Love, Family & 50 Years of Music

THE QUEEN OF LATIN POP HAS FOUND HER OWN JOYFUL RHYTHMIN NEARLY A HALE CENTURY OF MARRIAGE, IN BEING A GRANDMOTHER AND IN HER CUBAN HERITAGE

- DANIELA AVILA

The Beat Goes On "I'm blessed," says Estefan (in 2025; inset, ca. 1990). "My fans indoctrinate their kids with my music. It's a gift that keeps on giving."

After five decades in show business, Gloria Estefan is literally returning to her roots. "Raíces reminds us that we all are where we came from, and our culture is important to celebrate. It makes us who we are," Estefan, 67, says of her new Spanish-language album Raíces (translation: "roots"), which was written primarily by her husband of 46 years, Emilio, 72. Estefan has been busy writing a musical with their daughter Emily, 30, so the singer-who with her husband struck pop gold with their band Miami Sound Machine's 1985 hit "Conga"-placed her trust in Emilio for the project. "It's a very personal love story," says Estefan, who’s also mom to son Nayib, 44.

She’s won eight Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records and earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but the icon—who immigrated to the US. from Cuba when she was 2—hasn’t lost touch with who she is at her core: “No matter how far you get in life, you're always that person, that little girl, that dreamer.” Still living her dreams, Estefan talks to People about her new music and life outside the spotlight.

What inspired you to release another Spanish-language album 18 years after 90 Millas?

Emilio said to me, “Oh, I wrote you a love song.” I go, “Babe, you're going to sing it?” He goes, “No, youre going to sing it for me.” I go, “You wrote your own love song? I love that.” I agree with every word he wrote.