Image courtesy of WIFT San Antonio

Shelly Lares, affectionately known as “Little Miss Dynamite,” will be honored with the Celestial Award for Music at The Celestial Awards Honoring Women of Achievement in Media & Entertainment on November 12 in San Antonio, Texas. With a career spanning over 40 years, Lares has been a pivotal figure in Tejano music and is a proud inductee of the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence, she has earned multiple accolades, including Latin Grammy nominations.

Lares began her illustrious career at the tender age of 10, recording iconic hits like “Soy Tu Amor” and “Ganas de Besarte”. A prolific songwriter, she is currently writing and orchestrating for film productions, including “Say A Little Prayer” starring Luis Fonsi. Throughout her career, Lares has broken barriers for women in the industry, proudly identifying as a Latina lesbian and actively supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

The event, titled “Honoring Our Women Trailblazers Past & Present With A Show As Majestic As The Big Texas Sky,” will take place on November 12, 2024, at the Majestic Theatre. Tickets are available online.

Shelly Lares shared her excitement about the accolade with Tejano Nation, saying, “This organization is global and Lucille Ball is the one who started this. The women that have all been honored in this organization, I mean, blow your mind, Carol Burnett, Gloria Estefan, just to name a few, of the women that are affiliated with this organization. Now I’m being honored for it. It’s exciting.”

Lares met Ceslie Armstrong, the director of the San Antonio chapter, in 2008 when Las Tres Divas, the trio that also included Elida Reyna and Stefani Montiel, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Mexican American Album. Lares said, “We have not seen each other since 2008 and here we are collaborating. It’s about collaboration. It’s about being with a group of people that are going to challenge you to be your best. I’m so grateful for these opportunities. I’m also, you know, giving them to my students at UTSA. This gives me an opportunity to bring them on as studio musicians, as writers, as film majors. I bring my students on set to the movies and, you know, let them kind of see what it really is up-front, close and personal.”

The Celestial Awards will be hosted by San Antonio native and actor Nicholas Gonzalez. Other notable honorees include Carol Burnett, who will receive “The Carol” Award for Legendary Excellence & Women’s Advocacy, Renae Treviño with The Celestial Award for Excellence in Theatrical & Comedy, and Ally Brooke with The Celestial Award for Entertainer of the Year. Shelly added, “I still can’t believe I’m being honored amongst these amazing women and from this incredible legendary organization! To God be the honor and glory!”

Women in Film & Television San Antonio is the leading nonprofit membership organization chartered in 2023 for women working in or pursuing a career in the media & entertainment industry in San Antonio, the Hill Country, the Coastal Bend, and South Texas, including partners and advocates of the organization. As an official chapter of Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI), the organization is part of a global network of more than 12,000 members and 70 partners and chapters located on six continents, dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women in all areas of film, video, media, entertainment, and other screen-based media. Learn more at wiftsanantonio.org.

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