The day after canceling a concert at the Sphere due to “airplane issues,” Carín León returned on Friday night (Sept. 11) to the impressive stage for the second weekend of his historic residency in Las Vegas. The Mexican music star did not address the cancellation during the show. Despite a flood of criticism on social media, an ecstatic crowd welcomed him with excitement.
“¡Que viva México y que viva Hermosillo!” the 37-year-old musician exclaimed as he appeared promptly at 8:30 p.m. (local time), taking off his hat as a gesture of gratitude to the 20,000 fans who came to see him. León, the first Latino to headline a concert at the Sphere, then set out to deliver an unforgettable visual and cultural show, filled with tributes and big surprises.
Dressed in an elegant black suit paired with matching boots and hat, he paid tribute to his hometown, Hermosillo, Sonora. On the Sphere’s giant screens, stunning images of the desert, a cactus, the sounds of coyotes, Hermosillo’s Cathedral, Cerro de la Campana, and other iconic symbols of the region and of Mexico were displayed, honoring his roots with the same pride he has always expressed when speaking about his homeland.
One of the most moving moments of the night was when photographs of loved ones who are no longer with us were displayed in an altar-like setting with candles, during a section of the show titled “La Caverna Sagrada,” as he performed his hit “Cuando la vida sea trago.”
The night’s surprises included the appearance of two major figures in Mexican music as special guests. The first was the legendary Pepe Aguilar, whom León introduced as “one of my greatest inspirations in music.” Together, they performed their emotional collaboration “Lamentablemente” and Aguilar’s iconic hit “Por mujeres como tú,” closing with a big embrace. “Cómo te quiero, cabr–n”, (How much I love you, man), León told him.
The second guest was José Guadalupe Esparza, vocalist of the iconic group Bronco, and León couldn’t hide his excitement about sharing the stage with one of his childhood idols.
“My beautiful people, because at the same time I was learning to say ‘dad,’ I was also saying ‘Bronco.’ Long live Maestro Lupe Esparza, here with us tonight!” he said to welcome him. Together, they performed classics like “Si te vuelves a enamorar,” “Oro,” and “Libros tontos,” leaving the audience ecstatic.
Throughout the concert, León not only sang and danced but also took the time to interact with his fans throughout the night. With great pride, he held up the Mexican flag given to him by a fan, signed hats and albums, and recorded videos for his followers.
León officially kicked off his seven-show residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 4 with an immersive performance that takes full advantage of the venue’s next-generation technology. The series of concerts was interrupted by Thursday’s (Sept. 10) cancellation, just hours after it was announced that the singer would return to the Sphere next year. The new series of shows, produced by AEG, is scheduled for September 16-18, 2027, during Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations.
