Daddy Yankee’s Person of the Year celebration connected reggaeton’s global rise with the musical traditions that shaped him.
Daddy Yankee received a tribute from Janet Jackson during the November 12 Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. Jackson presented the Latin Recording Academy’s 2026 Person of the Year recognition as the ceremony celebrated his influence.
The appearance followed a separate November 11 gala devoted to his career. The Academy’s account of that event traced his beginnings in San Juan and his role in bringing reggaeton to an international audience.
Hip-hop was part of the tribute’s musical foundation. The Sugarhill Gang performed “Rapper’s Delight,” which Daddy Yankee has identified as an important influence, while DJ Playero revisited the formative recordings from his early years.
The gala also paired artists from different generations. Tito El Bambino and Jowell & Randy joined Feid and Trueno for “Gasolina,” one of the songs central to Daddy Yankee’s worldwide breakthrough.
The recognition extended beyond commercial achievements. The Academy cited his humanitarian work alongside a career spanning nearly three decades, making the honor a wider assessment of his impact.
Two ceremonies marked the occasion: J Balvin and LL Cool J presented the gala award, while Jackson appeared during the televised Latin Grammys. Together, the events placed his music within both Latin and broader pop history.
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