Shakira will be honored with the 2023 Woman of the Year award at the first Latin Women in Music event next month, Billboard and Telemundo announced Monday.
Shakira, the pop superstar from Colombia, is receiving the honor for her contributions to the music industry, bringing recognition and opportunities for Latin women through her career and philanthropic efforts.
“Shakira is the ultimate Woman in Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world were empowered to write and perform deeply personal music.
She created a movement all on her own and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent,” Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español, said in a statement.
The two-hour music special, airing at 9 p.m. May 7 on Telemundo and Universo, will celebrate Latin women artists, executives and creatives, and will feature honorees and performances from Ana Gabriel, Emilia, Evaluna, Goyo and Thalia.
Shakira’s decadeslong career has opened doors for Latin artists to cross over into international artists. She has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, according to Billboard and Telemundo, making her the top-selling female Latin artist of all time.
She has been named Billboard’s Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade twice, in 2000 and 2010, and has received three Grammys, 12 Latin Grammys, seven Billboard Music Awards and 39 Billboard Latin Music Awards, according to Billboard and Telemundo.
“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career,” Ronald Day, Telemundo’s president of entertainment and content strategy, said in a statement. “Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Women of the Year in the industry.”
