Celebrity

Ozuna Leads 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists: Complete List of Nominees

Published

7 years ago

March 30, 2019

LAS VEGAS (By Billboard) – On the strength of two top-selling albums and a slew of hits, Puerto Rican star Ozuna leads the list of finalists for the 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards, with 23 nods in 15 categories — a record number in the history of the awards.

Ozuna’s finalist slots include the all-important artist of the year category, as well as Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male, and songwriter of the year. He also competes against himself in the Hot Latin Song and Hot Latin song Vocal Event categories, where he’s a featured artist in both “Te Boté” and “Taki Taki.” It’s also Ozuna vs. Ozuna in the Top Latin Album of the year category, with 2018’s Aura competing against 2017 Odisea.

Ozuna’s finalist tally reflects the enormous, barrier-breaking popularity Latin urban music is currently enjoying on the Billboard charts and beyond.

And it doesn’t stop with him. Ozuna is followed in number of finalist slots by J Balvin and Nicky jam, with 13 each, Bad Bunny with 12 and Daddy Yankee with eight. Balvin’s and Nicky Jam’s nods include Hot Latin Song of the year and Hot Latin song vocal event for their hit duet “X,” which had six nods, including Hot Latin Song of the year and Streaming Song of the year.

The Year In Latin Charts: Ozuna, J Balvin & Romeo Santos Score

Yankee, Bad Bunny and Balvin are also up for Artist of the year, with Ozuna, underscoring urban music’s dominance across platforms and genres. Finalists for Songwriter of the year, for example, are Daddy Yankee, Balvin, Ozuna and Juan Rivera Vazquez, aka Gaby Music.

This year’s awards, which honor the top performers in Latin music, reveal a diverse group of artists vying for a distinction among 34 different categories that include pop, tropical, regional Mexican and Latin Rhythm (urban) music.

Other leading finalists include Casper Magico, Darell and Nio Garcia with six awards each on the strength of mega hit “Te Boté.” Also up for six awards is Romeo Santos. Banda MS and DJ Snake vie for five awards; and Anuel AA, Cardi B, Raymix, Reik, and Shakira are up for four awards each. Finalists for the Crossover Artist of the Year award are Cardi B, Drake, Demi Lovato and DJ Snake, who all had major collaborations with Latin artists in 2018.

Beyond the sheer numbers, this year’s list of finalists also reflects the rise of female artists on the chart. For the first time in at least six years, women are vying for the coveted Best New Artist win, with Karol and Natti Natasha competing for the honor. In a twist, Karol G is also up against her boyfriend, Anuel AA, in that category.

Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi onstage at the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 26, 2018 in Las Vegas.

Billboard Latin Music Award Winners 2018: Complete List

And while several urban acts had high-grossing tours in 2018, the finalists for Tour of the year were veterans Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Romeo Santos and Luis Miguel.

The 2019 Billboard Latin Music Awards is produced by Telemundo and Tony Mojena/Ants TV Productions and will air live from Las Vegas April 25 on the Telemundo network. The awards are the culmination to Latin Music Week and the Latin Music Conference, taking place April 22-25 at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

Finalists and eventual winners are determined by the actual sales, streaming, radio airplay and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the rankings dated February 3, 2018 through this year’s January 26 charts.

The complete list of finalists is below:

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Ozuna

New Artist of the Year

Anuel AA
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Raymix

Tour of the Year

Jennifer Lopez
Luis Miguel
Romeo Santos
Shakira

Social Artist of the Year

Anitta
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
Lali

Crossover Artist of the Year

Cardi B
Demi Lovato
DJ Snake
Drake

Hot Latin Song of the Year

Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Bad Bunny, “Te Boté”
Daddy Yankee, “Dura”
DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B, “Taki Taki”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin, “X”

Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event

Bad Bunny featuring Drake, “MIA”
Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Bad Bunny, “Te Boté”
DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B, “Taki Taki”Nicky Jam & J Balvin, “X”

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male

Bad Bunny
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Ozuna

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female

Becky G
Jennifer Lopez
Karol G
Natti Natasha

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
T3r Elemento
Zion & Lennox

Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year

Flow La Movie
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year

El Cartel
La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino

Airplay Song of the Year

Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Bad Bunny, “Te Boté”
Daddy Yankee, “Dura”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin, “X”
Reik featuring Ozuna & Wisin, “Me Niego”

Airplay Label of the Year

Flow La Movie
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Airplay Imprint of the Year

Fonovisa
La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino

Digital Song of the Year

Streaming Song of the Year

Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Bad Bunny, “Te Boté”
Daddy Yankee, “Dura”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin, “X”
Ozuna & Romeo Santos, “El Farsante”

Top Latin Album of the Year

Anuel AA, Real Hasta La Muerte
J Balvin, Vibras
Ozuna, Aura
Ozuna, Odisea

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male

J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Romeo Santos

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female

Karol G
Mon Laferte
Rosalía
Shakira

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

Aventura
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho
T3r Elemento

Top Latin Albums Label of the Year

Glad Empire
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year

DimeloVi
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
VP Entertainment

Latin Pop Song of the Year

Enrique Iglesias featuring Bad Bunny, “El Baño”
Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato, “Echáme La Culpa”
Reik featuring Ozuna & Wisin, “Me Niego”
Shakira & Maluma, “Clandestino”

Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo

Enrique Iglesias
Marco Antonio Solís
Sebastián Yatra
Shakira

Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

CNCO
Maná
Piso 21
Reik

Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year

Flow La Movie
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year

La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Album of the Year

CNCO, CNCO
Piso 21, Ubuntu
Rosalía, El Mal Querer
Sebastián Yatra, Mantra

Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year

Gateway Music
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year

Capitol Latin
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina

Tropical Song of the Year

Carlos Vives, “Hoy Tengo Tiempo (Pinta Sensual)”
Romeo Santos featuring Ozuna, “Sobredosis”
Romeo Santos, “Centavito”
Silvestre Dangond & Nicky Jam, “Cásate Conmigo”

Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo

Carlos Vives
Marc Anthony
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos

Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

Aventura
Buena Vista Social Club
Gente de Zona
La Sonora Dinamita

Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year

LP
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year

Kiyavi
Sony Music Latin
Warner Latina
WK

Tropical Album of the Year

Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor García & La Sonora Sanjuanera, En Buena Compañía
La Sonora Dinamita, Súper Éxitos Vol. 1
Orquesta Akokán, Orquesta Akokán Canta: José “Pepito” Gómez
Victor Manuelle, 25/7

Tropical Albums Label of the Year

Sony Music Latin
The Orchard
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
World Circuit

Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year

Norte
Sony Music Latin
The Orchard
Top Stop

Regional Mexican Song of the Year

Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, “Mejor Me Alejo”
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, “Tu Postura”
La Adictiva Banda San José de Mesillas, “En Peligro de Extinción”
Raymix, “Oye Mujer”

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo

Christian Nodal
El Fantasma
Gerardo Ortiz
Raymix

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho
T3r Elemento

Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year

DEL
Lizos
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year

DEL
Disa
Fonovisa
Lizos

Regional Mexican Album of the Year

Arsenal Efectivo, En La Fuga
Legado 7, Pura Lumbre
Lenin Ramírez, Bendecido
Raymix, Oye Mujer

Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year

DEL
Lizos
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year

DEL
Disa
Fonovisa
Lizos

Latin Rhythm Song of the Year

Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Bad Bunny, “Te Boté”
Daddy Yankee “Dura”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin “X”
Reik, featuring Ozuna & Wisin, “Me Niego”

Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo

Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna

Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group

CNCO
Piso 21
Wisin & Yandel
Zion & Lennox

Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year

Flow La Movie
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year

La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina

Latin Rhythm Album of the Year

Anuel AA, Real Hasta La Muerte
J Balvin, Vibras
Ozuna, Aura
Ozuna, Odisea

Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year

Glad Empire
Rimas
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year

DimeloVi (tie)
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
VP Entertainment (tie)

Songwriter of the Year

Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Juan Rivera Vazquez
Ozuna

Publisher of the Year

Ozuna Worldwide, BMI
SONY/ATV Discos Publishing LLC, ASCAP
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI
WB Music Corp. ASCAP

Publishing Corporation of the Year

Kobalt Music
Sony/ATV Music
Universal Music
Warner/Chappell Music

Producer of the Year

Andrés Torres/ Mauricio Rengifo
Chris Jeday
DJ Snake
José Martin Velázquez

Celebrity

Ananda Lewis: A Legacy of Empowerment and Advocacy

Published

11 months ago

June 12, 2025

Kareen Kennedy

Source: People.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) –Ananda Lewis, the charismatic MTV VJ and talk show host, passed away on June 11, 2025, at the age of 52, after a courageous battle with stage 4 breast cancer. Her sister, Lakshmi Emory, confirmed the news, sharing that Ananda passed away peacefully in her Los Angeles home.

Born on March 21, 1973, in San Diego, California, Lewis rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a VJ on MTV, hosting shows like Total Request Live and Hot Zone. Her engaging personality and insightful interviews made her a beloved figure among viewers, and she earned accolades such as an NAACP Image Award for her work on BET’s Teen Summit.

Beyond her television career, Lewis was a passionate advocate for social issues. She launched The Ananda Lewis Show in 2001, addressing topics like domestic violence and breast cancer, aiming to provide a platform for meaningful conversations. Her commitment to authenticity and social impact resonated with many, and she continued to use her platform to inspire and educate.

In 2020, Lewis publicly disclosed her diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer and later revealed that it had progressed to stage 4. Despite medical advice recommending a double mastectomy, she chose alternative treatments, later expressing some regret about that decision. Throughout her illness, Lewis remained vocal about cancer awareness, encouraging women to prioritize their health and live authentically.

Ananda Lewis leaves behind a legacy of empowerment, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to her values. Her influence extended beyond the entertainment industry, inspiring countless individuals to embrace authenticity and advocate for positive change.

Her passing marks the loss of a significant figure in entertainment who also became a voice for health advocacy. Her legacy includes a strong commitment to authenticity and social impact, and her estimated financial worth was around $8 million.

Ananda Lewis’s impact on television and her dedication to social causes have left an indelible mark on the industry and the hearts of many.

____________________________________________

Kareen Kennedy is the Assistant Editor for Florida National News
kareen.kennedy@floridanationalnews.com

Celebrity

Val Kilmer, Iconic ‘Top Gun’ Star, Dies at 65

Published

1 year ago

April 3, 2025

Kareen Kennedy

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) –Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood’s most memorable actors, has passed away at the age of 65. Known for his dynamic range and unmistakable voice, Kilmer captivated audiences with his standout performances in a career that spanned over four decades.

A Career Full of Iconic Roles

Kilmer’s breakout role came in the 1980s with Top Gun (1986), where he portrayed the cocky and charming fighter pilot, Iceman. The film catapulted him into stardom alongside Tom Cruise, and it remains one of the most iconic films in Hollywood history. Kilmer’s portrayal of Iceman left an indelible mark on pop culture, with his line “I am dangerous” becoming an enduring catchphrase.

Beyond Top Gun, Kilmer’s career featured a diverse range of roles, from playing the suave rock star in The Doors (1991) to the legendary Batman in Batman Forever (1995). He brought depth to each of his characters, making them memorable even in smaller roles, such as his comedic turn in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). His performances were often praised for their intensity, wit, and ability to disappear into his roles.

A Life Beyond the Screen

Kilmer’s life was marked by both triumph and personal struggles. Despite his fame, he was known for his private nature and his journey battling throat cancer. In recent years, Kilmer’s health struggles became widely known, as he had to undergo a series of surgeries that left him with a diminished ability to speak. However, he continued to embrace his craft and the fans who loved him, most recently appearing in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), a sequel to the film that first made him a star.

The documentary Val (2021) offered fans a rare, candid look into his life, showcasing not only his successes but also his personal battles and the deep affection he had for his craft. Through this film, Kilmer shared never-before-seen footage from his personal archive, allowing fans to see the man behind the roles.

A Legacy That Will Live On

Kilmer’s death marks the end of an era for Hollywood. He leaves behind a legacy of timeless performances that will continue to resonate with generations of fans. From the depths of his dramatic portrayals to the highs of his action-packed roles, Val Kilmer’s impact on cinema is undeniable. His unforgettable presence and voice, once a hallmark of his performances, will be greatly missed by fans and colleagues alike.

Val Kilmer is survived by his children and countless fans who cherished him throughout his illustrious career. His contributions to film will continue to inspire new audiences for years to come, reminding us of the power of storytelling and the ability of one man to shape the very fabric of cinema.

__________________________________________________________

Kareen Kennedy is the Assistant Editor for Florida National News
kareen.kennedy@floridanationalnews.com

Celebrity

LPGA Pros Shutout Celebs at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions “Break The Glass” Challenge

Published

1 year ago

January 28, 2025

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (Florida National News) – Some big names in sports, entertainment, and music can be found with golf clubs in hand at The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, this weekend. About 50 celebrities will compete for a $500,000 purse, while LPGA Tour players try to grab their share of $2 million in prize money.

Today, LPGA pros Megan Khang, Alexa Pano, and Bailey Tardy took on celebrities Landon Donovan, Major League Soccer legend, Michael Peña, award-winning actor, and Kira Dixon, Reporter and Miss America 2015 in the annual “Break The Glass” challenge. The LPGA pros shutout the celebs 3-0. You can watch the action here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFYsQKbyiAi/?igsh=YzZlNG9rNXhvbnRy. (And be sure to follow Florida National News on Instagram and Facebook.)

Lydia Ko returns to defend her title, after adding an Olympic gold medal and membership in the LPGA Hall of Fame to her resume since last year’s tournament. Actors Don Cheadle and Larry The Cable Guy, NBA stars Blake Griffin and Ray Allen, and Pro Football Hall of Famers Marcus Allen and Charles Woodson are just some of the celebs hitting the links Thursday, 1/30 through Sunday, 2/2. Tickets and more information are available online at http://www.HGVLPGA.com.