Entertainment
Latin Grammys 2024: Juan Luis Guerra and Edgar Barrera win big, Jon Bon Jovi performs
The 2024 Latin Grammys proved to be a night full of heartfelt tributes and moments of camaraderie. From the sincere exchange between Carlos Vives and Jon Bon Jovi to the emotional tribute from Alejandro Fernandez to his father, Vicente, the 25th anniversary award show stands as a quarter-century of celebrating Latin music.
Live from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Vives, the Colombian singer-songwriter and this year’s Latin Grammy person of the year, opened the awards show with a lively medley of his hits, including “A La Tierra del Olvido” and “Volvi a Nacer.” With tropical flair, the performance kicked off the three-hour spectacle, which brought the audience to its feet, tears to winners’ faces and nostalgic moments.
Carlos Vives, left, and Jon Bon Jovi smile after Vives received the person of the year award at the 25th Latin Grammy Awards ceremony on Thursday in Miami.
(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
The first Latin Grammy of the night went to Carin León for contemporary Mexican music album — a new category — for “Boca Chueca, Vol. 1.”
“Our only mission is to keep putting Mexican music on top,” León said, thanking everyone who made his win possible. “Arriba Mexico and regional Mexican.”
Carin León with his Latin Grammy for best contemporary Mexican music album.
(Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press)
With the continual rise of musica Mexicana, the ceremony made space for many performances from Mexican artists — from Becky G to siblings Angela and Leonardo Aguilar’s fiery performance of “Por la Contraction,” written by Edgar Barrera, Grupo Frontera’s norteño serenade of “El Amor de Mi Vida” (which received an award for regional song) and Leon’s choir-backed set.
Other wins for Mexican subgenres included Grupo Frontera’s “El Comienzo” for norteño album, Chiquis’ “Diamantes” for banda album and Alejandro Fernandez’s “Te Llevo En La Sangre” for ranchero/mariachi album.
About halfway through the show, the stage lighting emulated a starry night sky as a tribute to the Latin music pioneers who have passed. Leonel Garcia and Reik performed a tribute to Juan Gabriel with a soulful rendition of “Hasta que te Conoci,” as a black-and-white image of a smiling Divo de Juarez appeared behind them.
Next, Carlos Rivera and David Bisbal honored Jose Jose by performing the ballad “El Triste.” The set concluded with Fernandez commemorating his late father, Vicente. Backed by an entire mariachi, images of the pair appeared as the son sang the final notes of “No Me Sé Rajar.” The presentation received a standing ovation.
Carlos Rivera and David Bisbal perform.
(Rodrigo Varela / Getty Images for the Latin Recording Academy)
One of the ceremony’s driving forces was Vives himself. From his opening the show to receiving the person of the year award, all eyes were on the 63-year-old entertainer. Over his three-decade-long career, he has collected 18 Latin Grammys, two Grammys and has sold millions of albums worldwide. He has left his mark on Latin music by introducing modern pop and rock sounds to traditional Colombian folk music. He has also dedicated a large part of his career to giving back to his hometown of Santa Marta, Colombia, with his foundation Tras La Perla.
Jon Bon Jovi, the 2024 Grammys person of the year, presented his friend Vives with the award, saying, “Your legacy reaches far beyond the stage, making an impact not only in your community but around the world, and that’s one of the many reasons you are so deserving of this award.”
Vives accepted the recognition and thanked his “old friend” Bon Jovi and said, “Music does not have borders. The rhythms and genres are like trees. … We see that the roots are connected and we’re all connected through the roots.”
The 62-year-old American rocker appeared later in the show alongside Pitbull atop a raised platform to perform a mashup of their respective hits “It’s My Life” and “Now or Never.” Bringing the energy level to its peak, the unexpected duo brought the “once in a lifetime” feeling to the 25th anniversary.
Pitbull, left, and Bon Jovi share a duet.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images for the Latin Recording Academy)
The night also included performances highlighting a new generation of female artists, including Kali Uchis, Elena Rose and Emilia in addition to another set by Latin pop-funk band Darumas and a performance by the Warning, the all-female rock band from Mexico introduced by Juanes.
As for other notable wins, Karol G won urban album for “Mañana”; Draco Rosa took home two awards, for rock/pop album and rock song; and Taubert was crowned best new artist. “Derrumbe” by Jorge Drexler won song of the year. Juan Luis Guerra’s “Mambo 23” was awarded record of the year, and his album “Radio Güira” was awarded album of the year and best merengue/bachata album — making him a 27-time Latin Grammy winner.
“It’s a grand privilege to be nominated,” said Guerra, who celebrated other artists and a higher power who inspired his album. “I love you, admire you. … The idea of ‘Radio Güira’ came directly from Jesus. Glory to God.”
Christian Nodal, Angela Aguilar, Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira arrive at the awards ceremony.
(Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press)
Other awards came earlier in the day as part of the pre-Latin Grammy Awards ceremony. Awarded for singles or tracks, Bizarrap y Shakira took a gramophone for “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (Tiesto Remix),” for best Latin electronic music performance. Bizarrap accepted the recognition and thanked his collaborators.
“This is good. I got to know musica electronica thanks to Tiesto,” said Bizarrap, who noted that his admiration for Tiesto began early in his life. “We won last year, but this award allows us to continue sharing the music. Shakira, who is the queen, I’d like to wish her much success on her [upcoming] tour.”
The Argentine-born singer-rapper Nathy Peluso, along with Devonté Hynes, took the honors for best alternative song, “El dia que perdi mi Juventud” from “Grasa.”
“Music has saved me,” Peluso said as she accepted her trophy and recalled that the song was born during an early dawn when she remembered her youth. “The best way to save ourselves is through music, always. A toast to music from the heart.”
Later in the day ceremony, the 29-year-old also received the best rap/hip hop song for “Aprender A Amar,” the hard-hitting anthem of self-love.
Up against the likes of Karol G, Bad Bunny and Bizzarap, Trueno’s “Tranky Funky” won for best urban fusion performance. “Perro Negro,” the rhythmic track off Bad Bunny’s fifth studio album with Feid, was recognized for best reggaeton performance. The featured Colombian reggaetonero was present to accept the award.
Trueno won for best urban fusion performance for “Tranky Funky.”
(Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images)
“Que chimba. … For those dreaming of making urban music, leave the streets and keep making reggaeton. I love you, God bless you,” Feid said, before yelling out a “Viva Colombia!”
Edgar Barrera entered this year’s Latin Grammys as the artist with the most nominations, with nine. By the end of the show, he brought home three awards — producer and songwriter of the year as well as recognition for regional song.
“I can’t believe this. I admire all those nominated. … They are inspirations for me. and I want to thank the academy for this recognition and those artists who I work with who give me the opportunity to guide them and who let me be a producer in their careers.”
Entertainment
Stagecoach 2026: How to watch Friday’s livestream with Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman
Choosin’ to stay home instead of trekking out to Indio for this weekend’s Stagecoach festival? Don’t worry, you’ll be able to listen to all the country music your heart desires. You can get your country heartbreak on with Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman and Cody Johnson, and then rock out with Counting Crows. If you prefer EDM, you can catch Diplo and Dillstradamus (Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus) as Friday’s closing acts.
The festival will be livestreamed on Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch beginning at 3 p.m. On Sirius XM’s The Highway (channel 56), you can listen to exclusive interviews and live performances along with a special edition of the Music Row Happy Hour. The station Y’Allternative will also be covering the festival on Friday evening.
Here are updated set times for the Stagecoach livestream Friday performances (times presented are PDT):
Channel 1
3:05 p.m. Noah Rinker; 3:25 p.m.; Adrien Nunez; 4 p.m. Ole 60; 4:25 p.m. Avery Anna; 5 p.m. Chase Rice; 5:55 p.m. Nate Smith; 6:50 p.m. Ella Langeley; 7:50 p.m. Bailey Zimmerman; 8:55 p.m. the Red Clay Strays; 10 p.m. Cody Johnson; 11:30 p.m. Diplo
Channel 2
3:05 p.m. Neon Union; 3:25 p.m. Larkin Poe; 4 p.m. Marcus King Band; 4:50 p.m. Lyle Lovett; 5:35 p.m. BigXthaPlug; 6:30 p.m. Noah Cyrus; 7 p.m. Wynonna Judd; 8 p.m. Counting Crows; 8:50 p.m. Sam Barber; 10 p.m. Dan + Shay; 10:45 p.m. Diplo featuring Juicy J; 11:05 p.m. Rebecca Black; 11:45 p.m. Dillstradamus
Sirius XM Music Row Happy Hour
1 p.m. Avery Anna; 2 p.m. Nate Smith; 2:30 p.m. Josh Ross; 3 p.m. Cody Johnson; 3:30 p.m. Gabriella Rose; 5:15 p.m. Nate Smith; 7:50 p.m. Bailey Zimmerman; 9:30 p.m. Cody Johnson; 11 p.m. Diplo
Sirius XM Y’Allternative
5 p.m. Ole 60; 6 p.m. Larkin Poe; 7 p.m. Marcus King Band; 8 p.m. Sam Barber
Movie Reviews
Movie Review: The Mortuary Assistant – HorrorFuel.com: Reviews, Ratings and Where to Watch the Best Horror Movies & TV Shows
Forget the “video game movie” curse; The Mortuary Assistant is a bone-chilling triumph that stands entirely on its own two feet. Starring Willa Holland (Arrow) as Rebecca Owens, the film follows a newly certified mortician whose “overtime shift” quickly devolves into a grueling battle for her soul.
What Makes It Work
The film expertly balances the stomach-churning procedural work of embalming with a spiraling demonic nightmare. Alongside a mysterious mentor played by Paul Sparks (Boardwalk Empire), Rebecca is forced to confront both ancient evils and her own buried traumas. And boy, does she have a lot of them.
Thanks to a full-scale, practical River Fields Mortuary set, the film drips with realism, like you can almost smell the rot and bloat of the bodies through the screen.
The skin effects are hauntingly accurate. The way the flesh moves during surgical scenes is so visceral. I’ve seen a lot of flesh wounds in horror films and in real life, and the bodies, skin, and organs. The Mortuary Assistant (especially in the opening scene) looks so real that I skipped supper after watching it. And that’s saying something. Your girl likes to eat.
Co-written by the game’s creator, Brian Clarke, the movie dives deeper into the demonic mythology. Whether you’ve seen every ending or don’t know a scalpel from a trocar, the story is perfectly self-contained. If you’ve never played the game, or played it a hundred times, the film works equally well, which is hard to do when it comes to game adaptations.
Nailed It
This film does a lot of things right, but the isolation of the night shift is suffocating. Between the darkness of the hallways and the “residents” that refuse to stay still, the film delivers a relentlessly immersive experience. And thankfully, although this movie is filled with dark rooms and shadows, it’s easy to see every little thing. Don’t you hate it when a movie is so dark that you can’t see what’s happening? It’s one of my pet peeves.
The oh-so-awesome Jeremiah Kipp directs the film and has made something absolutely nightmare-inducing. Kipp recently joined us for an interview, took us inside the film, discussed its details and the game’s lore, and so much more. I urge you to check out our interview. He’s awesome!
The Verdict
This isn’t just a cash-grab; it’s a high-effort adaptation that respects the source material while elevating the horror genre. With incredible special effects and a powerhouse cast, it’s the kind of movie that will make you rethink working late ever again. Dropping on Friday the 13th, this is a must-watch for horror fans. It’s grisly, intelligent, and genuinely terrifying.
Entertainment
Former Live Nation executive says he was fired after raising ‘financial misconduct’ concerns
A former executive at Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company, is suing the company, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated after he raised concerns about alleged financial misconduct and improper accounting practices.
Nicholas Rumanes alleges he was “fraudulently induced” in 2022 to leave a lucrative position as head of strategic development at a real estate investment trust to create a new role as executive vice president of development and business practice at Beverly Hills-based Live Nation.
In his new position, Rumanes said, he raised “serious and legitimate alarm” over the the company’s business practices.
As a result, he says, he was “unlawfully terminated,” according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
“Rumanes was, simply put, promised one job and forced to accept another. And then he was cut loose for insisting on doing that lesser job with integrity and honesty,” according to the lawsuit.
He is seeking $35 million in damages.
Representatives for Live Nation were not immediately available for comment.
The lawsuit comes a week after a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had operated a monopoly over major concert venues, controlling 86% of the concert market.
Rumanes’ lawsuit describes a “culture of deception” at Live Nation, saying its “basic business model was to misstate and exaggerate financial figures in efforts to solicit and secure business.”
Such practices “spanned a wide spectrum of projects in what appeared to be a company-wide pattern of financial misrepresentation and misleading disclosures,” the lawsuit states.
Rumanes says he received materials and documents that showed that the company inflated projected revenues across multiple venue development projects.
Additionally, Rumanes contends that the company violated a federal law that requires independent financial auditing and transparency and instead ran Live Nation “through a centralized, opaque structure” that enables it to “bypass oversight and internal checks and balances.”
In 2010, as a condition of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger, the newly formed company agreed to a consent decree with the government that prohibited the firm from threatening venues to use Ticketmaster. In 2019 the Justice Department found that the company had repeatedly breached the agreement, and it extended the decree.
Rumanes contends that he brought his concerns to the attention of the company’s management, but his warnings were “repeatedly ignored.”
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