For Roselyn Sánchez, the Latin GRAMMY Awards have become a special part of her career. Over the years, the Puerto Rican actress has shared the stage with some of Latin music's biggest names and witnessed rising stars become international sensations. Tonight, November 12, she returns to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for a major milestone: her tenth time hosting the ceremony. A decade!
Ahead of the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, Sánchez spoke exclusively with ¡HOLA! Américas about her favorite memories, the extraordinary success of Puerto Rican artists, and why this year's celebration holds particular meaning. She also reflected on her life beyond the spotlight, from the mother who encouraged her artistic ambitions to the family that has changed her perspective on success.
© Omar Vega“I’m super happy and grateful. “I’ve been doing it for ten years. I’ve done it alone, I’ve done it alongside great artists, and the more I do it, the more comfortable I feel.”
Sánchez has always considered acting her strongest suit, which makes the Academy’s continued confidence in her particularly gratifying. “My strength is acting,” she explained. “I find it interesting that they appreciate the way I carry myself onstage as a host. And the more I do it, the more I like it.”
There’s also the fashion, one of her favorite parts of the experience. “When do you get the chance to show six or seven carefully planned looks onstage? That doesn’t happen very often,” she said.
© Kevin WinterTen appearances might suggest that Sánchez has become a permanent fixture at the ceremony, but she approaches each invitation with the same excitement.
“Every time I do it, I enjoy it tremendously. I give it my best, but I really have no certainty that they’ll call me again. When they told me they wanted me to host once more, and this time alone, for my tenth appearance, it was very special to me.”
A decade of unforgettable Latin GRAMMY memories
Over the years, Sánchez has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Latin entertainment, but certain experiences have been particularly memorable. “I love Ricky, so it was a great honor for me to share the stage with him and Paz Vega,” she recalled.
© Kevin WinterShe also has fond memories of working with Jaime Camil and was especially enthusiastic when remembering last year's ceremony. “You know who I loved cohosting with last year? Maluma,” she shared. "That was so much fun."
She also spoke affectionately about Alejandro Sanz, whom she has encountered at the awards for many years. But some of her most memorable experiences have come from watching artists build their careers.
“I’ve seen artists who I remember being nominated for Best New Artist years ago, and now they have incredibly successful careers,” she said. “Being able to see that journey, to see them succeed in such an extraordinary way, is really beautiful.”
© John Parra'We are born with music inside us'
"This year, specifically, the Person of the Year is Puerto Rican. It's Daddy Yankee, whom I've known for so many years, and how beautiful it is to be able to share this moment with him."
“It’s really beautiful to know that there will be a Puerto Rican woman with a Puerto Rican accent hosting an event that’s global, that people watch all over the world.”
Few places have produced as many internationally recognized Latin music stars as Puerto Rico. Sánchez has seen that influence firsthand during her travels.
© Mindy Small“Puerto Rico has always been such a blessed little island when it comes to the arts,” she said. “We’ve always had very important figures for such a small place. The talent is immense.”
She mentioned Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, and Don Omar among the artists whose international success continues to amaze her. Wherever she travels, people seem to have the same question: How does such a small island produce so many stars?
“I don’t know exactly if it’s the mix of cultures or the passion Puerto Ricans carry inside. We always say, 'We’re born with music inside us.’”
The reach of Puerto Rican music still surprises her. “I can go to Japan and people know them. It’s incredible.”
© Kevin WinterMotherhood, gratitude, and what matters most
With Thanksgiving approaching, our conversation turned to gratitude and the unexpected ways life can change our priorities. For Sánchez, the contrast between the young woman who left Puerto Rico determined to succeed in Hollywood and the mother she is today is considerable.
“When I left Puerto Rico as a young woman, having a family of my own wasn’t important to me at that moment,” she admitted. “I’ve always been a very ambitious person when it comes to my career. For many years in the United States, everything was about asking God to grant me my dreams of succeeding, acting, being in Hollywood, and doing what I love.”
"Now, at my age and being a mother, my priorities have completely changed. For me, my greatest achievement has been having two beautiful, healthy children and a strong family. I've been married for 20 years."
© Kevin WinterSánchez, who has built a life with her husband, actor, Eric Winter, also spoke candidly about the reality of navigating a career in Hollywood and learning to appreciate where life has taken her, even when things haven’t unfolded exactly as she once imagined.
“Sometimes I wish my career had taken off in a different way, but I’m super grateful for God’s plan because I’m where I’m supposed to be,” she said. “I’m working, doing what I love. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve always worked, I can’t complain.”
© AeonShe has done so many things, including music, film, and television, and she is thankful that her parents and family in Puerto Rico are doing well. “Like everything in life, there have been ups and downs, but I’ve really been very blessed.”
The woman who shaped her career: ‘It was tough love'
When asked whether anyone in the entertainment industry had been particularly influential early in her career, Sánchez reflected on the many managers, agents, and directors who had crossed her path over the years. She acknowledged that the industry can sometimes be disappointing and that even the people we admire most have their strengths and imperfections. While she couldn't single out one person in the industry, there was someone who had been a constant source of encouragement throughout her life: her mother.
“My mother was always very tough on me,” Sánchez recalled. “She definitely wanted me to be involved in the arts. She put me in ballet at four, piano at six, and she would send me to auditions for commercials and things without even telling me.”
© Jaydee Lee SerranoShe laughed as she described her mother as a “stage mom,” although she was quick to point out that she genuinely enjoyed those activities. “I was lucky that I liked it. It wasn’t that she forced me.”
“The person who has been constant in my life, who has always pushed me to do more and more, has been my mother. Sometimes with affection, sometimes with expectations. It was tough love. But now, as a mother myself, I appreciate it.”
A memorable year, from Cannes to new creative ambitions
When we brought up her first trip to the Cannes Film Festival with L’Oréal Paris, Sánchez seemed momentarily surprised that it had happened in the same year as her tenth Latin GRAMMY hosting appearance.
“Oh, my L’Oréal debut! That was another moment. It’s true that happened this year!” she exclaimed. “It was so spectacular. I couldn’t even believe it.”
© Kristy SparowShe particularly enjoyed sharing the experience with Eva Longoria, whom she spoke about affectionately, and taking part in the fashion surrounding the festival. “Of course, next time (at Cannes) I want it to be with a movie,” she said. “But just being there was like a dream. I don’t even know how to explain it.”
Sánchez has also been exploring opportunities behind the camera. She made her feature directorial debut with Diario, Mujer y Café, a project that brought together her interests in filmmaking and music.
Could Roselyn Sánchez win a Latin GRAMMY one day?
Although acting remains her main profession, Sánchez has never lost her enthusiasm for singing and songwriting. She jokingly described herself as a “frustrated singer,” and when asked whom she would choose for a dream duet, she named Ricky Martin and Alejandro Sanz.
But rather than choosing one of their hits, she had another idea. "One of my compositions," she answered confidently. "Because I have a talent for writing."
© Michael BucknerShe mentioned "Quiero," an original composition she shared in a stripped-down piano-and-vocal video, which can be found on YouTube and her Instagram account. She also wrote "Estoy para mí," the theme song for Diario, Mujer y Café. The latter was performed by Angélica Vale, Carla Monroig, Marisé Álvarez, and Burbu, who is a beloved Puerto Rican actress who appeared in the film. The song also has a music video featuring the performers.
The possibility of submitting her music for Latin GRAMMY consideration has even come up in conversation with Sergio, a writer she knows through the awards who also works extensively with Univision. “He said to me, ‘Roselyn, why didn’t you submit your song, the one you sing with just piano and voice, your composition that turned out so beautifully? Why didn’t you submit it to the Academy?’” Her response was simple: “It never even occurred to me.”
And while she hasn’t made any plans to pursue that possibility, she hasn’t ruled it out either. "Maybe one day I'll go for it, when I'm an old lady, and send them something," she said with a laugh.
For now, Sánchez has two films scheduled for release in early 2027, one in January and another in February. Tonight, however, her attention is on the Latin GRAMMYs, where she’ll celebrate ten hosting appearances alongside some of the artists she has admired throughout her career.
For an actress who still considers herself a singer at heart, there’s plenty to enjoy about another night dedicated to Latin music. Don't miss her tonight at The 2026 Latin GRAMMY Awards at 8 p.m. ET on Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavisión, and ViX.
