The United States Embassy in Cuba published a video on its Facebook page this Wednesday to celebrate the induction of Celia Cruz into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026, using "Por si acaso no regreso," the anthem of the Cuban exile, as the soundtrack.
The diplomatic gesture carries an evident symbolic weight: the U.S. mission in Havana specifically chose that song—in which Cruz sings "I had to leave, everyone can understand, I thought that at any moment I would return to your land"—to accompany their congratulatory message, a direct statement about the forced exile that the regime of Fidel Castro subjected the artist to.
We congratulate the incomparable Celia Cruz on her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026. "Sugar!" wrote the Embassy alongside the 33-second video.
The announcement of the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 took place last Monday during a special episode of the American Idol show, broadcast live on ABC and Disney+, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Lionel Richie.
Celia Cruz was included in the Early Influence category, becoming the first Cuban artist and the first artist whose work is primarily in Spanish to enter this institution.
The Hall of Fame described her as a pioneer of 20th century Latin pop who "sold over 30 million records worldwide," highlighting her role in the creation and popularization of salsa and her position as the "voice of love and freedom following the Cuban revolution."
Born in Havana on October 21, 1925, Cruz made her debut with the Sonora Matancera in 1950.
On July 15, 1960, she left Cuba for Mexico and was never able to return: the regime banned her and prohibited her music on the island's radio and television, even preventing her from attending her mother's funeral.
In exile, she built a monumental career. With Fania Records and her collaboration with Johnny Pacheco, the album "Celia & Johnny" and the single "Quimbara" launched her to international stardom in 1974.
The Rock Hall notes that with classics such as "Quimbara," "La vida es un carnaval," and "La negra tiene tumbao," Cruz "reigns as the undisputed queen of salsa."
This posthumous recognition adds to three Grammys, four Latin Grammys, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. In 2024, she became the first Afrolatina to appear on a 25-cent coin in the United States.
In the Early Influence category, Cruz shares the recognition with Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons.
In total, the Hall of Fame admitted 18 artists in 2026, including Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Oasis, Sade, and Luther Vandross.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 14, 2026 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with a special televised program in December on ABC and Disney+.
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