Daddy Yankee is set to receive a major honor at the Latin Grammys.
On Nov. 11, during a special gala held in Latin Grammy week in Las Vegas, the reggaeton icon will be celebrated as the 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.
“This recognition from The Latin Recording Academy is a dream come true. It means a lot because it represents more than just a successful career; it’s recognition of years of discipline, struggle, faith, and commitment to our culture,” Daddy Yankee shared in a statement.
“Receiving something like this is to honor Puerto Rico, to honor all Latinos, and specifically to that entire generation that believed in our music when no one else understood it.”
The Puerto Rican star will be honored for playing a key role in shaping reggaeton over a career spanning nearly 30 years, as well as for his humanitarian work back home. His contributions include investing in sports initiatives like the Cangrejeros de Santurce and the NBA Basketball School.
A major breakthrough in Daddy Yankee’s career came with the release of Barrio Fino in 2004, which dominated the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart for 24 straight weeks. The project featured the global smash “Gasolina,” a track that helped push reggaeton onto the world stage.
His success carried on for years, including his appearance on Luis Fonsi’s 2017 hit “Despacito,” which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks. A remix featuring Justin Bieber also reached the top position.
In 2022, Daddy Yankee revealed he was stepping away from music with the release of Legendaddy. Still, he returned last year with a new project, Lamento En Baile, described in a press release as “purpose-driven music, incorporating spiritual reflection, ethical values and personal transformation.”
