Karol G becomes first Latina to receive the International Artist Award of Excellence

• Karol G is the first artist to receive the AMA's International Artist Award of Excellence since Whitney Houston in 2009
• She also won Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta on the same night in Las Vegas
• In April 2026, Karol G became the first Latina woman ever to headline Coachella
  

Colombian singer Karol G walked away with two awards at the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday, in a landmark night that saw her become the first artist to receive the International Artist Award of Excellence since Whitney Houston in 2009.

The accolade was presented to the 35-year-old by singer-songwriter John Legend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where the ceremony aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ from 8pm ET.

An emotional acceptance speech

Visibly moved by the occasion, Karol expressed her gratitude with warmth and sincerity.

"Wow. What an honor, John, that you gave me this award. It's legend. This is going to be a legend moment in my career for sure," she said with a smile.

"I feel very, very grateful. First of all, thank you, God. He allows me to live the most incredible, amazing experience in my life. I want to say that more than anything, this career has given me the most important thing in my life: purpose."

The Tusa artist went on to speak about what music means to her beyond performance.

"I found purpose through my music. I'm just happy that I can perform a song, and I can say things in my songs that become a voice for a lot of people.

"A healing place, a safe place, and I just think that my life is meaningful because of my music and to help others through it."

She concluded her speech with a message directed at her global fanbase, delivered in Spanish: "For all of my fans all over the world, I love you so much, thank you."

A second win on the night

The evening held a further surprise. After Karol completed her speech, Legend, 47, returned to the microphone to announce that she had also won Best Latin Album for her 2025 record Tropicoqueta — a revelation that prompted an audible scream of excitement from the singer.

Earlier in the evening, she had also taken to the stage for a special performance of Ivonny Bonita, a track featured on the album.

A prestigious and rare honour

The International Artist Award of Excellence recognises artists whose music and cultural influence have resonated on a global scale.

Prior recipients include Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Beyoncé, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart.

The fact that the award had not been given since Houston received it in 2009 underlines the significance of Karol G's recognition.

In a press release, executive producers Barry Adelman and Alexi Mazareas spoke to the scale of her impact.

"Karol G has redefined what it means to be a global artist. Through her authenticity, groundbreaking achievements, and powerful connection with fans around the world, she has helped bring Latin music to unprecedented heights," they said.

"We are proud to honor Karol G with the International Artist Award of Excellence for her extraordinary impact on music and culture worldwide."

A year of firsts for Karol G

The AMAs double win caps a remarkable year for the Medellín-born artist. In April, she became the first Latina woman ever to headline Coachella, a moment she used to speak directly about her community.

"I want to present myself. I am Carolina from Medellín, Colombia, and today I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella," she told the crowd.

"And I'm very happy and very proud about this, but at the same time it feels late. There has been 27 years of this festival going on, and it's the first time a Latina girl is headlining Coachella." She was equally clear that the milestone was not hers alone to claim.

"So this is not just about me, this is about my Latino community, this is about my people," she continued. "And at the same time, this is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately."

A trailblazer in Latin music

Karol G's ascent has been marked by a series of historic achievements. Her 2023 album MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO made history as the first Spanish-language album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It also earned her a Grammy Award for Best Música Urbana Album.

Reflecting on that period in a 2024 conversation with PEOPLE, she spoke candidly about the personal circumstances that shaped the record.

"I'm full of emotions. I can't believe that something this big came off one of the hardest moments of my life," she said. "I was just doing music, trying to heal my heart."