Latin Grammys: 'Despacito' wins big, Luis Fonsi and Lin-Manuel Miranda honor Puerto Rico

Maeve McDermott | AP Entertainment

Show Caption Hide Caption Luis Fonsi reveals Hurricane Irma family fears "Despacito" singer Luis Fonsi admits he felt "helpless" on tour as his wife and children were hit by Irma in Miami. (Sept. 13)

Puerto Rico was front and center at the 2017 Latin Grammys on Thursday night.

The megahit Despacito, from the Puerto Rican artist Luis Fonsi and reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, was the night's big winner, taking home awards for record of the year, song of the year, short form music video and urban fusion/performance.

In his acceptance speech for record of the year, Fonsi dedicated his award to his home country, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria which hit the island in September. Fonsi closed the show with a performance of Despacito, featuring special guests including Diplo, the Colombian electronica band Bomba Estéreo, and the Puerto Rican salsa singer Victor Manuelle.

The ceremony, broadcast live on Univision from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, opened with a moment of silence for the island nation, followed by a performance from Puerto Rico rapper Residente, who wore a t-shirt emblazoned with his country's flag.

Residente topped the night's nominees with nine nods for his self-titled solo debut, and took home two awards for urban music album and urban song.

Residente feels relieved about 1st album success Whatever happens at the Latin Grammys, Residente can relax. The Puerto Rican rapper leads nominations with nine nods for his first solo album post-Calle 13. (Nov. 15)

Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose latest work has been almost entirely focused on providing aid and relief for Puerto Rico, was honored with the ceremony's President's Merit Award, and paid homage to his native country in an acceptance speech he delivered in both Spanish and English.

“This is for Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico," he said, promoting Sunday's Unity March for Puerto Rico to be held in Washington, intended "to remind the White House and Congress that we are human.”

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Other winners included Shakira, who won for contemporary pop album, Juanes, who claimed the pop-rock album prize, and Vicente Garcia, who was named best new artist.

In one of the ceremony's other politically-charged moments, Alejandro Sanz accepted the Latin Recording Academy's person of the year award, dedicating the prize to the "dreamers" affected by President Trump's suspension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“They are dreamers, they are our children, they are from our community,” Sanz said in his speech.“This goes to them.”

He followed by performing his 2004 hit Corazón Partío, closing with a chorus of DACA recipients wearing t-shirts that read, "We have one dream."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.