Latin Grammys Honors Mexican Icon Juan Gabriel

Gian Marco arrives at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event in honor of Juan Gabriel on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

(AP)

Everyone on the red carpet has fond words for Juan Gabriel, the Mexican icon and singer-songwriter named Person of the Year at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas.

The Latin Recording Academy is honoring the "diva of Juarez" on Thursday for his more than 100 million records sold, the 1,500 songs he has written over his three decade career and his philanthropic work.

The musicians, actors and celebrities at Gabriel's big night didn't need much prompting to reminisce about their favorite tunes and sing a few lines from "Querida," "Amor eterno" or the singer's first hit from 1971, "No Tengo Dinero."

When the man of the hour finally appeared on the red carpet, photographers and cameramen pushed down the velvet rope to get closer and get a shot of him.

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