Marc Anthony, Ex-Menudo Singer Lead Latin Grammys

Big winners at the 14th annual Latin Grammys last night included Marc Anthony, who won record of the year, and Draco Rosa, formerly of the boy band Menudo, who won album of the year. Both performers’ honors represented comebacks of sorts, as Anthony rebounds from his divorce with Jennifer Lopez and Rosa has been battling cancer, first diagnosed in 2011.

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“This means more to me than ever because I am in a special time of my life and the words ‘Live My Life’ say it all,” said Anthony at the ceremony in Las Vegas, invoking the English translation of his award-winning song “Vivir Mi Vida.” It was Anthony’s fourth career Latin Grammy and sixth Grammy overall.

Rosa sang “Mas y Mas” with Ricky Martin, his former bandmate in Menudo. Other performances included Natalie Cole, who was nominated in the best record and album categories, performed a virtual duet in Spanish with her late father, Nat King Cole.

Other winners included another comeback artist, Colombian singer Carlos Vives, who won song of the year for the aptly titled “Volvi a Nacer” (“Born Again”). He took home three awards overall. Guatemalan newcomer Gaby Moreno picked up the honor as best new artist.

Though performers including Pitbull (who won an award for best urban performance) brought the kind of glitz the Latin Grammys have featured in recent years, this year’s show had a more mature and ballad-heavy tone, with a rare Vegas rainstorm interrupting the green carpet arrivals.