From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Shakira & Sons Sing Live in Concert
In the midst of the Latin American leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour, Shakira surprised fans in Buenos Aires by bringing out her two sons onstage. In the very rare performance — and a first in her world tour — the Colombian artist was joined by Milan and Sasha for the live debut of “Acróstico,” a powerful open letter to her children that she released on Mother’s Day in 2023. “Buenos Aires, thank you for this moment that will last forever,” she expressed on social media following the heartfelt moment on stage. “It was magical to sing with my children and see them express the music they have inside, while we watched entire families also singing and hugging each other!”
10 Years Serving Santa Marta
This week, Carlos Vives and wife Claudia Elena celebrated 10 years of their foundation Tras La Perla—created to improve the quality of life in Vives’ native Santa Marta, and the ecosystems of Sierra Nevada and the Ciénaga Grande. “Looking back and reflecting on the journey we’ve taken over these years, it fills us with hope to see how an idea rooted in love for our land has blossomed into projects that are now transforming realities in the territory where I was born,” Vives said in a press statement. Throughout the decade, Tras La Perla—which also offers health care and education to families in need—has fostered the connection of communities “through restored habitats and by strengthening their identity, history, and culture as key elements of their holistic development,” according to the foundation’s website.
Carlos Vives and Claudia Elena
Tras La Perla
Grupo Frontera & Perlita
In one of their latest music videos for “Se Me Sale,” Grupo Frontera documented the sweet encounter they had with one special fan named Perla Leyla, who’s a cancer patient. In the nearly three-minute clip, where they sing about a beautiful girl that has their heart racing in their true cumbia norteño fashion, the Texan group is seen spending quality time with their young fan in Disney. The heartwarming video also demonstrates clips of Perlita’s process in the hospital and features adorable moments with her parents. “Dedicated to Perlita, who found light even in the darkest days. All funds collected from this video will be for her and her family,” reads a letter at the beginning of the clip.
Silvana Makes Late-Night TV Debut
Silvana Estrada made her late-night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where she was joined by Los Angeles Philharmonic for a powerful performance of “Dime,” part of her Vendrán Suaves Lluvias album. “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!!! I’m overwhelmed with emotion and nerves. It’s beautiful to see the journey these new songs are taking me on. I feel so much gratitude,” the Mexican singer-songwriter expressed on Instagram when she shared the news. Following her performance, Estrada shared an anecdote on how she drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and made it just in time for her Kimmel Live rehearsal. “It was a very emotional moment for everyone, especially considering that I wrote this song during a very difficult time in my life and now it’s been captured in this little bubble in Los Angeles during this beautiful moment in December. Thank you for supporting my music,” she noted on Instagram.