Shakira has been named Billboard’s inaugural “Latin Woman of the Year”

Shakira has been named Billboard’s first Mujeres Latinas en la Música “Latin Woman of the Year,” the magazine announced Monday. The Colombian superstar singer will accept the award at the “Mujeres Latinas en la Música” — or “Latin Women in Music” — celebration that will air exclusively on Spanish-language TV channel Telemundo on May 7.

“Shakira is the ultimate Woman in Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world have been empowered to write and perform deeply personal music,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español.

Her song “Sessions” currently holds the record for most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history, and the record for the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with over 63 million views. It broke 14 Guinness World Records, according to the magazine. The superstar has sold more than 95 million records globally, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time. 

“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career,” said Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo.

Shakira’s song “Monotonía” featuring Ozuna was also the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022, and in January of this year, her song “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart, which is the magazine’s weekly list of the most popular tracks in music, based on data from radio airplay, sales, and streaming numbers. The debut made her the first woman to reach the top 10 with a Spanish song, according to Billboard. 

The award comes at a time of personal challenges for the star. “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” is also known as “Out of Your League,” and is a collaboration between Shakira and Argentinian DJ Bizzarap as part of his BZRP music sessions series. The track takes aim at Shakira’s ex-partner, former soccer player Gerard Piqué, with whom she shares two sons. The former couple was embroiled in a public and acrimonious separation when they announced their divorce in 2022. She also faces tax fraud charges in Spain, with Spanish prosecutors accusing her in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros — or approximately $13.9 million — in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Shakira has denied any wrongdoing.

The two-hour special will be taped the day before in Miami, and will be hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes. Billboard calls the event “a first of its kind for Latin music,” and says the event “celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.”

Other Latin superstars receiving awards at the event include Evaluna, Ana Gabriel, Emilia, Goyo and Thalia.