(You dont need to get there first, but you must know how you got there.)
Mana have sold over 40 million records and earned a combined 12 Grammy and Latin Grammys.
Theyve packed stadiums across the world andbroke recordswith a U.S. residency.
ManáJuan Botero*
I hope this is the start of something much bigger.
Weve always wanted to keep our music to the language we know and love, adds Olvera.
I know there are still a lot of stories to tell as Latinos in this globalized, English-focused world.
How are you feeling after receiving the news?Fher:We feel great and very surprised.
Its a nomination that is hard to earn, especially singing only in Spanish as we do.
Its a historic moment for Latinos and were so proud.
I seriously couldnt believe it because Ive been following the Hall of Fame through the years.
I know that at some point there were conversations about Mana doing an English crossover.
Why did you guys choose to stick to singing in Spanish?Fher:Our story is very special.
We didnt feel comfortable with the idea and they respected that.
They backed us up.
In some ways, were like an alternative group.
You guys have so much credibility already.
Bono told us the same thing when we were with him at a show in Italy many years ago.
We knew we had to stay in this path.
Your music has indeed resonated with many generations of Latinos.Alex:In 2026, its Manas 40th anniversary.
You dedicated the nomination to the immigrants who are sufferingright now, following President Trumps attacks on them.
Latino immigrants have put bread and wine on the table of American people for decades.
Latinos do the hardest jobs, and its why this society has been able to develop.
Theres a potent labor force based on Latino immigrants.
Without them, theres nothing.
We want to honor them.
As a band, we have faith and hope that these social issues will be resolved.
Latinos are so important in the United States.
In the Sixties, I remember bands in Mexico would cover English songs in Spanish.
There were huge movements in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Spain.
All of them have helped build this path, as have we.
We were up for an award, and we werent allowed to go to the main show and party.
That affected me a lot, because its like youre invited to a party and they leave you outside.
This is different: Theyre nominating us and its not These are the Latinos and those are the Anglos.
Theyre seeing us as one of them.
I thought that was great that they included us in the main group of artists.
When that happened, we didnt even go to that awards show.
Now, we do feel part of the general collective.
