Since her debut EP Pistol Made of Roses, the Georgia-born Megan Moroney has established herself as an adept musical purveyor of shrewd examinations of life, love and everything in between, fashioning a brand that blends a beguiling, sparkly feminism with fearless gumption and self-assured perspectives. She followed with her debut major label album Lucky, while her sophomore set Am I Okay? earned Moroney her highest debut to date on the all-genre Billboard 200, debuting at No. 9.

On Friday (Feb. 20), she returns with her third major label studio album, Cloud 9.

Her new album title feels appropriate, as in the span of the past 18 months, Moroney’s ascending career has only continued gaining rapid momentum. She won the CMA’s new artist of the year accolade, earned her second RIAA-certified gold album with Am I Okay?, was honored during Billboard‘s Women in Music Awards, spearheaded her headlining Am I Okay Tour?, and is gearing up for her 49-date The Cloud 9 Tour, a headlining international outing that include stops at major arenas.

On Cloud 9, she continues conveying her strength in distilling love, loss, disappointment and heartbreak into sharply crafted, witty lyrics, infused with honesty and vulnerability that cut to the bone. She takes aim at the contradictory, unfair expectations of women in the music industry on “Liars & Tigers & Bears.” Elsewhere, she takes the wise insights she’s gained on life, friendships and love, using it to encourage and advise the next generation of women on “Beautiful Things.” Instead of internalizing the pain that comes with dealing with lovers’ character inadequacies, she knows her worth and turns her unfiltered writing pen to calling out their shortcomings on songs such as “Who Hurt You?” and “6 Months Later.”

Moroney co-produced Cloud 9 with writer/producer/artist Kristian Bush, known for his work as part of Sugarland, as well as writer-producer Luke Laird, leaning on a blend of country, pop and acoustic stylings. Moroney wrote the album with top-shelf co-writers including Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, ERNEST, Amy Allen, David Mescon, Rob Hatch, Ben Williams and Mackenzie Carpenter.

Billboard has ranked every track on Moroney’s Cloud 9, counting down to the album’s most standout track.

The 2026 Premio Lo Nuestro awards hit the Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. on Thursday (Feb. 19) night, bringing out Latin superstars (Juanes, Romeo Santos), exciting up-and-comers (Yami Safdie, Santos Bravos) and some legends (Los Bukis, Paloma San Basilio).

Hosted by Thalia, Clarissa Molina, and Nadia Ferreira, this year’s Premio Lo Nuestro was packed with unforgettable moments. While awards were presented — most of them prior to the ceremony — the night was largely focused on showcasing incredible live acts.

This year, Bad Bunny and Carín León were the top winners, with six and five awards each, respectively. Artists such as Karol G, Maluma, and Yuridia also received multiple awards.

Five artists received special awards for their contributions to music and legacy: Arcángel was recognized with the Urban Icon Award; Juanes with the Lifetime Achievement Award; Los Bukis with the Musical Legacy Award; Manolo Díaz with the Visionary Award; and Paloma San Basilio with the Excellence Award.

If you want to see a complete list of the winners, we got you. If you want to read some of the best speeches, head here. And if you want to see stars on the red carpet, check out our photo gallery. But if you want to know which performers did it best at the 38th Annual Premio Lo Nuestro ranked, read on.

Bad Bunny, Carín León and Karol G were the top winners of the Premio Lo Nuestro 2026. But they weren’t the only honorees who shone during the ceremony.

As announced in recent weeks, for the first time in its 38-year history, Premio Lo Nuestro presented five special awards on Thursday (Feb. 19) to honor great figures in Latin music whose contributions, vision, and legacy have transcended generations.

Colombian rocker Juanes — who on Wednesday confirmed his ambitious 50-plus-date Juanes World Tour 2026 — received the Premio Lo Nuestro Lifetime Achievement Award for having “built a career marked by authenticity, constant evolution, and a deep connection to his roots,” according to a press release.

Meanwhile, veteran Spanish singer Paloma San Basilio was recognized with the Premio Lo Nuestro Award for Excellence for a career spanning over 50 years, during which she “has left a profound mark on music, theater, and Ibero-American culture.”

Puerto Rican reggaeton star Arcángel received the Premio Lo Nuestro Urban Icon Award as “one of the key figures in the history and evolution of Latin urban music.”

The revered grupera band Los Bukis accepted the Premio Lo Nuestro Musical Legacy Award for a catalog that “has accompanied entire generations and forms an essential part of the emotional heritage of Latin music.”

And Spanish composer, performer and producer Manolo Díaz was feted with the Premio Lo Nuestro Visionary Award as a “key figure behind countless careers, songs, and moments that have marked the history of Latin music.”

Broadcast live from Miami on Univision, UNIMÁS, and Galavisión, and available for streaming on ViX in the U.S. and most Latin American countries, the 2026 Premio Lo Nuestro ceremony was hosted by Thalia, Clarissa Molina, and Nadia Ferreira and featured performances by superstars like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce, Thalia, Maria Becerra, and Cristian Castro.

Juanes, Arcángel and Paloma San Basilio also performed while accepting their special awards, and they all delivered heartfelt words of gratitude as the first recipients of these honors. Read parts of their speeches below.

Yailin la Más Viral chatted with Billboard’s Ingrid Fajardo & Jessica Roiz on the red carpet of Premio Lo Nuestro 2026.