Bobby Pulido wins third Latin Grammy ahead of congressional term

Bobby Pulido won the Latin Grammy for best Tejano album on Thursday night in Las Vegas. The award recognized his live album, Bobby Pulido & Friends: Una Tuya y Una Mía (Vol. 2/En Vivo). This is his third Latin Grammy and his second consecutive win in this specific category.

Pulido secured this honor just days after changing the political landscape of South Texas. On Nov. 3, he defeated Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz to win the seat for Texas' 15th Congressional District. The victory flipped the district to the Democratic Party. He is scheduled to take office in Washington D.C. in January.

During his acceptance speech at the 27th annual Latin Grammy Awards, Pulido announced a major career shift. He stated in Spanish, 'I want to tell you that I'm retiring from music, and I'm leaving with so much gratitude.' This speech served as a formal farewell to the stage that defined his public life for nearly three decades.

The Edinburg native cited pride in his Texas roots and the Tejano music genre. He noted that emerging talent will keep the genre alive. Specifically, he named Jay Perez and Destiny Navaira as rising stars who represent the future of Tejano music.

Pulido transitioned his focus from musical performance to political service. He told the audience, 'I love you all, and I'll see you soon, because we need to represent and we need to get to work to use our voices for something else.' His campaign drew attention partly due to his established fame as a performer.

He built his following over many years with popular songs, including the hit 'Desvelado.' He is considered an iconic figure in the Tejano music scene. His career included previous Latin Grammy wins for best album in 2025 and 2022.

The new representative will leave the recording and performing world with this final major honor. He will now represent the constituents of the 15th district in the U.S. House of Representatives.