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0 / 31 Fotos
Best Latin crossover stars of all time - Standout artists like Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias all share something very special. Aside from being fabulous Latin artists, they're also the few Latin artists who have had successful English crossover careers. And they aren't the only ones!
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Shakira - Perhaps one of the most famous Latin crossover stars in the world is Colombian singer Shakira who debuted her first English album 'Laundry Service' in 1995.
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2 / 31 Fotos
Shakira - To compete against the "Britney's" and "Christina's" of the time in English pop music, Shakira, who is actually a natural brunette, went as far as changing her look for her crossover. She died her hair blonde for the album cover.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Enrique Iglesias - This Spanish singer's crossover journey began in 1999 with the release of his English/Spanish hit single 'Bailamos.'
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Enrique Iglesias - The song was recorded for the film 'Wild Wild West' and the track became an international success worldwide. Following this tremendous triumph, Iglesias released his first full self-titled English album.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Ricky Martin - Martin and his smash hit is often credited for opening up the door for other Latin artists, and making it easier for other musicians to transition into the English-speaking market.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Ricky Martin - This Puerto Rican artist became an English crossover sensation with his 1999 single 'Livin' La Vida Loca.'
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Luis Fonsi - Luis Fonsi actually debuted an English crossover album back in 2005 titled 'Fight the Feeling,' but it was with 2017's single 'Despacito' that this Puerto Rican singer became known, not just to the English-speaking world, but to countries around the globe.
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Daddy Yankee - Sometimes it doesn't take an entire English album to make a Latin artist successful, not just in the English speaking market, but worldwide.
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9 / 31 Fotos
Daddy Yankee - Daddy Yankee's 2004 song 'Gasolina' became a hit not only in his home country of Puerto Rico, but also the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, across Latin America, and Europe. He was also featured on Fonsi's 'Despacito' track.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
J Balvin - J Balvin is a Colombian musician who sings mainly in Spanish, but has collaborated with many English speaking artists. His song 'Mi Gente' brought him international fame when he teamed up with Beyoncé and French singer Willy William for a remix.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Maluma - Colombian singer Maluma has come into the English market in a big way! Already a hit in the Spanish market, this artist rode the Latin wave into the English-speaking market with songs like 'Felices los 4,' which he performed at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Marc Anthony - Believe it or not, Marc Anthony actually started out singing in English, but he gained popularity with his Spanish tropical salsa hits.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Marc Anthony - Later on, after establishing himself among the Latin community, he released a self-titled English album in 1999. The record went three times platinum in the United States!
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14 / 31 Fotos
Gloria Estefan - Gloria Estefan exploded onto the English-speaking market with her hit 'Conga.' It came from the Miami Sound Machine's second English studio album 'Primitive Love.' This was the group and Estefan's first crossover hit.
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15 / 31 Fotos
Julio Iglesias - This is a Spanish singer celebrated worldwide. In the English speaking world, his first hit came in 1981 with his rendition of Cole Porter's 'Begin the Beguine.'
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16 / 31 Fotos
Julio Iglesias - The album that established him as a force to be reckoned with in the English speaking market came a few years later in 1984 with the record '1100 Bel Air Place.'
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Paulina Rubio - This Mexican singer's crossover debut came in 2005 with the release of the record 'Border Girl.' The English album spawned hits such as 'Don't Say Goodbye,' 'The One You Love,' and 'Casanova,' among others.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Selena - Before her untimely death, Tejano singer Selena was working on her first English album 'Dreaming Of You.' Her record was released following her death and was a huge success, making her a posthumous crossover star.
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Romeo Santos - Bachata superstar Romeo Santos always dreamed of being a crossover success and bringing bachata music to the mainstream.
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20 / 31 Fotos
Romeo Santos - While in the band Aventura, their single 'Obsesión' topped the charts in many countries around the world, including the United States. Since then, he has collaborated with several mainstream English artists including Usher, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, among others.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Thalía - Already a megastar in the Latin community, this Mexican singer's first English album came in 2003. Following this, she released her studio album titled 'El Sexto Sentido.' This album was a success in the United States and countries around the world.
© Getty Images
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Héctor el Father - Known throughout most of the Latin community as Héctor "El Bambino," Héctor el Father signed with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records in the mid-2000s.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Héctor el Father - This helped promote him and his music across the United States. He even became an ambassador for the line Rocawear.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Los Del Río - For band Los Del Río, their smash hit was the unforgettable 'Macarena,' released in 1994.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
Don Omar - The song that brought this Reggaeton artist to crossover stardom was 2005's 'Reggaeton Latino.'
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Prince Royce - Similar to Santos, Prince Royce is another artist who is known primarily for his bachata music.
© Getty Images
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Prince Royce - His first English language album came in 2015 after building his core Spanish audience and fan base. It included hits like 'Stuck on a Feeling' with Snoop Dogg and 'Back It Up' featuring Jennifer Lopez.
© Getty Images
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Gipsy Kings - The Gipsy Kings' third self-titled album spent 40 weeks on the charts in the United States. This was unusual for a Spanish language album. Their worldwide hit 'Bamboléo' also brought them international fame and recognition.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Los Lobos
- Reaching number one on the charts in the United Kingdom and United States, Los Lobos' 'La Bamba,' became this Mexican band's signature song. See also: Stars you'll be shocked to learn are Latinos.
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Best Latin crossover stars of all time - Standout artists like Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias all share something very special. Aside from being fabulous Latin artists, they're also the few Latin artists who have had successful English crossover careers. And they aren't the only ones!
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Best Latin crossover stars of all time - Standout artists like Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias all share something very special. Aside from being fabulous Latin artists, they're also the few Latin artists who have had successful English crossover careers. And they aren't the only ones!
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Shakira - Perhaps one of the most famous Latin crossover stars in the world is Colombian singer Shakira who debuted her first English album 'Laundry Service' in 1995.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Shakira - To compete against the "Britney's" and "Christina's" of the time in English pop music, Shakira, who is actually a natural brunette, went as far as changing her look for her crossover. She died her hair blonde for the album cover.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Enrique Iglesias - This Spanish singer's crossover journey began in 1999 with the release of his English/Spanish hit single 'Bailamos.'
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Enrique Iglesias - The song was recorded for the film 'Wild Wild West' and the track became an international success worldwide. Following this tremendous triumph, Iglesias released his first full self-titled English album.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Ricky Martin - Martin and his smash hit is often credited for opening up the door for other Latin artists, and making it easier for other musicians to transition into the English-speaking market.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Ricky Martin - This Puerto Rican artist became an English crossover sensation with his 1999 single 'Livin' La Vida Loca.'
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Luis Fonsi - Luis Fonsi actually debuted an English crossover album back in 2005 titled 'Fight the Feeling,' but it was with 2017's single 'Despacito' that this Puerto Rican singer became known, not just to the English-speaking world, but to countries around the globe.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Daddy Yankee - Sometimes it doesn't take an entire English album to make a Latin artist successful, not just in the English speaking market, but worldwide.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Daddy Yankee - Daddy Yankee's 2004 song 'Gasolina' became a hit not only in his home country of Puerto Rico, but also the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, across Latin America, and Europe. He was also featured on Fonsi's 'Despacito' track.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
J Balvin - J Balvin is a Colombian musician who sings mainly in Spanish, but has collaborated with many English speaking artists. His song 'Mi Gente' brought him international fame when he teamed up with Beyoncé and French singer Willy William for a remix.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Maluma - Colombian singer Maluma has come into the English market in a big way! Already a hit in the Spanish market, this artist rode the Latin wave into the English-speaking market with songs like 'Felices los 4,' which he performed at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Marc Anthony - Believe it or not, Marc Anthony actually started out singing in English, but he gained popularity with his Spanish tropical salsa hits.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Marc Anthony - Later on, after establishing himself among the Latin community, he released a self-titled English album in 1999. The record went three times platinum in the United States!
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Gloria Estefan - Gloria Estefan exploded onto the English-speaking market with her hit 'Conga.' It came from the Miami Sound Machine's second English studio album 'Primitive Love.' This was the group and Estefan's first crossover hit.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Julio Iglesias - This is a Spanish singer celebrated worldwide. In the English speaking world, his first hit came in 1981 with his rendition of Cole Porter's 'Begin the Beguine.'
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Julio Iglesias - The album that established him as a force to be reckoned with in the English speaking market came a few years later in 1984 with the record '1100 Bel Air Place.'
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Paulina Rubio - This Mexican singer's crossover debut came in 2005 with the release of the record 'Border Girl.' The English album spawned hits such as 'Don't Say Goodbye,' 'The One You Love,' and 'Casanova,' among others.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Selena - Before her untimely death, Tejano singer Selena was working on her first English album 'Dreaming Of You.' Her record was released following her death and was a huge success, making her a posthumous crossover star.
© Reuters
19 / 31 Fotos
Romeo Santos - Bachata superstar Romeo Santos always dreamed of being a crossover success and bringing bachata music to the mainstream.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Romeo Santos - While in the band Aventura, their single 'Obsesión' topped the charts in many countries around the world, including the United States. Since then, he has collaborated with several mainstream English artists including Usher, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, among others.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Thalía - Already a megastar in the Latin community, this Mexican singer's first English album came in 2003. Following this, she released her studio album titled 'El Sexto Sentido.' This album was a success in the United States and countries around the world.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Héctor el Father - Known throughout most of the Latin community as Héctor "El Bambino," Héctor el Father signed with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records in the mid-2000s.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Héctor el Father - This helped promote him and his music across the United States. He even became an ambassador for the line Rocawear.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Los Del Río - For band Los Del Río, their smash hit was the unforgettable 'Macarena,' released in 1994.
© Reuters
25 / 31 Fotos
Don Omar - The song that brought this Reggaeton artist to crossover stardom was 2005's 'Reggaeton Latino.'
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Prince Royce - Similar to Santos, Prince Royce is another artist who is known primarily for his bachata music.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Prince Royce - His first English language album came in 2015 after building his core Spanish audience and fan base. It included hits like 'Stuck on a Feeling' with Snoop Dogg and 'Back It Up' featuring Jennifer Lopez.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Gipsy Kings - The Gipsy Kings' third self-titled album spent 40 weeks on the charts in the United States. This was unusual for a Spanish language album. Their worldwide hit 'Bamboléo' also brought them international fame and recognition.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Los Lobos
- Reaching number one on the charts in the United Kingdom and United States, Los Lobos' 'La Bamba,' became this Mexican band's signature song. See also: Stars you'll be shocked to learn are Latinos.
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Best Latin crossover stars of all time
Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Shakira, and more!
© Getty Images
Dominating two or more different markets or audiences worldwide is no easy task for any artist. But there are those few and far between who do manage to pull it off quite successfully. Whether it's with a full English-language album or that one single that happens to spread like wildfire around the world, check out the biggest Latin crossover stars of all time in the following gallery.
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