Lin-Manuel Miranda to be honored at Latin Grammy Awards

Lin-Manuel Miranda is to be honored at the Latin Grammy Awards later this month (Nov17).

The 37-year-old star is to receive the Latin Recording Academy President's Merit Award at the ceremony on 16 November (17).

Gabriel Abaroa, the organization's president, said the composer, musician, and actor was being honored as he had made an "outstanding" contribution to the Latin community.

"Lin-Manuel's urban and social poetry have provided strength and encouragement to every Latino motivated to get ahead," he said in a statement to Billboard.com. "He has brought pride to our community by reminding us of the resilience and fortitude we demonstrate on a daily basis."

Lin-Manuel rose to fame after the success of his hip-hop musical In the Heights, before his follow-up, the historical show Hamilton, made him a superstar after breaking records following its 2015 Broadway debut.

The star, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, also led a fundraising drive to help residents of the U.S. territory who were left destitute after Hurricane Irma hit the island in September.

As part of relief efforts, he released a charity single, Almost Like Praying, which was released on 28 October and debuted at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week (end05Nov17).

New acts have also been added to the Latin Grammys bill, including the boyband CNCO and Colombian crooner Sebastian Yatra. They join previously announced performers including Despacito singer Luis Fonsi and J Balvin.

The awards bash will be broadcast live on Spanish language Univision Network.