Twelve nominations. More than a decade of showing up. ZERO trophies — until Thursday night in Las Vegas.
Anitta finally won the first Latin Grammy of her career at the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, taking home Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album for EQUILIBRIVM — and she did it on the MAIN telecast. That matters: Portuguese-language categories are usually handed out at the afternoon Premiere ceremony, and Anitta pointed it out herself — this was the first time a Brazilian category made it to that part of the show.
The win was a long time coming. Anitta’s first Latin Grammy nomination came back in 2014, for Best Brazilian Song with “Zen.” Twelve nominations later, EQUILIBRIVM beat out albums from Luedji Luna, Marina Sena, Jenni Mosello and Ludom. Released in April, the 15-track album dives deep into Brazilian sounds — samba, reggae, axé, ijexá and MPB — with guests including Shakira, Liniker, Maria Bethânia and Alceu Valença.
And before she ever touched that trophy, she shut the stage DOWN. Anitta performed a medley from EQUILIBRIVM — “Ternura,” “Desgraça,” “Choka Choka” and “Meia Noite” — moving through Brazilian funk, samba, bossa nova, semba, reggae and electronic pop, singing in Portuguese, Spanish and English. Watch Anitta talk about the personal transformation behind the album and the win:
Then came the speech everybody is still talking about. Speaking in Spanish, Anitta told the room that Latin America means EVERY country in the region — “not only the ones that speak Spanish.” She said EQUILIBRIVM grew out of a spiritual journey that “changed me forever,” and that in Brazil the album became “a religious revolution, and one of faith” — because for many years, Black culture was persecuted in Brazil and its faith could never be spoken about in public. She closed it out the way only she could: “Laroyê, Exu!”
She was also the ONLY Brazilian nominated for Album of the Year — that trophy went to Rosalía for LUX — but make no mistake about whose night this was. After 12 nominations and zero wins, Anitta left Las Vegas a Latin Grammy winner, for an album rooted in Brazil’s Black culture and faith. Long overdue doesn’t even cover it.
Brazil, stand up — did Anitta give the best performance of the night, or what? And which EQUILIBRIVM track has been on repeat for you?
Source: Latin Recording Academy, BMI and UOL. Photos via @anitta on Instagram; video via Univision.
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