Joy: Thalia on the Latin Women in Music Spirit of Change Award Honoree

As part of Jesse & Joy — which she leads alongside her brother Jesse Huerta — Joy has achieved international recognition and scored multiple entries on the Billboard charts, with hits such as “¡Corre!” and “Mi Tesoro.” Yet, the lead singer of the award-winning Latin pop duo has proven herself to be a force in her own right, consistently using her voice to advocate for immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ+ equality, women’s empowerment, the fight against gender-based violence and animal welfare, all while navigating her own personal journey of growth.

Last year, her Broadway debut as co-writer for the musical Real Women Have Curves earned her a Tony Award nomination for best original score. Now, she receives the Spirit of Change Award at Billboard‘s 2026 Latin Women in Music — which recognizes artists who promote positive change within music and beyond the realm of entertainment — for inspiring change through her music, her activism, and her unwavering commitment to inclusion and justice.

Thalia spoke to us about her compatriot and friend.

Watch Billboard’s Mujeres Latinas en la Música live April 23, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Telemundo, and stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo app. Watch Billboard’s red carpet livestream on the Billboard.com and the Billboard Latin YouTube channel. For more coverage on Latin Women In Music click here.

The first time I saw Joy was at the 2012 Cadena Dial Awards in Spain. It was the day before the event; I went up to the terrace to grab a bite at a little restaurant, and she was sitting at a table with her brother and two other people. We merely exchanged glances. It was during the era of “¡Corre!,” which was a massive hit. Being the shy person she is, she didn’t say hello — and being the shy person I am, I didn’t say hello either. But I remember perfectly that I sat down near her, wishing I had found the courage to make contact.

Years later we reconnected, and now we’re constantly messaging each other on WhatsApp. As mothers, we bonded over what it entails to pursue this career while simultaneously existing in a whole other universe — one with different priorities, centered around the little beings you have to launch out into the world, equipped with the perfect tools, or at least, the best ones you feel you can give them. We really delved deep into that more personal side of things — the intersection of being an artist and being a mother.

As an artist, I absolutely love her writing style. I really admire how through her songwriting choices and the way she stands her ground against her brother regarding her artistic vision — something I only discovered through their [2025] documentary Lo Que Nunca Dijimos — she manages to reclaim the song, bringing it back to herself and to the specific message she wants to convey. And I love that about her because she fiercely defends her writing; she fiercely defends her stories and the way she chooses to sing them. That commands my respect.

Although they are lighthearted pop compositions, her songs are truly profound in their message, they are deeply spiritual. Her lyrics speak of sorrow and celebration, of love and of heartbreak — yet always from a spiritual perspective, rather than a purely carnal one. That is why I feel the Spirit of Change Award suits her perfectly; because, indeed, her spirit has genuinely sought change — in music and beyond.

Through her documentary, I was also able to gain a deeper understanding of this spiritual side of hers. One never truly knows the scars a person carries from childhood, nor how they cope with the circumstances into which they were born. The way Joy has deconstructed herself only to rebuild herself once more — embodying that “spirit of change” by leaving behind patterns that caused her pain, working on herself to move forward with a fresh vision and positive outlook, and healing the little girl we all carry within us — serves as a powerful reminder that it is okay to listen to your inner voice. And it is very inspiring.