Shakira performs at the 2002 Latin Grammy Awards
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage.com

Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, who performed with Destiny's Child at the Grammys in February, was the big winner Wednesday at the Latin version of the prestigious awards.

Sanz took home the top three awards: Album of the Year for MTV Unplugged and Record of the Year and Song of the Year, a songwriting award, for "Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte."

The flamenco-influenced pop star won four Latin Grammys in 2001, but last year's ceremony, scheduled for September 11, was canceled and awards were handed out a press conference the following month (see "Latin Grammys Honor Christina's Spanish, Ricky's Moves").

This year's ceremony, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, was an emotional one, with presenter Gloria Estefan addressing last year's tragedy. "This year ... we honor those we lost and those that helped us get back on our feet," she said. (Click here for photos from the Latin Grammys.)

Wednesday's show was not without controversy, however, as demonstrators gathered outside the gala to protest the U.S. government for denying visas to the Cuban nominees, including jazz pianist Chucho Valdés, who won his first Grammy after decades making music.

Marc Anthony, who lost in the Best Salsa Album category, opened the show with a rousing performing of "Celos." Other highlights included Carlos Santana and P.O.D. premiering their patriotic anthem, "America," and Nelly Furtado dueting with Colombian rocker Juanes on his Song of the Year-nominated "A Dios Le Pido."

"It's a beautiful spiritual song," Furtado said before the show. "It's kind of like a prayer, a little bit of a love song. The lyrics are beautiful. 'And I ask from God that if I ever die/ I want to die of love/ And if I ever fall in love/ That I fall in love with you.' It's very passionate. It kind of gets back to the beauty of life, you know, the simple things."

Shakira, a standout performer at the MTV Video Music Awards last month, took the stage twice — once to perform and once to accept the Video of the Year award for "Suerte," the Spanish version of her English-language hit "Whenever, Wherever." "Excuse me, but I gotta talk to my people in Spanish," she began, before switching languages.

In general, the show, broadcast live on CBS, was an even blend of English and Spanish. To qualify for a Latin Grammy, a recording must be at least 51 percent in Spanish or Portuguese.

Other winners Wednesday included Juanes for Best Rock Song and Colombia's Carlos Vives, who led all nominees with six, for Best Tropical Album and Best Tropical Song.

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

• Santana
• P.O.D.
• Alejandro Sanz
• Shakira

Wayne Isham accepts Best Music Video award for Ricky Martin's "She Bangs"
Photo: Josephine Close

LOS ANGELES — Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin won Latin Grammys on Tuesday at a press conference announcing the winners of the second annual awards, which had been scheduled to take place on September 11.

Mi Reflejo, Aguilera's Spanish language album, was named Best Female Pop Vocal Album, while Martin's "She Bangs" was named Best Music Video.

Aguilera was scheduled to co-host the press conference with actor Jimmy Smits, but she was kept at home by the flu, organizers said. Smits accepted her trophy and read a statement from the singer that thanked the Latin Recording Academy for its support.

Wayne Isham, director of the "She Bangs" video, accepted the Best Music Video award. "Ricky really kicks ass when he's up there," Isham said. "And he taught me that it's all about music. And music will keep us all together." Tuesday's press conference marked the end of a long road for the Latin Grammys. The ceremony was first scheduled to be held in Miami, but just three weeks before show time the Latin Recording Academy moved the ceremony to Los Angeles because of concerns that anti-Castro protesters would disrupt the show (see "Latin Grammys Relocated To Avoid Miami Protests").

The ceremony was then canceled on the day of the show because of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. (see "Latin Grammys, Concerts On Hold Following Attacks").

At Tuesday's press conference, held at the Conga Room club, the Latin Recording Academy showed a five-minute video chronicling preparations for the ceremony that never happened, including rehearsal footage of scheduled performers Destiny's Child and Marc Anthony.

Alejandro Sanz, who was to perform with Destiny's Child, was the big winner, taking home awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Male Vocal Album for El Alma Al Aire, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the album's title song.

The Spanish singer's next album, recorded earlier this year at an "Unplugged" concert for MTV Latin, is due November 20, according to his spokesperson. El Alma Al Aire, his fifth record, sold more than a million copies in its first week of release in Spain.

Sanz recently collaborated with Michael Jackson and others on the Spanish version of his new benefit single, "What More Can I Give" (see "'NSYNC Join Jackson's Charity Single; Mariah, Celine Sing In Spanish"). KC Porter, who produced the song, won the Latin Grammy for Producer of the Year.

Tuesday's other big winner was Colombian rocker Juanes, who won two awards, including Best New Artist. Juanes was the only artist to perform at the press conference, singing a scaled down version of his "Amor Eterno," which earned a Best Rock Song trophy for songwriter Fijate Bien.

Many of the winners addressed the September 11 attacks and talked about using music as a tool for healing. Comedian Paul Rodriguez, who stepped in for Aguilera as co-host, told the audience of mostly reporters and performers that you can be arrested in Afghanistan for playing music. "That's the kind of people [the Taliban] are," he said. "We should bomb them with old Hanson records."

A complete list of winners is available at www.grammy.com.

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

• Christina Aguilera
• Alejandro Sanz
• Ricky Martin

Michael Jackson
Photo: Epic

Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Tom Petty, Carlos Santana, Celine Dion and Shakira have joined Michael Jackson in asking "What More Can I Give" on a benefit single for September 11 relief efforts.

Also new to the lineup, according to an announcement from Jackson's publicist on Wednesday (October 17), are: Gloria Estefan, Usher, Julio Iglesias, Reba McEntire, Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, Aaron Carter, Jon Secada, Billy Gilman, Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman, Alejandro Sanz, Christian Castro, Olga Tañón, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Thalía, Ziggy Marley and 3LW.

Previously announced contributors include Destiny's Child, Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter and Mya. Lovebirds Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were also named as participants when plans were first announced, but there was no mention of them in the latest update. A source close to the project said the two were never confirmed.

"What More Can I Give" will be released in both English and Spanish versions. It was unclear which artists will appear on which one. Jackson penned the song and is producing the English version, while KC Porter is overseeing production of the Spanish rendition. A release date has not been announced.

Jackson has been flying to studios around the country to record with the stars, according to his publicist. Santana recorded his guitar part in San Francisco with Porter last week, while other sessions have taken place in New York and Los Angeles.

The enigmatic pop legend has said he hopes the single will raise $50 million. "I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims," Jackson said in a statement. "There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now, and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people."

In 1985, Jackson, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Harry Belafonte led a group of artists in recording "We Are the World," which benefited famine-relief efforts in Ethiopia.

For more information on and audience reaction to the attacks, including tips on how you can help, see "9.11.01: Moving Forward."

Share your thoughts on the attacks in Afghanistan in You Tell Us.

• Michael Jackson
• Mariah Carey
• Ricky Martin
• Celine Dion
• Tom Petty

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

Christina Aguilera
Photo: RCA

Christina Aguilera will co-host the second annual Latin Grammy Awards next week, and Marc Anthony and Destiny's Child have signed on as performers.

Aguilera is nominated in the Record of the Year category for the song "Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti" and is in the running for Best Female Pop Vocal Album with Mi Reflejo. Her co-host for the evening will be actor Jimmy Smits, who also co-hosted last year's event.

"Bootylicious" trio Destiny's Child will join previously announced performer Alejandro Sanz on one of the Spanish singer's tunes.

Just three weeks before show time, the Recording Academy moved the ceremony from Miami to Los Angeles, citing concerns that anti-Castro protesters would disrupt the show. More than 100 Cuban-exile groups planned to protest the ceremony's inclusion of artists from the communist country (see "Latin Grammys Relocated To Avoid Miami Protests"). The show will be held at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on September 11 and will be broadcast on CBS from 9-11 p.m. (ET/PT).

Gloria Estefan, last year's co-host and big winner, has said she is upset by the move and will not attend the event. Other previously announced stars scheduled to appear include Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Miguel, Juanes, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jon Secada, Thalía, and Alejandro and Vicente Fernandez. Additional performers and presenters will be announced.

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

• Christina Aguilera
• Destiny's Child
• Alejandro Sanz
• Marc Anthony
• Gloria Estefan

Omara Portuondo
Photo: Atlantic

With just three weeks remaining until show time, the Recording Academy has moved the Latin Grammy Awards from Miami to Los Angeles due to protests planned by Cuban exile groups against artists from the communist country.

The last-minute decision came Monday afternoon (August 20), after a coalition of more than a 100 Cuban-American groups compromised with Miami city officials and promised to keep their demonstrations within a designated area near the American Airlines Arena. But the agreed-upon location was too close for the academy.

"Due to serious concerns for the safety and dignity of our 10,000 guests, nominees, performers and sponsors from across the globe and the threat of disruption during the telecast itself, the Latin Academy ... has been forced to make a very difficult and unfortunate decision," read a statement issued by Recording Academy CEO Michael Greene.

The Latin Grammys will be held September 11 at the Forum in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.

The academy claims it had reached an agreement with the city of Miami establishing security perimeters around the arena, but said that city officials last week changed that zone. "Further, the academy was made aware that protestors had secured tickets to the show and were organizing a disruption to the live telecast itself," Greene said in his statement.

Academy officials considered moving the event to Broward County, north of Miami, but were told by the Florida Highway Patrol and local sheriff's department that they could not guarantee attendees' safety, Greene said.

City officials in Miami could not be reached at press time.

The exile groups planned to demonstrate against artists living in Cuba under the regime of Fidel Castro and threatened to sue the city for violating their First Amendment rights if they were not permitted to do so in the immediate vicinity of the arena. Cuban artists among the nominees include Isaac Delgado and Omara Portuondo.

"The academy understands that some people in Miami hold strong and heartfelt views about the inclusion of Cuban national nominees resulting from the Latin Grammy voting process," Greene's statement read. "And while we support everyone's right to express individual views, our mission is to celebrate excellence in all recorded Latin music, regardless of who produces it."

Exile issues in South Florida also led academy officials to choose Los Angeles over Miami for the inaugural Latin Grammys last year.

Colombian rocker Juanes tops the list of Latin Grammy nominees with seven nods, including Album of the Year (Fijate Bien), Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Spanish pop singer Alejandro Sanz has five nominations, while Los Aterciopelados, Gilberto Gil, Fito Páez, Gustavo Santaolalla and Caetano Veloso each have three.

Christina Aguilera and Luis Miguel are among a group of artists with two nods (see "Aguilera, Juanes Nab Latin Grammy Nominations").

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

• Omara Portuondo
• Christina Aguilera
• Gilberto Gil
• Fito Paez
• Caetano Veloso

Christina Aguilera
Photo: MTV

Christina Aguilera landed two nods when nominations for the second annual Latin Grammy Awards were announced in Miami Tuesday (July 17) with a list short on crossover stars. Aguilera received a Record of the Year nomination for "Pero Me Acuerdo De Ti" from her Spanish-language album Mi Reflejo, which was nominated for Female Pop Vocal Album.

Colombian rocker Juanes topped the list with seven nominations, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Rock Solo Album for Fijate Bien. Spanish pop singer Alejandro Sanz received five nominations, while Aterciopelados, Gilberto Gil, Fito Páez, Gustavo Santaolalla and Caetano Veloso each earned three.

Ricky Martin is up for Video of the Year with the sweaty clip for the Spanish-language version of "She Bangs." Artists nominated for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album, a new category this year, are DJ Kun, Faces Do Subúrbio, Planet Hemp, 7 Notas 7 Colores and El Sindicato Argentino Del Hip Hop.

Last year, Carlos Santana took home three awards at a ceremony that faced criticism for emphasizing mainstream and crossover acts, including a lineup of performers that featured Martin, Aguilera and 'NSYNC (see "Carlos Santana, Luis Miguel Top Latin Grammys"). Four Mexican artists from the independent Latin music label Fonovisa — Los Tigres Del Norte, Los Temerarios, Los Palominos and Banda El Recodo — refused to accept their awards, claiming that Mexican music was underrepresented. Spokespersons for the Grammy Awards and Fonovisa were unavailable for comment on this year's nominations. The Latin Grammy awards will be broadcast live from American Airlines Arena in Miami on September 11 from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on CBS. (MTVi's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.)

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

• Christina Aguilera
• Ricky Martin
• Alejandro Sanz
• Gilberto Gil
• Caetano Veloso