LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The Latin Grammys is Latin music’s biggest party of the year. And nothing sets up the atmosphere more than the red carpet.
From Roselyn Sanchez’s jaw-dropping skin-colored halter dress to Zoe Saldana’s body-hugging black gown, the red carpet at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas was dripping with beauty, talent and fashion.
“I think it’s a super party,” pop-rock singer Julieta Venegas, who was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, told Fox News Latino while she walked the red carpet at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday. “I just enjoy it and seeing a bunch of friends that are doing a lot of stuff right now.”
The 44-year-old has been to the annual award ceremony many years before – taking home five Latin Grammys. While she is a seasoned pro, Venegas said the pressure and desire to win never goes away.
“I do enjoy it more,” she said. “I used to be so nervous that I wouldn’t enjoy anything. Now I just enjoy it and have fun.”
While Venegas went home empty handed – losing both nominations to Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade – she said that events like the Latin Grammys feeds the “Latino” pride of artists and fans living in the United States.
“We have so many beautiful things in our culture and it’s good to celebrate them and for everyone to be reminded what we’re made of,” she said. “Music is a very important part of our culture.”
Band members of the Venezuelan rock group Charliepapa gave FNL the inside scoop on some of the things that inspires them.
“The Latin American rock and roll is unique. It’s not like the rock-and-roll from America or Europe,” said band member Mattia Medina. “We have our (own) identify and we have something important to say in our lyrics.”
Probably the youngest person on the red carpet was 5-year-old Sofi Cruz, who became an international sensation in September when she crossed the security barrier in Washington and gave Pope Francis a letter to help her parents, who are undocumented immigrants.
She was there accompanying children music artist Uno, Dos, Tres Andres.
Some of the biggest A-list stars also walked down the carpet, including Ricky Martin, J Balvin, Prince Royce, Diego Boneta and Zoe Saldana. Even non-Latinos made an appearance. Will Smith performed at the show as well as Jamaican singer Omi, who took the stage with Nicky Jam to perform his hit song “Cheerleader.”
“The Latin market is a big market and not only are they very musical, they have a huge fan base,” Omi told FNL.
Puerto Rican singer Pedro Capo said events like the Latin Grammys are ways for Hispanics to leave their stamp on the musical world.
“We are leaving our footprint on this nation – it is our nation already,” he said. “We need to be celebrated, not only as musicians or artists, but as people. We bring a very rich culture, we bring very high morals and we are Latinos. What more can you ask for? We have to celebrate.”
The 16th Annual Latin Grammys was shown live on Univision from Las Vegas. For a recap of the electrifying show, click here.