Venezuelan Singers in Exile React to María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize: ‘Warrior of the Light’
Social media was flooded Friday (Oct. 10) with messages of joy and congratulations for Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was announced in the morning as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize — including posts by several Venezuelan singers in exile.
“What a source of pride, my GOD. Waking up to this news today is something historic,” wrote singer-songwriter Danny Ocean, who has spoken openly (and even sung) about Venezuela’s political crisis, in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter). “Today, peace has the face of a woman, and nothing is more inspiring than waking up to news like this,” expressed singer-songwriter Elena Rose on her Instagram Stories, calling the honoree a “warrior of the light.”
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María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” according to the announcement on the official social media accounts of the prestigious award. “As the leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado is one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.”
“Ms. Machado has been a key and unifying figure in a previously deeply divided political opposition, an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government,” continued the statement about the former presidential candidate, who has been forced to live in hiding in the past year. “This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree. At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.”
Machado was set to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in the July 28, 2024, presidential elections, but the government disqualified her, and opposition candidate Edmundo González took her place. Venezuela’s electoral authority declared Maduro the winner with 51.2% of the vote (without presenting supporting evidence), while the opposition denounced irregularities in the vote count and asserted that their candidate had received nearly 70% of the votes. The protests that followed turned violent due to the repression of the Armed Forces and police. An arrest warrant for González forced him to seek asylum in Spain, while Machado was compelled to go into hiding.
The issue was addressed last year in a historic Billboard Español cover story with multiple Venezuelan artists speaking out from exile for democracy in their country.
Below, read some reactions from Venezuelan musicians to the news of María Corina Machado’s 2025 Nobel Peace Prize (listed alphabetically by name).
Carlos Baute, on X: “Today, the world recognizes what Venezuela already knows: María Corina Machado is a symbol of freedom, democracy, and hope.”
Danny Ocean, on X: “What a source of pride, my GOD. You know… as a child, I had the great opportunity to live in a country very close to South Africa. I lived there during Mandela’s presidency. Seeing how my friends and classmates adored Madiba had a huge impact on my life. Waking up to this news today is historic — not just the fact that María Corina is ours, not just the fact that she is a Venezuelan woman, not just because of her bravery and her struggle… but because of the impact this will have on the future. I know that, like me, many children will have María Corina as their role model, and some of them will sing about the pain and longing of many, while others will continue to defend, fight, and push the horizons of freedom. What an immense joy. Congratulations on such an admirable recognition, Mother.”
Elena Rose, on her Instagram Stories: “Today, peace has the face of a woman, and nothing is more inspiring than waking up to news like this. María Corina Machado, woman, Venezuelan, mother, warrior; I honor your courage and resilience, which you defend with love and which is echoing around the world and in the hearts of many. The true beauty of Venezuelan women lies in her two well-placed ovaries. I embrace your soul, warrior of the light; this news embraces all of us. A Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela and all Venezuelans. What a powerful signal.”
Ella Bric, in a video shared on her Instagram Stories: “This is a moment of celebration. Venezuela has a Nobel Prize. This has been a beautiful day for the country, and we must all celebrate it together, above any differences or disagreements. Bravo. Bravo, bravo, bravo.”
Franco De Vita, on Instagram: “What a great example you have set for the entire world. Venezuelans could not feel prouder of you, María Corina Machado. You are the greatest thing this country has ever produced.”
Jerry Di, on his Instagram Stories: “Wow, aunt Cori, what an incredible piece of news to start the day. You deserve it so much.”
José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma”, on his Instagram Stories: “María Corina Machado: Our warrior who has what some men lack. Those of us inside and outside Venezuela pray for you so that you never give up and so we can reclaim our country in freedom and recover it spiritually, economically, and with the patriotic values that should never have been lost. Long live a free Venezuela.”
Ricardo Montaner, on X: “María Corina, you’ve just given me a hopeful awakening. Congratulations, you represent the feelings of millions… May God bless you to the very end.”
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