One of the most prestigious awards handed out during last night’s American Music Awards was the International Artist Award of Excellence presented to Karol G. This is a huge honour and not one to be taken lightly as the award has only been handed out to a handful of artists before her, and all of them are legends. I’m talking Whitney Houston, Aerosmith, Beyoncé, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart. Not bad company, and it’s well deserved.

2026 has been a record-breaking year for Karol, the first Latina artist EVER to headline Coachella and she is also the first Latin artist to earn this AMA distinction. The 2026 American Music Awards is another stop on her victory lap that she’s been on during the promotional cycle for her newest album Tropicoqueta.

John Legend presented her with the award for a moment she calls “one of the most legend moments of my career”. This is the first time that the AMAs have handed out this award since 2009 when it was presented to Whitney Houston during her comeback era for I Look to You. If you’re not familiar with Karol G’s game, it’s time to get with it because she is selling out stadiums around the world and achieving things that no Latin artist before her ever has. Like John said when he was presenting the award – Karol isn’t just successful, she makes history. She is living proof that language barriers are a thing of the past when it comes to music and global appeal, specifically in America, no matter how hard the MAGAs try to supress it. To sweeten the deal, Karol also took home the award for Best Latin Album.

Before her big wins, Karol performed the track “Ivonny Bonita” a Pharrell production. It’s a song that she has said is one of the most important on the album, a song meant to represent female empowerment. The woman on the stage was more than just powerful, she was effervescent. It was giving magical fairy but with an effortless and elegant sexuality as she performed behind a sheer curtain before emerging from the drapes, executing the complicated choreography with rhythm and precision. This woman can flip her hair like nobody’s business, I was in fact slayed. I also truly appreciate the return of the headset mic from both Teyana Taylor and Karol G. It’s the Janet Jackson/Britney mic as I lovingly call it. It adds a certain flair to a choreographed performance that makes me instantly more engaged with what I’m watching on screen. For artists who truly want to tell the story of the song through dance, it’s the only option.

It wasn’t just her performance outfit that was on the risqué side. Karol also graced the red carpet in a Natalia Fedner number. A two-piece puffy skirt and bra combo complete with a ripped net cover-up. Her literal perfect six-pack was on full display, JLo meets Shakira vibes. That is her Colombian sister after all, I know she’s proud of all that she has achieved. Everyone from Maluma to the girls from Katseye were gagging over Karol when they bumped into each other in the audience and on the carpet before the show. Can you blame them? If last night’s show peaked your interest, try and see Karol G on her Tropicoqueta Stadium tour when it hits North America this summer.

Karol G at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, November 25, 2026MC

Photo credits: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock, Nicky Nelson/WENN

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