira
Photo: Sony

Crossover star Shakira stands alongside Juanes and Diego Torres at the front of this year's pack of nominees for the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.

Juanes, Shakira and Torres each nabbed five nominations apiece, while budding mainstream star Paulina Rubio tied with Kinky and La Ley with four nods.

Shakira, who counts Artist of the Year and Video of the Year among her noms, will also perform at the ceremony, as will two-time nominee System of a Down. The progressive metal outfit is up for Best New Artist International and Best Rock Artist International. Mana is also confirmed to perform at the awards show, set for Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Theater.

Other familiar names among the multiple nominees are Enrique Iglesias, with three nominations, and Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne and Nelly Furtado, with two nods apiece.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly.

The show will be broadcast live from Miami Beach on October 24 on MTV Latin America.

Nominees for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
• Juanes
• La Ley
• Alejandro Sanz
• Shakira
• Diego Torres

  VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

• Enrique Iglesias
  Video: "Hero"
  Director: Joseph Kahn
  
• Juanes
  Video: "A Dios Le Pido"
  Director: Gustavo Garzón
  
• Paulina Rubio
  Video: "Si Tú Te Vas"
  Director: The Brothers Strause
  
• Shakira
  Video: "Suerte"
  Director: Francis Lawrence
  
• Diego Torres
  Video: "Color Esperanza"
  Director: Eduardo Pinto and Nahuel Lerena
  

  BEST ARTIST NORTH:

• Juanes
• Kinky
• Paulina Rubio
• Shakira
• Aleks Syntek

  BEST NEW ARTIST NORTH:

• Cabas
• Celso Piña
• Kinky
• Sin Bandera
• Volován

  BEST ARTIST SOUTHEAST:

• Babasónicos
• Bersuit
• Catupecu Machu
• Gustavo Cerati
• Diego Torres

  BEST NEW ARTIST SOUTHEAST:

• Bandana
• Jorge Drexler
• Leo Garcia
• Daniela Herrero
• Parraleños

  BEST ARTIST SOUTHWEST:

• Los Bunkers
• Javiera y los Imposibles
• La Ley
• Libido
• Los Prisioneros

  BEST NEW ARTIST SOUTHWEST:

• Los Bunkers
• Mamma Soul
• DJ Mendez
• No Me Acuerdo
• Sinergia

  BEST NEW ARTIST INTERNATIONAL:

• Nelly Furtado
• Gorillaz
• Avril Lavigne
• Linkin Park
• System of a Down

  BEST ROCK ARTIST INTERNATIONAL:

• Coldplay
• Linkin Park
• No Doubt
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• System of a Down

  BEST POP ARTIST INTERNATIONAL:

• Nelly Furtado
• Avril Lavigne
• Kylie Minogue
• Pink
• Britney Spears

  BEST ALTERNATIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

• Enrique Búnbury
• Manú Chao
• Ely Guerra
• Kinky
• Celso Piña

  BEST ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

• Aterciopelados
• Babasónicos
• Catupecu Machu
• Juanes
• La Ley

  BEST POP ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

• Enrique Iglesias
• Paulina Rubio
• Alejandro Sanz
• Shakira
• Diego Torres

  BEST FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

• Erica Garcia
• Ely Guerra
• Paulina Rubio
• Shakira
• Thalia

  BEST MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

• Gustavo Cerati
• Enrique Iglesias
• Juanes
• Alejandro Sanz
• Diego Torres

  BEST GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR:

• Babasónicos
• Catupecu Machu
• Kinky
• La Ley
• La Oreja de Van Gogh

• Shakira
• Juanes
• Avril Lavigne
• Enrique Iglesias
• Linkin Park

Nelly Furtado
Photo: DreamWorks

Last week in the Grammy press room, Nelly Furtado revealed that she originally wanted "Sh-- on the Radio (Remember the Days)" to be the first single off her debut album, Whoa, Nelly! Judging by a conversation MTV Radio had with her on Monday, it looks like she'll soon have a lot more sh-- on the radio.

Not only is she collaborating with other marquee acts, she's already written much of her next record, which she hopes to finish by the fall.

Furtado recently recorded a song with the Roots, which will likely surface on their next album, and soon she'll enter the studio with Colombian folk/alternative artist Juanes to record a song called "Fotografias" for his next record. In addition, she's planning to work with alternative rap group Jurassic 5 and may collaborate with Carlos Santana on his next record.

"I've always had an open mentality with music. Music is inanimate and beautiful. You can make anything happen as long as you're passionate and you don't close your mind," said Furtado, who last year surprised listeners by recruiting Timbaland to remix her single "Turn off the Light" and by appearing on a remix of Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On." "I got into hip-hop by chance, just because there were no other kids making music in the city. And that's how I fell into it. And whatever you can find, you gotta pursue."

Over the next few months, Furtado will continue to pursue her connection with Timbaland, who is using samples from her "Baby Girl" in the song "Ching, Ching, Ching" by Miss Jade, a female rapper signed to his and Elliott's Beat Club label.

As much as she loves collaborations, Furtado's top priority is getting back in the studio to work on her second album, which she'd like to have in stores by next spring. For months now, she's been writing for the disc, which she says will be musically "more advanced" than Whoa, Nelly!

"It's still gonna be alternative pop music, but it's gonna have a world edge to it," she said. "It's gonna be international-sounding, and I'm gonna try to be raising the bar. Basically, we're just gonna continue to do what we did last time, which is to not care about the outside world and just [care about] what we want to hear."

She said she'll likely position the Grammy she won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance on her piano to inspire her in the studio. Thrilled though she is about her victory, she's even more excited about her potential to surprise her fans and herself.

"Anything could happen at this point," she exclaimed. "I could walk into the studio with Missy and we could be like, 'All right, this is gonna be the next single.' Or I could just meet somebody one day and we could make magic. It's so unpredictable. That's why I love music."

• Nelly Furtado
• Juanes
• Jurassic 5
• Santana
• The Roots

Carlos Santana
Photo: Billy Tompkins

Winners of the second annual Latin Grammy Awards will receive their trophies, but the ceremony — originally scheduled for last Tuesday — will not be restaged, the Recording Academy announced Friday.

Academy officials, who had said shortly after the terrorist attacks that the show was canceled and would not be rescheduled, spent this week reconsidering the idea with their partners. They determined it would be "simply impossible" for the show to go on, Michael Greene, CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement.

The academy is still determining how to announce and award the winners.

"We all are emotionally devastated by recent events, as is everyone, and we're disappointed that we will not be able to give this year's deserving nominees their chance to show the world what we already know about them — that they are world-class musical artists," Greene said.

Artists who had been scheduled to appear at the Los Angeles ceremony included co-host Christina Aguilera, Santana, Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Miguel, Juanes, Jon Secada, Thalía, Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz and Destiny's Child.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Santana
• Christina Aguilera
• Thalia
• Nelly Furtado
• Jennifer Lopez