From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

Becky G Opens Up About Identity and Mental Health at Project Healthy Minds Event

Becky G brought Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival to a powerful close on Saturday (Oct. 10) in New York with an intimate conversation on identity, creativity and mental health. Moderated by NBC News correspondent Morgan Radford, the panel gave the Mexican American star space to reflect on growing up in the public eye, protecting her peace and learning to tell her story on her own terms.

“The whole concept of being a role model is to model this idea of perfection, and I don’t think that is real at all,” Becky G said. “Instead of being a role model, I’ve always felt the responsibility to be a real model, which means I’m not going to have all the answers. I’m not going to get it right every single time.”

She also spoke candidly about therapy, family and her healing journey, saying: “I had to become the person that I needed most, and that’s when Becky G came to be.” The conversation arrives just days before she is scheduled to join Billboard’s Latin Music Week for a Superstar Q&A this Wednesday (Oct. 21).

BMI Creates Space for Women Songwriters in Música Mexicana

“Música mexicana has historically been a male-dominated field, making it more important than ever to champion the women creatives who are shaping its future,” said Lilibeth Patron, BMI’s associate director of creative for Latin, in a statement. “Las Compositoras+ is about fostering community and creating space for connection and collaboration.”

Led by singer-songwriter Erika Vidrio, the camp began at the Fender offices before moving to a Bel Air house, where the participants spent several days developing new music together. Held in Los Angeles earlier this month and announced Sept. 30, the four-day retreat brought together Damaris Bojor, Lorena Cabral, Tania Dominguez, Poe Leos, MXKA, Marián Oviedo, Jacqie Rivera and Adriana Ríos to collaborate and write new songs for potential placements.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Receive iHeartRadio’s Corazón Latino Award

Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the 2026 iHeartRadio Corazón Latino Award during iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Miami’s Kaseya Center. Hosted by Enrique Santos and Dayanara Torres, the concert event will feature performances by Anuel AA, Myke Towers, Farruko, Manuel Turizo, Eladio Carrión, FloyyMenor, Greeicy, Alleh and Rey Tony y Helabusador “Los Titi.”

The award recognizes Miranda’s lasting contributions to Latin music and culture, while the event will also bring together artists and presenters from across entertainment. A free kickoff party will take place Oct. 15 at Miami Design District, featuring Tony Succar’s “Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson” with special guests including Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace and Howie D of the Backstreet Boys. The main event will broadcast across iHeartRadio’s Latin stations nationwide.

Latin Recording Academy Announces 2026 Leading Ladies of Entertainment

The Latin Recording Academy announced its 2026 Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees on Oct. 6, recognizing four women whose work has shaped Latin music and the broader entertainment industry: María Fernández, Sandra Jiménez, Salomé Limón and María Rosa García “Niña Pastori.”

The 10th anniversary class represents executive leadership, digital innovation, music production and artistry. Fernández is chief operating officer of Sony Music Entertainment Latin Iberia; Jiménez is YouTube’s regional director and head of music for Latin America and U.S. Latin; Limón is a five-time Latin Grammy-winning producer, composer and engineer; and Niña Pastori is a six-time Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee.

The honorees will be celebrated during Latin Grammy Week in Las Vegas, with Amazon Music returning as presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year. They will also be invited to mentor the next generation of women through the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program.

Diddy was reportedly transferred to a Pennsylvania federal prison following a physical altercation earlier this week, and 50 Cent wasted no time in trolling Combs on Friday (Oct. 16).

The G-Unit mogul has been busy in promo mode for his Street Fighter movie, which hit theaters on Friday, but he made sure to carve out a few seconds to stay updated on the Diddy saga behind bars.

“Diddy on the move, he gonna turn up in this next joint on gang,” he quipped on IG. The second slide had 50’s followers in stitches, as he posted a wind-up toy resembling Diddy that was blowing bubbles out of his butt. “Yoo this nicca the worst son nah lollll yall niccas stupid son,” Bobby Shmurda wrote.

TMZ reported that Combs had been transferred from FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey to Federal Correctional Institution, Allenwood in Pennsylvania. Diddy was allegedly involved in a confrontation with another inmate that left him hospitalized with a head injury, but both Diddy‘s family and the Bureau of Prisons denied reports about the alleged dispute between the disgraced Bad Boy mogul and Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is the leader of an infamous Jamaican crime organization.

50 Cent was behind last year’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning docuseries detailing Diddy’s case and history of alleged sexual abuse, which the Queens rapper won an Emmy for.

The “In Da Club” rapper appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday (Oct. 14) where he reacted to reports of Combs watching the series about his downfall in prison. “He saw the whole thing… I’m sure (he) thought it was the best documentary he ever saw in his life,” 50 said.

Combs was sentenced to 50 months behind bars in October 2025 after being convicted on two charges of prostitution transportation, which is a violation of the Mann Act. Diddy is currently scheduled to be released in March 2028.

Billboard has reached out to Diddy’s reps for comment.

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys stopped by Michael Jackson‘s house shortly before the King of Pop’s untimely death back in 2009. The Bronx record producer recently stopped by The Real Report With Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda and revealed that Jackson apparently had a crush on his R&B superstar wife.

Swizz didn’t feel offended or disrespected or anything like that. He actually thought it was kind’ve “cool” and took initiative to set a meet-up between the two singers.

“I found out that Michael had a crush on my wife. In a cool way, but Michael’s a virgo, so I don’t know. I’m a virgo,” he said jokingly. “And so I think Janet was the one that told A.K. and she was like, ‘You know, my brother always had a crush on you.’ So I thought it was cool to set up for her to meet him. Just for both of them to just have that moment as fans of each other.”

He added: “We set up the meeting at the crib. We go to the house, Michael was so cool Michael was so cool, bro. Just seeing him in his real element. He had his beautiful kids there. I remember we brought gifts for the kids and he was just excited about going on a tour. He was just like, ‘Yo, when I do this, I’mma hit ’em with that,’ showing A.K. some of his moves.”

He also raved about a jerk lobster dish that Mike’s Jamaican personal chef made and said he offered him his framed Thriller plaques after Swizz said he noticed them sitting on the floor propped up on a wall, but he said no because he didn’t want to seem too “thirsty,” even after Mike dismissed them as “just things.”

You can watch the full conversation below.

Nelly is a Swiftie — and he had the wedding invitation to prove it.

In the trailer for the second season of Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, released Thursday (Oct. 15), the rapper and his wife showcase themselves prepping for and heading to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s highly anticipated wedding, with Nelly making his fandom clear.

“We got invited to Taylor and Travis’ wedding. Nelly is a Swiftie,” the rapper says in the clip.

But before the couple set foot in Madison Square Garden, a little marital disagreement threatens to steal the spotlight. While on the way to the wedding, Ashanti realizes that Nelly has forgotten something for their outing. This causes a brief back-and-forth between the pair over a missing bottle of lotion.

“F—, babe, you didn’t put the lotion in here?” Ashanti says as she rummages through her purse. Nelly dislikes her dropping the F-bomb, but they carry on with their outing as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

The trailer gives audiences a glimpse into the couple’s relationship beyond the wedding festivities, with appearance from Fat Joe, Ja Rule and Jadakiss. Ashanti is also shown in the recording studio as she works on re-recording her masters, a move that connects her to a growing conversation about artists reclaiming ownership of their music — including, most famously, Swift herself.

Swift has been a very influential figure in that conversation. After the pop superstar embarked on her mission to rerecord her first six studio albums following the sale of her original masters, Ashtani spoke about being inspired by Swift’s example.

“I think Taylor is amazing for what she’s done and to be able to be a female in this very male-dominated industry, to accomplish that is amazing,” Ashanti told Metro UK in 2022. “More of us have to continue that narrative of women empowerment.”

Nelly and Swift also have a history. The rapper has joined the pop superstar onstage during her tours, fostering a connection between them that makes his Swiftie declaration all the more appropriate. In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Nelly described Swift as “like a little sister” and praised her potential to become one of the greatest female artist of all time.

Nelly has a chart history of his own to acknowledge as well. His 2002 smash “Hot in Herre” and his Kelly Rowland collaboration “Dilemma” both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The latter, released in 2002 as well, became one of the most defining hits of his career, spending 10 weeks atop the chart. Ashanti has also made her mark on the Hot 100, scoring her first No. 1 as a solo artist with “Foolish” in 2002. That same year, she appeared on Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?” and Ja Rule’s “Always on Time,” both of which reached the chart’s top two.

Separate from music, the new season also follows Nelly and Ashanti as they steer through parenthood with their soon, Kareem, and decide how much of their family life they want to share publicly.

Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together returns to Peacock on Nov. 19. Watch the trailer below.