![Rosalia won three Latin Grammys, including album of the year and best contemporary pop vocal album. Rosalia won three Latin Grammys, including album of the year and best contemporary pop vocal album.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/bd61cec6-d3f7-4e37-8c3f-05c344217779.jpg/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Spanish singer Rosalia has won album of the year at the 2019 Latin Grammys, becoming the first solo female performer to win the top honour since Shakira's triumph 13 years ago.
Rosalia won three awards on Thursday, tying top nominee Alejandro Sanz and besting the veteran singer-songwriter in categories such as album of the year and best contemporary pop vocal album with her project El Mal Querer.
"Thanks to the academy for giving me one of my first opportunities a few years ago. I want to share that, as a musician, nothing gives more pride than winning a Grammy. It is the biggest thing that can happen, so thank you very much," Rosalia said in Spanish at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"Especially to my fans, I love you with all my heart. Thanks for embracing my music."
Rosalia is predicted to earn a nomination when the Grammys announce its 2020 nominees next week.
The only other female performers to win album of the year honours were parts of groups, including the female members of Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 and Ileana Cabra Joglar (iLe), who won the top prize as a member of the alternative hip-hop band Calle 13 alongside Residente and Visitante.
Sanz walked into Thursday's show as the most-nominated act with eight, eventually taking home song of the year and best pop song for Mi Persona Favorita, shared with pop singer Camila Cabello.
He helped the former Fifth Harmony member, who didn't attend the show, win her first pair of Latin Grammys before she's even won a Grammy Award.
Rosalia's third win was for best urban song for Con Altura, her collaboration with J Balvin, who skipped the Latin Grammys this year and was part of the group of uber-popular Latin trap and reggaeton artists who were dissed in top categories such as album, song and record of the year.
Instead, they were restricted to nominations in the urban categories.
The Latin Grammys kicked off its 20th anniversary show with a festive performance highlighting various sounds from the genre as 20 artists united onstage to honour Latin music.
Prince Royce, Anitta, Fito Paez, Reik, Natalia Jimenez, Beto Cuevas and Calibre 50 were among the acts who performed popular songs from Latin greats such as Celia Cruz, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian and Soda Stereo.
Ricky Martin, who hosted the show with Roselyn Sanchez and Paz Vega, helped close the performance by singing a few notes.
Other performers included Luis Fonsi, Ozuna and Residente, who extended his record as the most decorated artist in the history of the Latin Grammys to 25 wins. He won best short form music video for Banana Papaya.
Australian Associated Press