Brazil’s musical heritage took center stage at the Grammy Awards this Sunday (February 1), as Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia won the award for Best Global Music Album with Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo. The album captures the power and emotion of their joint tour, which filled stadiums across Brazil in 2024 and 2025 and reaffirmed their status as two of the most influential voices in Brazilian music.
The artists were not present at the ceremony, and the award was accepted on their behalf by jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Brazilian album prevailed over a competitive shortlist that included works by Siddhant Bhatia, Burna Boy, Youssou N’Dour, Shakti, and Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan and Sarathy Korwar.
A landmark moment for Maria Bethânia
The win carries special significance for Maria Bethânia. This is her first Grammy victory, making her the first MPB interpreter to receive a Grammy Award — a historic milestone for Brazilian popular music. Even the nomination had already placed Bethânia in a rare position among her contemporaries, including the late Elis Regina and Gal Costa, who, despite their immense artistic impact, were never nominated for the award. The Grammy win comes in a symbolic year: Bethânia turns 80 on June 18, 2026, adding an extra layer of celebration to an already remarkable career.
A familiar stage for Caetano Veloso
For Caetano Veloso, the Grammy reinforces a legacy already recognized internationally. He previously won the award in 2000 with Livro (1997), then in the category known as Best World Music Album, and again in 2001 as producer of João Voz e Violão, by João Gilberto. While the honor does not alter his already canonical status, it further cements his role as a central figure in bringing Brazilian music to global audiences — alongside contemporaries such as Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento, who have also been Grammy winners.
A victory that belongs to Brazil
Beyond individual achievements, the award represents a broader triumph for Brazilian culture. Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo is more than a concert recording; it is a celebration of over five decades of artistic dialogue, shared history, and emotional resonance with audiences across generations. The Grammy win underscores the global relevance of MPB and highlights Brazil’s enduring contribution to world music.
For Brazil, it was a historic night — one that reaffirmed the power, elegance, and universality of its music. Viva a música popular brasileira.
