Ángela Aguilar & Arthur Hanlon Deliver Stirring Huapango-Driven Finale at Premio Lo Nuestro 2025

Ángela Aguilar and pianist Arthur Hanlon closed Premio Lo Nuestro with a heart-rending performance of their huapango-inspired single, “Bala Perdida.” This collaboration brought a fresh twist to traditional Mexican music, creating a deeply emotive finale for the three-hour broadcast.

Hanlon kicked things off with elegant riffs, masterfully playing the grand piano, with his use of the sustain pedal making the piano sound larger than the arena itself. Ángela, donning an elegant one-shoulder dress, wore her hair longer than usual.

Later, Cuban star Yotuel, dressed in a Japanese-style samurai outfit, and Puerto Rican artist Darell joined the celebrations to perform their track “Repetimos,” which reached No. 9 on Billboard‘s Tropical Airplay chart.

“It’s a beautiful thing because it’s a different genre,” Ángela Aguilar said earlier during a red carpet interview. “It’s a huapango, which is Mexican music, but done in a modern way.” Their performance highlighted the versatility and dynamic range of both artists, seamlessly blending classical elements with modern influences to captivate the audience.

“We wrote the song and got together with Ángela,” Hanlon told Billboard at the red carpet. “I’m always looking for magic. And I knew that with this song and with Angela, by placing the piano in the desert, we would create a contrast between the music and the natural environment. That’s how this song was born.”

Ángela Aguilar received eight nominations, and won mariachi/ranchera song of the year for “Por El Contrario” with Becky G and Leonardo Aguilar.

Broadcasting live on Thursday (Feb. 20) from the Kaseya Center in Miami, the 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro ceremony is co-hosted by Laura Pausini, Thalia, and Alejandra Espinoza. Becky G and Carín León lead the list of nominations with 10 nods each. This year, the gala’s theme is “Uniendo Generaciones” (Uniting Generations), honoring the artists, songs, and albums that connect the past, present, and future of Latin music.

Check out more highlights from Premio Lo Nuestro 2025 at Billboard.com.