Elvis Crespo to Receive Billboard Hall of Fame Award at 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards
Telemundo and Billboard have announced that Elvis Crespo will be honored with the prestigious Billboard Hall of Fame Award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The celebration will feature a show-stopping performance from the GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® winner, joined by Ebenezer Guerra, Toño Rosario, and La Insuperable in a high-energy tribute that fuses merengue tradition with the modern sounds shaping today’s Latin music.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest-running and most respected Latin music ceremony, will broadcast live from the James L. Knight Center in Miami on Thursday, October 23 at 8 p.m./7c on Telemundo, stream on the Telemundo App and Peacock, and air across Latin America and the Caribbean via Telemundo Internacional.
Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster.
“This Award Is for Merengue, for Puerto Rico, and for My Fans”
“Receiving the Billboard Hall of Fame Award is one of the greatest honors of my career. This award is not only for me, it’s for merengue, for Puerto Rico, and for every fan who has danced and celebrated life with my music,” said Elvis Crespo. “To share this moment on the Billboard Latin Music Awards stage is truly unforgettable.”
A Career That Redefined Merengue
The Billboard Hall of Fame Award celebrates artists whose influence extends beyond music, honoring those who have achieved global recognition across multiple creative fields. Past honorees include legends like José José, Vicente Fernández, Rocío Dúrcal, Marco Antonio Solís, Joan Sebastian, and Marc Anthony.
For nearly three decades, Elvis Crespo has been a defining voice of merengue, pushing boundaries and taking the genre worldwide. His 1998 megahit “Suavemente” became a global cultural phenomenon, topping Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and earning its place among the most-streamed Latin songs of all time. The song continues to echo through generations appearing in major films, Super Bowl commercials, and viral social media trends, even celebrated by stars like Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Dua Lipa.
From the Clubs to Coachella: A Global Crossover Legacy
Beyond his classics “Tu Sonrisa” and “Suavemente,” Crespo has boldly fused merengue with global sounds, delivering hits like “Azukita” with Steve Aoki, Daddy Yankee, and Play-N-Skillz, and “Bailar” with Deorro—tracks that brought his music to Tomorrowland, Ultra, and Coachella, making him one of the first Latin artists to perform at major electronic festivals.
“Poeta Herío” and a New Era
Crespo’s latest album, Poeta Herío, marks a new creative chapter, vibrant, experimental, and full of collaborations that bridge generations. The project features Arcángel, Ebenezer Guerra, El Blachy, Fariana, Ivy Queen, Jerry Rivera, La Insuperable, Luck Ra, Oscarito, Toño Rosario, and Víctor Manuelle.
The album’s success follows a wave of radio hits, including “Nuestra Canción,” “Luna Llena” (with Ebenezer Guerra), “Cora Roto” (with Arcángel), and “Me Mataron” (with El Blachy), each a testament to Crespo’s continued relevance and evolution in Latin music.
Currently, Crespo is connecting directly with fans through his “Bodega Tour 2025: El Barrio Canta,” an intimate series of surprise shows at bodegas and neighborhood markets across Puerto Rico and the U.S., celebrating community, authenticity, and Latino culture.
A Cultural Icon Beyond Music
Crespo’s influence extends far beyond the stage. His sound has powered major global campaigns for Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, T-Mobile, Target, and Huggies, and has been featured in Hollywood films, Super Bowl commercials, and viral digital moments.
It’s this unmatched global impact transcending borders, genres, and generations that the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards will honor with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award.
An Unforgettable Night Awaits
Crespo’s performance joins an all-star lineup including Daddy Yankee, Carlos Vives, Grupo Frontera, Emilia, Peso Pluma, Ozuna, Olga Tañón, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, Laura Pausini, Abraham Mateo, Danny Ocean, and more. The ceremony will close Billboard Latin Music Week (October 20–24, 2025), a week of exclusive panels, showcases, and fan experiences celebrating the heartbeat of Latin music.
For full details and registration, visit billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
