Thalia Receives Icon Award with Mariachi at Women in Music 2026: ‘It’s About Opening Doors So Others Can Walk Through Them’

4/30/2026 The superstar performed 'Piel Morena' and 'Amor a la Mexicana' before receiving her trophy from Eva Longoria. Thalia performed onstage at the Billboard Women in Music 2026 held at the Hollywood Palladium on April 29, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert Flores Español Thalia delivered one of the most colorful moments on Wednesday (April 29) at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music awards, showcasing her signature charm and Mexican pride by bringing a full mariachi band. She lit up the stage with a medley of her timeless hits, 'Piel Morena' and 'Amor a la Mexicana,' with the former peaking at No. 7 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 1995 and the latter at No. 6 in 1997. Clad in a bright red dress, she began 'Piel Morena' with guitarists and dancers, and for 'Amor a la Mexicana,' an all-female mariachi group and a large male ensemble joined her. Thalia received her award from Eva Longoria, who praised her career. She spoke emotionally, thanking Billboard, her family, fans, and those who supported her for over four decades. She defined an icon as someone who opens doors for others, reinvents themselves, and inspires dreams. She dedicated the award to her childhood self and encouraged kids to dream big. She concluded with '¡Viva México! ¡Viva los latinos! Gracias.' Thalia had previously received the Global Powerhouse Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music in 2023. Known as the Queen of Latin Pop and Telenovelas, she began her career in the 1980s as a child actress in Timbiriche. By 1990, she launched her solo music career, placing 41 songs on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart, the third-highest for a female artist. She has also charted 29 times on Latin Airplay, 26 on Hot Latin Songs, 16 on Top Latin Albums, and seven on the Billboard 200. The 2026 ceremony was hosted by Keke Palmer and streamed on Billboard’s YouTube and Billboard.com. Other honorees included K-Pop group HUNTR/X, Teyana Taylor, Zara Larsson, Kehlani, Laufey, Mariah the Scientist, and Tate McRae.