In the history of the Billboard Latin Music Awards, a number of Latin icons — such as Celia Cruz (1994), Vicente Fernández (1998) and Daddy Yankee (2021) — have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The special award is given to artists who have achieved worldwide recognition for their work, transcending musical genres and languages.
In 2022, hitmaker Nicky Jam joined the elite group of artists who have entered the Hall of Fame. The award recognized the reggaetón artist (known for anthemic songs such as “El Perdón” and “Travesuras”), actor and entrepreneur for his prolific work.
This year, Mexican icon Pepe Aguilar will be honored with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award on Oct. 20. “Receiving the Billboard Hall of Fame Award is an incredible honor, and it reminds me of the importance of continually evolving as an artist,” Aguilar said in a statement. “After 35 years in this industry, I feel just as passionate and driven as I did on day one. It’s exciting to see how música Mexicana is growing and evolving, and I’m proud to be part of that movement. What’s even more special is being able to connect with a new generation of fans while staying true to my roots. I’ve reinvented myself time and time again, and as music continues to evolve, I’m ready to keep pushing boundaries and creating something new.”
The 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards list of finalists is led by Karol G, who has 17 nods in categories including artist of the year, tour of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and top Latin album of the year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season). See the complete list of finalists here.
As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 14-18. Purchase tickets to the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
In honor of the upcoming 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards show and Hispanic Heritage Month, here are all the Billboard Latin Hall of Fame recipients over the years.