Music, in particular, plays a significant role in Spanish language entertainment. Genres like salsa, merengue, and reggaeton have gained immense popularity worldwide, with artists like Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and J Balvin achieving global superstardom. The infectious rhythms and catchy melodies of Spanish-language music have a way of transcending language barriers, making it accessible to listeners from diverse cultural backgrounds.
It started innocently enough. A Netflix notification here, a Spotify playlist there. For Carla Méndez, a 34-year accountant in Houston, Spanish was always the language of casa —home, family, and the telenovelas her grandmother watched religiously. But last year, something shifted. Carla didn’t just watch Spanish content; she fell into it. Deeply.
“I started muttering ‘Ay, güey’ in grocery stores,” she admits. “That is when I knew I was gone.”