Kacey Musgraves and Carin León Share the Latin Grammys Stage for Live Debut of ‘Lost in Translation’

At the 26th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Carin León and Kacey Musgraves presented the inaugural live performance of their bilingual collaboration, "Lost in Translation." León opened the segment solo with his track "Ahi Estabas Tu," after which Musgraves appeared on a separate stage. The pair then moved gracefully around one another, trading verses in English and Spanish and captivating the audience with the song's romantic mood.

"Lost in Translation," which first came out in August, merges country and ranchera styles. It was co-written by Musgraves, León, Amy Allen, and Shane McAnally, with production handled by Julian Bunetta and Matt Zara. This performance highlights Musgraves’s deepening engagement with Latin music, something also apparent in her recent tour, where she has included Spanish-language covers. Among these are songs by Selena Quintanilla—the late Tejano icon whose legacy continues to shape both pop and regional Mexican music—and Violeta Parra’s “Gracias a la Vida,” which appeared on Musgraves’s album “Star-Crossed.”

Her bond with the genre was strengthened last September during concerts in Mexico City, where she performed the mariachi classic “Tú, Solo Tú” alongside Mariachi Oro de América. The song was originally composed by Felipe Valdés Leal in 1949 and has since been interpreted by a diverse roster of artists, from Selena to Linda Ronstadt, underscoring its enduring appeal. As one music critic noted, "Kacey’s approach reflects a sincere artistic dialogue, bridging cultures with authenticity rather than appropriation."

Carin León, who was nominated in several categories for his album “Palabra De To’s (Seca),” was up for major honors including Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album, and Best Regional Song for “Si Tú Me Vieras.” The ceremony also featured a wide range of performers, from legends such as Gloria Estefan and Santana to current stars like Karol G, Maluma, Rauw Alejandro, Grupo Frontera, and Fuerza Regida, presenting a vibrant snapshot of Latin music’s enduring heritage and contemporary energy.