Paquita la del Barrio to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards

Mexican singer-songwriter Paquita la del Barrio will be honored with the lifetime achievement award at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo announced Thursday (Aug. 26).

The special accolade will honor the chart-topping artist, born Francisca Viveros Barradas, for an “enduring and exceptional career, encompassing artistic and personal contributions that have had a major impact on Latin music worldwide.” The ranchera and bolero songstress will be honored during the awards ceremony set to take place Thursday, Sept. 23, live from Miami where she is also set to perform.

Known for her female-empowerment anthems such as “Rata de dos Patas,” “Me Saludas a la Tuya” and “Tres Veces Te Engañé” — which denounce macho culture and attitude — Paquita la del Barrio boasts 50 years in the industry. Early days in her career included singing at school festivals and forming the duo Las Golondrinas, with her sister Viola in the ’70s. In 1984, she released her first album titled El Barrio de los Faroles. To date, she’s recorded more than 30 albums and is currently working on an LP to celebrate her 50-year anniversary.

Past recipients of the Billboard lifetime achievement award include Armando Manzanero, Miguel Bosé, Conjunto Primavera, Santana, Los Temerarios, Emmanuel, Intocable, José José, Marco Antonio Solís, Ricardo Arjona and Maná, among others.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET with the traditional red carpet special, followed by the awards show at 8 p.m. The event will also be simulcast on Hispanic entertainment cable channel Universo and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

The awards will coincide with Billboard Latin Music Week, which returns to Miami from Sept. 20-24 and will host live conversations and performances with superstars like Karol G, Daddy Yankee, Nicky Jam, Rauw Alejandro, Natti Natasha and many more. For more information on Billboard Latin Music Week and to register now, visit billboardlatinmusicweek.com.