(BSS/AFP) - Rosalia opened the 27th edition of the Latin Grammys on Thursday with an ethereal performance blending songs off her acclaimed album "Lux," as the awards show honoring the best in Spanish- and Portuguese-language music kicked off in Las Vegas.

She is among the stars who descended on Sin City for the gala that has Mexican songwriter Edgar Barrera leading the nominations pack, with 10 chances at a trophy from the Latin Recording Academy.

Colombian reggaeton artist Karol G, Spanish superstar Rosalia, the Argentine outfit CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso and Uruguayan artist Jorge Drexler are all also strong contenders with seven.

Rosalia will compete for Album of the Year thanks to her sweeping "Lux."

She`s also up for best record and best song for "La Perla," a track that features the American trio Yahritza y Su Esencia.

But competition is stiff in these three top categories, including from Karol G`s work on her album "Tropicoqueta" as well as "Free Spirits" from CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso.

Perennial academy favorite Drexler is also in contention in the most prestigious fields, for his album "Taraca" and the song "Como se ama?"

Barrera holds the record for most Latin Grammy nominations, with 82.

This year he is up for best producer, and also earned nominations for collaborations with stars like Karol G and Carin Leon.

The night could also spell success for Brazilian star Anitta, who earned her first Album of the Year nomination at the gala for "EQUILIBRIVM."

- Daddy Yankee honored -

On Wednesday the Latin Recording Academy celebrated Daddy Yankee as its person of the year, at a tribute gala that traditionally falls on the eve before the awards ceremony.

The artist helped globalize reggaeton -- a wildly popular genre that blends Latin and Caribbean rhythms with US hip hop and Jamaican dancehall -- and which was initially censored in his native Puerto Rico.

Daddy Yankee`s 2004 smash "Gasolina" propelled reggaeton onto the charts, and his 2017 collaboration with Luis Fonsi on "Despacito" cemented the genre`s status on the global stage.

That paved the way for the massive success of a new generation of artists, including Bad Bunny, the first artist to win a Grammy for best album for a work entirely done in Spanish.

Bestowing Daddy Yankee with the lifetime achievement honor marked the first time the Latin Recording Academy gave it to an artist heralding from an urbano music genre.

"It`s incredible," he said on the red carpet Wednesday.

Daddy Yankee will make a special appearance at the upcoming Coachella festival this spring.