In the end the fact the winner of the Spanish Pop Idol - David Bisbal - took the Best New Artist award was as big a news story as the Cuban/US politics in the background of yesterday's Latin Grammys.
Among the many awards awarded Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes took three awards - best rock song, best rock solo album and song of the year. Cuban act Orishas won best hip-hop album, while Ibrahim Ferrer, best known as a member of Buena Vista Social Club, won for best traditional tropical album.
Collecting his third award Juanes told the audience he was proud to represent his country. "I know a lot of times, people have a bad image of my country. That's why it's so important for me to be here, to represent the other side of Colombia."
Among the proceedings some of Latin America's top stars, including Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan and India, took time to pay tribute to the late salsa queen, Cuban-born Celia Cruz, who died earlier this year. Some of the songs that earned her reputation - including one of her signature tunes, 'La Vida Es Un Carnaval (Life is a Carnival)' - were performed.
As predicted most of the Cuban nominees weren't able to attend due to Visa issues. Cuban authorities still deny they submitted visa applications for their stars too late and claim that US authorities deliberately delayed their processing - allegations the Americans strongly deny. Either way the absence of a Cuban contingent gave the Miami community of Cuban exiles less to grumble about on the night.