It’s been quite a year to be Karol G. In April, she became the first Latina artist ever to headline Coachella. Then on Monday night in Las Vegas, she did it again — this time on the AMAs stage, becoming the first Latina to receive the International Artist Award of Excellence, an honor previously held by names like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin. The award had not been given out since Whitney Houston received it back in 2009.
The moment was presented by John Legend, who made it clear why she earned it. He noted that some artists make hits, and others make history — positioning the Colombian reggaeton star firmly in the second category. Karol responded with raw emotion, crediting her music as her life’s purpose and closing her speech in Spanish to thank fans worldwide.
Before accepting the award, she delivered a stunning performance of “Ivonny Bonita” from her 2025 album Tropicoqueta, working a circular stage framed by sheer curtains with the kind of choreography and vocal control that justified every word of Legend’s introduction.
The accolade capped off what has genuinely been a career-defining stretch. Her Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour sold two million tickets in just four days, expanding from 39 to 63 stadium shows worldwide — with multiple cities adding multiple nights due to overwhelming demand. She’s also the only female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Música Urbana Album, and her career total now sits at over 128 billion streams and 310 RIAA Platinum certifications in the US alone.
She also took home Best Latin Album for Tropicoqueta on the night. It wasn’t just an award — it was a statement about how far Latin music has traveled in the mainstream conversation, and Karol G has been one of its most powerful engines.
