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By Ikam Acosta

The Juanes Unplugged show, which will air sometime in late May or early June, was taped earlier tonight at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach.

Some of the songs that will be featured on Juanes Unplugged are "Es Por Ti," "Todo En Mi Vida Eres Tu," "A Dios Le Pido," "Hoy Me Voy," "Camisa Negra," and "Odio Por Amor," among others. The dress rehearsal took place the night before, at the same venue.

The crowd was more energetic during the actual taping than in the dress rehearsal, as you could imagine, since it was filled with more fans and contained a broader audience. During the rehearsal, however, we got the added treat of seeing Juanes sing duets with two contest winners, one being an amazing songstress by the name of Emanuela Bellezza, with whom he sang "Fotografía."

I asked a couple of fans sitting next to me what their favorite part of the show was. "I was surprised with the Joaquín Sabina part, never expected him to be onstage," commented Alexander Monroy, referring to when Juanes welcomed Sabina onstage with him to perform a beautiful rendition of "Azul."

Another fan, Michelle Kates, commented on how she loved the intimacy and the vibe of the whole Unplugged experience. She said it was a "cool concept, great to see him in this kind of setting."

As if there wasn't enough energy filling the room, Juanes really rocked the house with his final number, "Odio Por Amor," when he was joined by Juan Luis Guerra conducting the New World Symphony choir. Needless to say, the taping of Juanes MTV Unplugged was a success.

What Juanes song would you like to see on MTV Unplugged?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Emanuela Bellezza, Joaquín Sabina, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Juanes MTV Unplugged, Música, MTV Unplugged, popnews

Are you a die hard Juanes Fan? Do you live in South Florida? If so, you are in for the experience of a lifetime!

Tr3s is currently casting audience for the live taping of the JUANES MTV Unplugged in Miami Beach. You must appear to be 18-29 years old and be available the afternoon of Feb. 1st. This will be a LIVE taping so you will be ON-CAMERA!! If you are interested make sure to send us an email with your age, phone number, and picture to the following address MTV.LATINMIAMICASTING@HOTMAIL.COM you can also follow us on Twitter at @MIACastingMTV.

And then make sure to tune in to watch the show on Tr3s later on this year!!!!

Tags Juanes, Juanes MTV Unplugged, Tr3s Exclusives

By Larry Yepez Jr.

After several months of hiatus, Colombian rock star Juanes has described his "rebirth" following a short break in his career where he had time to focus on himself, his family and his music.

The musician, who's sold more than 15 million albums and won 17 Latin Grammys, said that after this time out spent with his family he felt like a new man.

In an interview with Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, he said,

"Now I am myself and that is a rebirth. I don't know if it's because of my age, my life, my children...but at this moment I feel a strong connection with God, with myself and with my music."

Juanes decided last May to terminate his professional relationship with his longtime manager and friend Fernan Martinez, amidst rumors of disappointing  sales of his record P.A.R.C.E..

The singer said,

"I took the decision because I didn't feel comfortable. I needed to be at home with my children, I needed to stop. I was a long way from the center of who I am. It was a moment of important reflection for strengthening my inner world, [to] return with the desire and love that I always had for music."

Juanes said his hiatus was like a detox where everything came out, the good and the bad alike. It was the closing of one era and the beginning of another.

Juanes recently signed for new management with Rebeca Leon, VP of Latin Talent for AEG/Golden Voice. Juanes will now be handled by Leon jointly with Randy Phillips as part of AEG's management arm.

He's currently rehearsing for an MTV Unplugged album to be recorded in Miami Beach, Florida, in February.

Would you like to sing with Juanes? Enter the Tr3s "Unplug with Juanes" Competition for a chance to sing with Juanes himself in front of a live audience.

Tags AEG/Golden Voice, By Larry Yepez Jr., El Tiempo, Fernán Martínez, Juanes, Latin Grammys, MTV, Randy Phillips, Rebeca Leon

By Michael Lopez

Get ready Juanes fans, Colombia’s rock royalty is coming to the Unplugged stage this February. Accompanied by musical director Juan Luis Guerra, El Rockero will be offering up acoustic versions of his greatest hits. And best of all, he’ll be releasing the performance as his first ever live album!

Set to go down at Miami’s New World Center, the Unplugged special promises new interpretations of classic Juanes songs. And you can bet there will be plenty of surprise guests dropping in too! No names have been released just yet, but announcements will be coming in the next few weeks.

Scoring Guerra as a collaborator is a pretty impressive feat too. The Latin Grammy god has sold millions of albums and was asked personally by Juanes to participate in the show. Speaking about the Unplugged event, he said,

“Juanes’ vocals and performances are better than ever! The Unplugged stage will be the perfect space to discover the intimacy of his music.”

We couldn’t agree more! Keep following Tr3s for updates on concert info, air times, and the details of that Unplugged live album!

Are you looking forward to Juanes' Unplugged concert? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Hot Stuff, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Juanes Unplugged, Música, MTV Unplugged, Tr3s Exclusives, Unplugged

By Michael Lopez

Even though he's been out of office for over ten years, Bill Clinton still proved his viability at this weekend's "Decade of Difference" concert. Attracting some of the biggest stars on the planet, his Hollywood Bowl benefit show featured awesome musical performances, memorable speeches, and an online simulcast that was seen by millions.

The purpose of the concert was to honor the former Prez and his charitable Clinton Foundation. It also happened to coincide with his 65th birthday, which Lady Gaga made sure the crowd was well aware of. Channeling vintage Marilyn Monroe, the Little Monster sung Bill a very sexy version of "Bad Romance."

Clinton had joked earlier that he was a tad nervous about what Gaga may attempt to do.

"I wondered, you know, she always kind of goes up to the edge, she said she was going to have a Marilyn moment," he said on stage. "I thought, 'my God, I get Lady Gaga and I will have a heart attack celebrating my 65th birthday.'"

And Lady G was just the tip of the musical iceberg. Throughout the night, legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and Bono took the mic and belted out their classic hits. Tr3s fave Juanes had some memorable moments too, singing tracks from his Mi Sangre album and sharing his personal Bill stories with the crowd.

But don't think the Clinton celebration was just limited to the Saturday concert. Friday night, the Foundation hosted a gala dinner featuring a ton of A-list celebs. Jessica Alba, Stevie Nicks, and Fergie were just a few of the famous faces who were seen mingling at the event. And if you're curious about which star attracted the most attention, it was undoubtedly Sofia Vergara in her shimmering black dress.

Other weekend highlights included a Saturday brunch hosted by former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and Sunday golf with Bill and his closest confidants. Not a bad way to spend a birthday if you ask us. And what makes things even better is the fact that the "Decade of Difference" concert tickets helped raise millions for the Foundation’s causes.

Are you a fan of former President Clinton? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A Decade of Difference, bill clinton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bono, Celebrities, Chelsea Clinton, Hot Stuff, Juanes, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe, Música, sofia vergara, stevie wonder

By Michael Lopez

What a way to kick off the big 6-5! Bill Clinton has got a major birthday coming up and his team has gathered a huge array of stars to help him celebrate it. Juanes, Lady Gaga, Bono, and more will be performing for the former Prez at the Hollywood Bowl next weekend.

The concert is actually honoring another milestone too. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Clinton's charitable foundation. Calling itself "A Decade of Difference," the show will feature tons of talent from all realms of music. Everything from R&B (Usher) to country (Kenny Chesney) will be covered.

Juanes was just added to the bill this week and made sure all of his Twitter followers knew about it.

"Los Angeles ! Nos veremos muy pronto , aquí les dejo la Info del show. #ClintonConcert" he posted earlier today.

Clinton seemed touched by the outpouring of love leading up to the show. His foundation has done a ton of good since its inception back in 2001. Speaking about the concert and his accomplishments, he said,

"I am deeply grateful that the artists associated with the concert are giving their time and talent to raise awareness about the work of my foundation. In the past decade, commitments to my Clinton Global Initiative have improved the lives of more than 300 million people around the world. This celebration marks ten years of these efforts and demonstrates how much we can do to make a difference in the years ahead."

Do you look up to President Bill Clinton? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A Decade of Difference, Agentes De Cambio, bill clinton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bono, Clinton Foundation, Juanes, Kenny Chesney, Lady Gaga, Música, Usher

By Ikam Acosta

As part of the September 21 "World Peace Day," Juanes and Miguel Bosé visited the United Nations in Geneva in order to promote their organization "Peace Without Borders," as well as their video, "La Paz Es Un Derecho Humano."

This is the first time the video goes global, with support from celebrities and sports personalities, including Juanes, Miguel Bosé, Ricky Martin, Eva Longoria, and Paulina Rubio, just to name a few. The international exposure is meant to signify the support of various celebrities who believe peace ought to be a basic human right for all individuals on this planet.

The video airs in three different languages: Spanish, English, and French and it can be found on the "Paz Sin Fronteras" website.

Miguel Bosé mentioned the importance of having some standard international regulation when it comes to issues of peace being human rights issues. Communities of the world have a social responsibility to appeal to international organizations and their legislative bodies to reclaim their individual freedoms and govern over every citizen's right to basic fundamental human rights.

Do you thing this grass roots approach will work?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Juanes, Música, Miguel Bose, Politics

By Michael Lopez

Hispanic Heritage Month is in full bloom and this past week, even more notable Latinos received honors at the HHM Award ceremony in Washington D.C. Stars like Juanes, Eugenio Derbez and Luis Enrique made very memorable appearances at the Thursday event, but none got more attention than honoree Roberto Gomez Bolaños, aka "Chespirito!"

Roberto has been entertaining audiences across Latin America for over 50 years and the crowd seemed thrilled to have him at the event. Known for his childlike "Chespirito" character, the 82-year-old Bolaños suffered several heart attacks in recent years and has been keeping a low public profile.

In fact, many thought he would not show up in person to receive his Hispanic Heritage Award honor. But proving that he's still ever the prankster, Roberto surprised everyone by appearing on stage alongside his wife Florinda Meza.

To add to the fake-out, "Chespirito" even recorded a faux video that was played for the live audience. In it, he apologized for not being there in person because of health complications. But as the lights went on, there he was, smiling in his wheelchair.

"Thank you, thank you so much, this is incredibly beautiful," he tearfully said from the stage. "This award is a huge distinction that I appreciate for all its value. It is immense for me."

Another surprise appearance came from Juanes, who also has been very low pro since "taking a break" from music a few months back. Now sporting longer hair and a rather dapper suit, he showed up to accept the evening’s Vision Award.

Legendary musician Ruben Blades was on hand as well and spoke passionately from the stage about the ongoing immigrant struggles in America. Tr3s faves William Levy (still sporting the chrome dome) and Maite Perroni hosted the event, which honored notable Latinos in the fields of entertainment, sports, business, and medicine.

Which Latinos do you feel deserve to be honored this month? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, chespirito, Cultura, Hispanic Heritage Awards, Hispanic Heritage Month, Juanes, Maiti Perroni, roberto gomez bolaños, Ruben Blades, William Levy

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe that Hispanic Heritage Month is just a few weeks away. This year, you can expect quite a few famous faces honoring everything Español, including your favorite characters from Sesame Street. Yup, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and more are ready to get in touch with their inner Latino.

September 26th marks the kickoff of Sesame’s 42nd season and its creators have plenty of fun episodes planned. The one that we're most excited about is entitled, "The Latinization of Marco."

Based around the character of Gina, the episode will follow her as she learns about the culture of her adopted Guatemalan hijo. Marco, Gina's son, arrived four seasons ago and has been very popular with Latino viewers. He also happens to have a few famous fans as well.

In the "Latinization" episode, Marco will get to meet both Juanes and Sofía Vergara. Vergara will teach him (and the home audience) several important Spanish words and Juanes will discuss South America and perhaps whip out his trademark guitar.

The Sesame staff seems to be very excited about the special episode, especially since it encourages viewers to learn new languages.

"Sesame Street’s curriculum fosters children's natural inclinations to ask questions and encourages investigation and experimentation in order to make new discoveries,"Sesame Workshop Vice President Dr. Rosemarie Truglio explained.

And though they won't be appearing in the "Marco" episode, plenty of other high-profile Latinos have lined up appearances for season 42. Expect to see Rico Rodriguez, George Lopez, Bruno Mars, and even Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in the upcoming weeks.

Additionally, Sesame has booked Nicole Kidman for her first-ever appearance and locked in Robin Williams, Conan O'Brien, and Carmelo Anthony for drop ins. But we have a feeling that it won't be the celebrities getting the littlest viewers excited. They can look forward to brand new "Super Grover" segments.

Do you still watch Sesame Street from time to time? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Cultura, Hispanic Heritage Month, Juanes, Sesame Street, sofia vergara, Television

By Larry Yepez Jr.

The Colombian salsa leyend died this morning in La Asunción Clinic of Barranquilla, after battling health problems since the end of May. He was in the ICU of the medical center for 29 days.

"El Joe" was one of the most important artists in the tropical music genre and became famous for popular songs like "Tania", "La Noche" (covered by many, including Juanes) and "Rebelión" (also known as "No le pegue a la Neeegra"), which I'm sure most of us have heard, danced and/or sang to the top of our lungs at some point of our lives!

Joe was going through quite a few health problems including lung failure, heart problems, hypertension and diabetes. He died of what is known as multi organ failure.

Alvaro José Arroyo González, El Gran Joe, was born in Cartagena on November 1st, 1955. Soon began the myth of the little boy who's vocal chords were touched by God. At the age of 15, Arroyo was the lead singer of del Súper Combo Los Diamantes in Sincelejo; at 16 he was lead of La Protesta in Barranquilla; at 17 he was the voice of Fruko y sus Tesos, touring all of Colombia, and at 24 his talent went worldwide with La Verdad.

At the time of his passing,  he was still at the top of the game, so much that he had his luggage ready to go on tour in the U.S.. Right now there is a TV series with great ratings in Colombian tv station RCN called "El Joe", based on his life story.

On June 18th, in what would be his last time on stage, he was honored by other great Colombian artists like Fruko y sus Tesos, Checo Acosta, Diomedez Díaz, Wilson Manyoma (famous for his song "El Preso"), Hansel Camacho, Gustavo Rodríguez and Carlos Guerrero, ex singer of el grupo Niche.

Arroyo, a great singer and composer, was not only recognized in his beloved Colombia. On November his career was going to be honored by presenting him with a special Grammy award by the Latin Recording Academy.

As he anticipated in his popular song "...En Barranquilla me quedo..." and so he did. This musical leyend will be greatly missed around the globe and his powerful and unique voice will be heard throughout eternity.

Rest In Peace Gran Joe!

Which is your favorite Joe Arroyo song?

Tags Blogger:Larry Yepez Jr., Colombia, Fruko y sus Tesos, Grammy, Joe Arroyo, Juanes, Salsa