Tag Archives: Legacy Award

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to Recognize María Antonia “Toñita” Cay

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María Antonia “Toñita” Cay will be recognized for her impact this Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Puerto Rican-born matriarch, who founded and still presides over the Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn, has been named the 2026 Medallion of Excellence honoree by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501 leadership development organization established in 1978 by organizing members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

María Antonia “Toñita” CayToñita will be recognized at the organization’s 49th Annual Awards Gala, an unforgettable evening of recognition, culture, and community, honoring the leaders and changemakers shaping America‘s future during Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C.

For more than five decades, Toñita has made Williamsburg’s Caribbean Social Club a gathering place for generations, bringing people together through music, food and Puerto Rican tradition while ensuring that no one in her community goes without a meal.

Her impact has reached national audiences through appearances including Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and her annual Toñita Fest.

Other honorees include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Maria Hinojosa, the 2026 Medallion of Excellence honoree; 2026 Chair’s Award honoree Joseph M. Acaba, the associate director for mission and strategy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center; and Legacy Award winners Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04) and Rep. Nydia Velasquez (NY-07).

The awards ceremony will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on September 17, 2026.

Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball’s “I Love Lucy” to Receive Television Academy’s First-Ever Legacy Award

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Desi Arnaz’s lasting legacy alongside Lucille Ball is being celebrated in a special way.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced that the seminal sitcom I Love Lucy will receive its inaugural Legacy Award, a new honor to be bestowed upon a television program that’s made a profound and generational impact on audiences and remains relevant to society, culture and the industry today.

Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, I Love LucyArnaz and Ball’s landmark comedy is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. It will be feted in a special tribute during Night 2 of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 6.

I Love Lucy starred Ball and Arnaz as homemaker Lucy and conga drummer Ricky Ricardo and their neighbor friends Ethel and Fred Mertz (Vivian Vance and William Frawley).

The situation comedy that defined the term aired from 1951-57 on CBS and was an was an out-of-the-box smash. It ranked among in the year-end Top 3 among primetime shows in each of its six seasons, topping the list for four of them including 1952-53, when it posted a 67.3 rating — meaning that fully two-thirds of all homes that had a TV were tuned in on a average night.

Arnaz, who also was an executive producer, and the I Love Lucy production team pioneered the use of the three-camera filming format before a live studio audience, setting a production standard that continues to influence television comedies today.

The show won four Emmys — including Best Situation Comedy Series back-to-back in 1953 and 1954. Ball won twoBest Actress in a Comedy Series Emmys for the show, was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984 and received the Governors Award in 1989.

Arnaz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Ball and Arnaz were able to maintain creative control of the series by taking a substantial pay cut in exchange for full ownership of its negatives, allowing them to replay episodes. That move by the duo behind Desilu Productions invented the concept of TV syndication and the blueprint for residuals.

“I Love Lucy truly helped define what television could be,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy. “Beyond its place in television and cultural history as one of the medium’s most beloved shows, its creative ambition, technical innovation and groundbreaking approach to the business of television established a blueprint that continues to influence our industry 75 years later. We are proud to celebrate a series whose impact is so enduring as the first recipient of the Television Academy’s Legacy Award.”

The two-night Creative Emmy Awards will be edited into a single broadcast airing Saturday, September 12, on FXX.

The 78th annual Primetime Emmys is set for Monday, September 14, live on NBC and Peacock.

Karol G Collects Eight Latin American Music Awards Trophies, Including Artist of the Year

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Karol G is this year’s Latin American Music Awards darling…

The 32-year-old Colombian superstar was the big winner at the 2023 Latin AMAs, taking home eight awards, including artist of the year.

Karol GIn addition to the night’s top prize, Karol G took home Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year for her Becky G-collaboration “MAMIII.”

Becky G collected four awards, including Best Collaboration – Pop/Urban for the

Karol G-assisted girl anthem “MAMIII.”

The Mexican-American singer took the stage to say that women are stronger united.

“This is bigger than us. This is girl power. Thank you to the fans for supporting us.”

Overall, it was a big night for Música Mexicana with artists such as Grupo Frontera and Carin Leon also taking the stage for performances. Leon took the stage three times to perform solo, alongside Frontera and then again for a special medley to honor Legacy Award recipient Pepe Aguilar.

Other special honorees were Carlos Vives — who also received the Legacy Award — and David Bisbal and Prince Royce both took the Pioneer Award.

Additional winners include Bad Bunny, who took home three trophies, and Junior H, Rosalía, Shakira, Romeo Santos and The Weeknd each with two.

Here’s the complete list of Latin AMAs winners:

Song of the Year
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Collaboration of the Year
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Best Duo or Group – Pop
Jesse & Joy

Best Duo or Group – Regional Mexican
Grupo Firme

New Artist of the Year
Bizarrap

Best Collaboration – Regional Mexican
“Ya acabó” – Marca MP & Becky G

Best Collaboration – Tropical
“Monotonía” – Shakira & Ozuna

Best Crossover Artist
The Weeknd

Best Artist – Pop
Shakira

Best Artist – Tropical
Romeo Santos

Artist of the Year
Karol G

Album of the Year
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

Collaboration Crossover of the Year
“La fama” – Rosalía & The Weeknd

Streaming Artist of the Year
Karol G

Tour of the Year
$trip Love Tour – Karol G

Best Album – Pop
Motomami – Rosalía

Best Song – Pop
“Provenza” – Karol G

Best Artist – Urban
Karol G

Best Album – Urban
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

Best Song – Urban
“Tití me preguntó” – Bad Bunny

Best Collaboration – Pop/Urban
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Best Artist – Regional Mexican
Junior H

Best Album – Regional Mexican
Mi Vida En Un Cigarro 2 – Junior H

Best Song – Regional Mexican
“No se va (En vivo)” – Grupo Frontera

Best Album – Tropical
Fórmula, Vol. 3 – Romeo Santos

Best Song – Tropical
“La bachata” – Manuel Turizo

Erika Ender Inducted Into the Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame

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She’s the woman behind the song of the summer… And, now Erika Ender has earned her place in Latin music history.

At the fifth annual La Musa Awards gala last week — hosted by Jane the Virgin‘s Jaime Camil – the Panamanian-Brazilian singer/songwriter was inducted into the prestigious Latin Song Writers Hall of Fame, the youngest inductee in the hall’s history.

 Erika Ender

Along with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Ender is co-writer of the biggest hit of the year, “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, which spent 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Born in Panama to a Brazilian mother and a U.S.-born father of German ancestry, Ender speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, and moves easily between cultures.

Before “Despacito,” she had written hits for Chayanne, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gloria Trevi, Ednita Nazario and Los Tigres del Norte. She also is a TV personality in Latin America, where she has been a judge for a Latin version of American Idol.

Along with Ender, Ana Gabriel, Roberto Livi, Martin Urieta, Carlos Vives and Camilo Sesto were also inducted into hall of fame.

Each was presented at the James L. Knight Center with the coveted hand-crafted trophy, originally inspired by “the muse” of the late Cuban songwriter and poet, Elena Casals.

Additionally, Vives was presented with the Icon Award, while Wisin, the late Julio Jaramillo and “La Bamba” garnered the Victory Award, Legacy Award and Song of All Time, respectively.

Amid a political climate currently riddled with anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as the devastating aftermaths of hurricanes Irma and Maria throughout the Caribbean, Urieta offered words and sentiments in support of immigrants, while  Nazario performed a brilliant tribute to the island of Puerto Rico.

The Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to educating, preserving, honoring and celebrating “the lives and music of the world’s greatest Latin songwriters, composers and lyricists in every genre while developing and inspiring new generations of music creators through master classes, workshops, scholarships and digital initiatives.”