10/15/2026

Illustration by Gibson Kochanek JOHN PARRA/FILMMAGIC

“You always have to preserve what’s classic,” Cristian Castro told a reporter in the Dec. 20, 2003, Billboard, of his multigenerational appeal. He would know. Now signed to Sony Music Latin, the versatile, velvet-voiced Latin pop star has been topping our charts since 1993 and still possesses one of the finest voices in any genre or language. Castro will be honored with the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and will take the stage for a special performance during the Oct. 22 ceremony in Miami.

“Handsome actor/singer Cristian notched his first No. 1 smash on the Hot Latin Tracks with a stylish ballad remake of Bronco’s yester-hit, ‘Nunca Voy Olvidarte,’ ” reported the Sept. 25, 1993, issue of Billboard. That single won the then-mononymous Cristian song of the year at the inaugural Billboard Latin Music Awards in 1994. “The son of popular actress/singer/talk show host Veronica Castro, this 19-year-old Mexico City native is already a showbiz veteran,” noted the May 21 issue.

“Fonovisa, whose roster is dominated by regional Mexican acts, has ironically struck retail pay dirt with pop idols Enrique Iglesias and Cristian,” said the May 4, 1996, issue of the stars’ record label at the time. “Indeed, regional Mexican stations helped Cristian’s ‘Amor’ log a record-setting 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Tracks.” With a second Billboard Latin Music Award win for “Vuélveme a Querer” in 1996, Billboard noted, “This 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Mexico has raised more eyebrows.”

“BMG is banking on the upcoming disc by Mexican pop star Cristian Castro to further boost its market share,” reported the May 22, 1999, issue after Cristian added “Castro” to his professional name and switched labels. Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor produced four top five Hot Latin Songs hits, while the title track to its 2001 follow-up, Azul, netted Castro and the label a nine-week No. 1 on the list. “Cristian has a remarkable, multi-octave vocal register, equally at ease in his natural tenor as in high, effortless falsettos,” a reviewer wrote in the June 9, 2001, issue.

“Castro has fashioned one of the most enduring careers in Latin music, with hits dating back to the early ’90s,” raved the May 16, 2009, Billboard. With his 2011 album, Viva el Principe, Castro went No. 1 on Top Latin Albums for the first time — and for seven weeks, too. “[The album is] one of the year’s biggest success stories,” reported the June 18, 2011, issue. “The set features Castro’s rendition of songs popularized by Mexican icon José José, who performed alongside Castro during the recent Billboard Latin Music Awards.” Speaking on his continued success backstage at the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Castro opined, “It’s all about the people.”

This story appears in the Oct. 10, 2026, issue of Billboard.

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