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It has definitely been a winning year for Bobby Pulido. The Tejano music star-turned-politician won a new Latin Grammy on Thursday (Nov. 12), just days after making history in the midterm elections by securing a seat in the House of Representatives for the Democrats.
Pulido received the third Latin Grammy of his career — for best tejano album — for Bobby Pulido & Friends: Una Tuya y Una Mía (Vol. 2/En Vivo). Recorded at the Auditorio Cumbres in Monterrey, Nuevo León, during a series of concerts held in December 2024, and released in 2025, the live album arrived after the artist announced his retirement from music to pursue a political career starting in 2026.
“I want to tell you that I’m retiring from music, and I’m leaving with so much gratitude,” he said Thursday while accepting his trophy, thanking his team and family for their support over the years. “I’m so, so proud to be from Texas and to be Tejano and to represent this music. Tejano music is in very good hands; we have so much talent — young talent like [fellow nominees] Jay Pérez, Destiny Navaira, everyone who’s here. I love you all, and I’ll see you soon, because we need to represent and we need to get to work to use our voices for something else.”
Considered an icon of Norteño-Tejano music, Pulido defeated incumbent Republican congresswoman Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District on Nov. 4.
“Thank you South Texas. Tonight we made history,” Pulido said in a statement after the election was called in his favor, according to USA Today. “For over 30 years, you played my music at your weddings, your quinceañeras and your carne asadas, and the past year you welcomed me into those same celebrations on the campaign trail. Tonight, you trusted me with something even bigger than a song, you trusted me with your future and I will work hard everyday to honor it.”
Pulido was born in Edinburg, Texas, 53 years ago, the son of Tex-Mex singer Roberto Pulido. In 1995, he released his album debut, Desvelado, gaining his first Billboard chart entry with the track “No Sé Por Qué,” which debuted at No. 39 on Hot Latin Songs and later peaked at No. 32. Meanwhile, Desvelado entered the Top Latin Albums and Top Regional Mexican Albums in early 1996, peaking at No. 9 and No. 3, respectively. Since then, he has released 15 more albums and has had many more entries on the Billboard charts, with hits including “Te Voy a Amar,” “Se Murió de Amor” and “Enséñame.” Meanwhile, “Desvelado,” the title track from his debut album, reached No. 21 on Latin Streaming Songs this past July during his campaign.
Pulido and other newly elected U.S. members of Congress are set to take office in January.