Spanish recording artist Julio Iglesias has received various accolades through his career spanning seven decades. Renowned for sung in various languages aside from his native Spanish, he is the all-time best-selling Latino artist and one of the best-selling music artists of all-time.
Julio Iglesias obtained his first accolades in the late 1960s at Benidorm Song Festival (Spain) and Golden Stag Festival (Romania) both for its 1968 edition. During the 1970s, he began to receive awards at the international level; Julio was named Best Revelation Singer during El Heraldo de México Awards of 1971, he earned the fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest of 1970, and won the Italian's Golden Gondola Award in 1979. In the 1980s, Julio earned his first Grammy Awards nominations, winning in the category Best Latin Performance for Un hombre solo in 1988. He also won an Academy of Country Music Awards for Top Vocal Duo of the Year with "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" alongside Willie Nelson. During the 1990s, he became the first musician to receive Italian's Rudolph Valentino Awards granted by the Motion Picture Association of Italy and the Italian Film Producers' Organization in 1990. He also became the first recipient of the American Music Awards for Favorite Latin Artist in 1998, the first Latino to receive ASCAP's Pied Piper Award in 1997, and received Lo Nuestro Excellence Award in 1995. Throughout 2000s, Julio Iglesias was named Person of the Year by The Latin Recording Academy in 2001, and received the Gold Medal in 2005 by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute given by Queen Sofía of Spain. Between the 2010s and 2020s, Julio received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and achieved his first Latin Grammy Awards nomination in 2021.
Julio is one of the all-time best-selling musicians and has been recognized by various organizations due his sales. In 1973, he received a special Golden Guaicaipuro for his "extraordinary" sales in Venezuela. He was named World's best-selling artist in 1979 and 1980, and was recognized by the Guinness World Records in 1983 with the first and only Diamond Award the organization granted to an artist, for having selling 100 million records in six languages. In the 2010s, he received a special award as the all-time best-selling Latino artist and the best-selling artist in Spain. Years prior, in 1985, Julio Iglesias was recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture as the best-selling foreign artist.
Julio has been condecoraded by various governments, including France's highest civil honours, Legion of Honour by President François Mitterrand in 1992, and Knight Legion of Honour by President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. He also received the Medal of the City of Paris in 1983 and the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts in 2010 in his native country. He received the Medal of Competency by Bahrein's King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2012 and Santo Domingo's highest civil award, a heraldic shield in 2009 granted by mayor Roberto Salcedo Sr.
Awards and nominations
Award/organization Year Nominee/work Category Result Academy of Country Music Awards1985"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" Single of the YearTop Vocal Duo of the YearACE Awards 1995La CarreteraBest Melodic Album 1996Julio IglesiasTop Singer ALMA Award2002Julio Iglesias / Alejandro Fernandez at Billboard Latin Music AwardsSpanish Language performance in a television special American Music Awards 1998 Julio Iglesias Favorite Latin Artist American Cinema Award1989Julio Iglesias Artist of the Year Antena de la Consagración 1973 Julio Iglesias Artist of the Year 1980 Antena de Oro Asociación Internacional de Prensa, Radio y Televisión 2010Julio Iglesias Máximo Orgullo Hispano "Julio Iglesia's Day" Las Vegas Walk of Fame Asociación de Periodistas del Espectáculo 1977Julio Iglesias International APE ASCAP Award 1997 Julio Iglesias Pied Piper Award Asociación de Hispanos 1983 Julio Iglesias Aguila de Oro Benidorm Song Festival 1968 Julio Iglesias Best Vocalist "La vida sigue igual"Best Song: 1st placeBest Lyrics1970Julio IglesiasContest winner Billboard Latin Music Awards 1996 La Carretera Pop Album of the Year, Male 1997 Tango 2002 "Dos Corazones, Dos Historias" Hot Latin Track of the Year, Vocal Duo Billboard Number One Awards 1977 America Latin Pop National A MéxicoEl amorAmericaRegional Miami PopEl AmorA MéxicoChicago PopAmericaLos Angeles PopEl AmorNew York PopAmericaA México 1978 A mis 33 años Top Latin Pop Album 1979 EmocionesTop Latin Pop Album A mis 33 años 1984 "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" Top Country Single 1986Julio IglesiasTop Pop Latin ArtistLibraTop Pop Latin Album1987Julio IglesiasTop Pop Latin ArtistUn hombre soloTop Pop Latin Album"Lo Mejor de Tu Vida"Top Hot Latin Tracks1988Julio IglesiasTop Pop Latin ArtistUn hombre soloTop Pop Latin Album1989Julio IglesiasTop Pop Latin ArtistRaícesTop Pop Latin Album Billboard Music Video Awards 1990 Julio Iglesias & Plácido Domingo Latin Best Duo/Group Buhos de Oro 1993 Julio Iglesias International Award 1987 Julio Iglesias Lifetime Award: Biggest Latin Act 1988Best Male Singer "Lo Mejor de la Vida" Best Romantic Song"Un hombre solo"Un hombre soloBest Romantic Album1990Julio IglesiasBest Male Singer RaícesAlbum of the Year Cadena Dial 1996Julio IglesiasDial Award Cambio 16 1981Julio IglesiasArtist of the DecadeCasandra Awards 2007Julio IglesiasCasandra International CBS International1981Julio IglesiasCrystal Globe Award Desi Entertainment Awards1995Julio IglesiasAchievement of Hispanic Disco de Oro de Hollywood 1973 José José Winning-Artists El Heraldo de México Awards 1971Julio IglesiasBest Revelation/Singer Eurovision Song Contest 1970"Gwendolyne"Contest Fundación Independiente de Madrid2001Julio Iglesias Español Universal Fiesta de la Vendimia, Ribera del Duero 2002 Julio IglesiasHonorary Winemaker Ambassador of Ribera del Duero Grammy Awards1981Hey!Best Latin Recording 1983Momentos1985"As Time Goes By"Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal1988Un hombre soloBest Latin Pop Performance1993CalorBest Latin Pop Album1996La CarreteraBest Latin Pop Performance1998TangoBest Latin Pop Performance2019Julio IglesiasGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award Golden Guaicaipuro 1973Julio IglesiasExtraordinary sales in Venezuela 1981Best Foreign Singer in Venezuela Golden Record Awards 1995Julio IglesiasSpecial award Golden Stag Festival1968Julio IglesiasPublic choice Guinness World Records1983Julio IglesiasDiamond Record Award: 100 million records sold in six languages Hörzu2007Julio IglesiasGoldene Kamera International Academy of Art of Ischia 2007Julio IglesiasMusic Legend Award Japan's National Hit Research Committee1982Julio IglesiasBrightest Hope/Male Vocalist Jay W. Weiss Gala1994Julio IglesiasHumanitarian Award Latin Grammy Awards2021"Bohemio" Record of the Year Latin Star Inc. Julio Iglesias Star Walk Award Lo Nuestro Awards1990RaícesPop Album of the Year 1995Julio IglesiasExcellence Award 1996El Concierto Pop Album of the Year Mardi Gras1987Julio IglesiasMarshal of the Mardi Gras Festivities Medalla de Oro Mayte Spínola2024Julio IglesiasWorld's Best Singer 1979 Julio Iglesias Golden Gondola Award 2011Julio IglesiasHonorary Warden Muscular Dystrophy Association1986Julio IglesiasHonorary President New York Latin ACE Awards1975Julio IglesiasBest Male Singer 1976Julio Iglesias Outstanding Male Singer El amorAlbum of the Year1977Julio Iglesias Outstanding Male Singer 1978Julio Iglesias at Madison Square GardenBest Concert 1980Julio Iglesias / "Me Olvide de Vivir"Best Male Artist 1981Hey!Best Album — Male 1982Julio IglesiasBest International Artist 1983MomentosAlbum of the Year 1985Julio Iglesias en ConciertoSpecial Event for Television Julio y PlácidoJulio IglesiasBest International Singer1987Best Male Singer 1988 1990 1996 1997 TangoAlbum of the Year — Male artist Onda Cero 2003Julio IglesiasPremios Protagonistas Premios Aplauso1992Julio Iglesias Artist of the Year Premios Gardel2021"Bohemio" Collaboration of the Year Premios Juventud2004Julio IglesiasPaparazzi's Favorite Target Premios Limón 1982Julio IglesiasAntipathy to the Press Premios Ondas1994Julio IglesiasBest in the International History in Radio 1969 Julio Iglesias Popular of the Year 1973 Premios Radio y Televisión2001Julio IglesiasGold Award Premios Spania 1985Julio IglesiasPremio Naranja Queen Sofía Spanish Institute2005 Julio Iglesias Gold Medal Radio City Music Hall1997Julio IglesiasForeign artist with most performed shows Record World1971Julio IglesiasBest Singer of the Year Record World1971Julio IglesiasTop New Composer — Male Rotary International2011Julio Iglesias Paul Harris Medal Award Rudolph Valentino Awards1990Julio Iglesias Lifetime Achievement Sociedad General de Autores y Editores 1997Julio IglesiasGold Medal The BrandLaureate Awards 2016Julio Iglesias Legendary Artist The Father's Day Council1987Julio IglesiasFather of the Year Tiempo1984Julio IglesiasHombre de Nuestro Tiempo The Gleaner Contests Awards 1985Julio Iglesias Best Singer of the Year The Latin Recording Academy2001Julio IglesiasPerson of the Year Victoires De La Musique 1988Julio IglesiasViña del Mar International Song Festival1981Julio IglesiasGaviota de Plata World Music Awards 1997 Julio Iglesias Best Latin Singer Julio Iglesias Legend Award
Other honors
+List of state honors Country City/Gov./Entity Year Description Status France Mayor of Paris/Jacques Chirac 1983 Medal of the City of Paris Spain City of Villarreal 1988 de Villarreal Spain Xunta de Galicia 1990 Ambassador of Galicia in the World France President of France / François Mitterrand 1992 Legion of Honour President of France / Nicolas Sarkozy2007 Knight Legion of Honour United States 1992 Español Universal Spain Xunta de Galicia 1993 Ambassador of Jacobeo/Xacobeo Culture of the Year ChinaMinistry of Culture 1995 Best-selling foreign artist United States Mayor of Miami 1997 "Julio Iglesias Day" Spain Valencia 1998 Ambassador of Valencia Spain Mayor of Lalín/José (Xosé) Crespo 2002 Ambassador of Cocido de Lalín Chile Viña del Mar/Mayor Jorge Kaplán 2004 de Viña Romania City of Sibiu 2007 Gold Medal of the City Romania Bacău County 2007 Honorary citizenship Spain Deputation of Málaga 2009 Hijo Adoptivo de Málaga Mexico Quintana Roo/Governor Félix González Canto 2009 Distinguished Guest Dominican Republic City of Santo Domingo/Mayor Roberto Salcedo Sr. 2009 Heraldic shield Spain Ministry of Culture 2010 Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts Bahrain Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 2012 Bahrain's Medal of Competency Spain Community of Madrid 2012 Gold Medal of the City Argentina Province of Tandil/Governor Daniel Scioli 2012 Special recognition: Atahualpa Yupanqui Province of Lomas de Zamora/Intendent Martín InsaurraldeKeys to the city Decree Illustrious Visitor Romania Municipality of Transylvania 2013 Transylvanian Gold Medal of Arts Spain City Council of Madrid 2015 Favorite son of Madrid Spain Order of Isabella the Catholic Kingdom of Spain Grand Cross Order of Isabella the Catholic
+List of academic honors University Year Description Status New World School of the Arts 1989 International Honorary Professor of Music Berklee College of Music 2015 Honorary Doctorate of Music
+List of Walk of Fame/Hall of Fames Walk of Fame Year Description Status Hollywood Walk of Fame 1985 Walk of Star Nagoya Walk of Fame 1989 Walk of Star Little Havana's Stars of Fame 1990 Walk of Star Scheveningen Stars of Fame 1991 Walk of Star The Hispanic Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame 1993 Hall of Fame inductee Santo Domingo Boulevard of Stars 1998 Walk of Star Venezuela Walk of Fame 2001 Walk of Star International Latin Music Hall of Fame 2002 Hall of Fame inductee Munich Olympic Walk of Stars 2003 Walk of Star Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Puerto Rico Walk of Fame 2016 Walk of Star Walk of Star
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Further reading