Latest news with #Estefan
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Gloria Estefan takes us inside her American Music Awards return after 30 years
Gloria Estefan takes us inside her American Music Awards return after 30 years Show Caption Hide Caption Beyoncé Lands Three Nominations At The 2025 American Music Awards Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has been nominated for three country music awards for her 2024 album, 'Cowboy Carter,' at this year's American Music Awards. unbranded - Entertainment LAS VEGAS – Gloria Estefan shimmied her hips and elbows, shuffle dancing through a song that has probably played on a million wedding dance floors. 'I can't believe it's been 40 years. How can it be that long?' she mused to no one in particular on the cavernous stage at the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The song is 'Conga,' a pop culture staple since 1985, and it's among the medley Estefan, one of the bestselling Latina singers of all time, will perform during the American Music Awards May 26. It will be her first performance on the show in more than 30 years. It's 48 hours before the production airs live from the Fontainebleau (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+) and Estefan is gamely running through her showcase in a blue velvet pantsuit, her down-to-earth charisma apparent in between takes as she talks with stagehands and members of her vaunted Miami Sound Machine. She's a seasoned pro, enthusiastically dancing, smiling and pointing through five takes of the medley and thanking the handful of production assistants singing and waving from the floor below her, placeholders for the crowd that will file in come showtime. Along with Estefan, the AMAs lineup includes Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson and Reneé Rapp, along with Icon Award winner Janet Jackson and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rod Stewart. The top nominees for the fan-voted show are Kendrick Lamar (10), Post Malone (8), Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey (all with 7), and all-time AMA leader Taylor Swift, who adds six nominations this year to her overall win tally of 40. More: American Music Awards 2025 nominations: Kendrick Lamar dominates with 'Not Like Us' Estefan, 67, will be recognized for her influence on the Latin music industry by show host and performer Jennifer Lopez, who told USA TODAY in a separate interview she appreciates the trail Estefan forged. 'What exactly is a pioneer, right? Someone who opens the door and people's consciousness to accept certain things,' Lopez said. 'She definitely did that with her career for a lot of us Latin artists. She's dedicated her life to being a musician and singer and it's exciting to get to celebrate that.' Estefan demurs when asked if she views herself as a custodian of Latin music. 'It's nothing we ever sit down and think about because we just keep moving forward in everything we do and pick projects that make us happy,' Estefan told USA TODAY when she finished rehearsal. 'It was our purpose when we worked with artists like Shakira and JLo to push the door open a little because we knew they could do it. Everybody always told us 'no,' so we wanted to give some yeses. It's very gratifying when I see Bad Bunny singing in Spanish on 'SNL' or Karol G selling out four stadiums in Madrid with urban music. It makes me very happy." Estefan recalled watching Desi Arnaz during her childhood and the effect that seeing him sing in Spanish on American TV had on her psyche. 'As (Supreme Court justice) Sonia Sotomayor says, 'If you can't see it, you can't be it',' she said. More: Jennifer Lopez talks American Music Awards: 'A big part of my musical history' Estefan's first all-Spanish album in 18 years, "Raíces," arrives May 30. The title track, released in March, vaulted to No. 1 on the Billboard's U.S. Latin/Latin Airplay chart, which is gratifying to Estefan not only because she's still topping charts, but because the music is so personal. 'I wasn't planning on doing that album at all,' Estefan says, noting she's been busy writing 20 songs for the musical 'Basura,' which she's worked on with daughter Emily for three years. It will premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in May 2026. 'Emilio (Estefan) wanted me to do it. He can do 50 things at once, but I have to focus, so I told him, 'Babe, I can't. But if I ever do an album again I want it to be tropical.' It's my favorite genre, my core music that I would sing as a 3-year-old.' So Emilio wrote the album for his wife, including a valentine. The couple will celebrate 47 years of marriage in September. 'He came to me and said, 'I wrote you a love song.' And I said, 'Oh! You're going to sing it?' and he said, 'No! You're going to sing it for me.' And I said, 'Oh, I see, so you wrote your own love song,'' Estefan recalls with a laugh. "Thank God I agree with everything he wrote.'
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Superstar Gloria Estefan was asked if she would ever leave Miami. Here's her answer
She's not leaving. Gloria Estefan recently appeared on 'The Elvis Duran Show' and was asked whether she would ever abandon her adopted hometown. 'Miami is its own being, without doubt,' said Y100's Duran. 'You could go anywhere and you don't get the same feeling.' Estefan agreed. 'We have our own foreign policy,' she said, laughing. 'We're a country, not a city!' 'From there, staying there, roots there, businesses there, career there, family there,' Crespo said. 'Home there, friends anyone ever said, 'Hey have you thought about moving?' And you said what?' Estefan's emphatic answer? Heck no. 'I live in paradise!' said the Havana native, 67. 'Look, you know what? When my parents left Cuba [in 1959 during the Cuban Revolution] they thought they were going back and we became very deeply rooted in Miami. So leaving there now to me would be like them when they left Cuba.' The music legend admitted that over the years industry people have asked why she didn't relocate to Los Angeles, where the majority of celebrities live. 'They said move to L.A. Why? I can fly to L.A. and fly back home,' explained the 'Raices' singer. 'I've gone all over the world and whenever I would see the weather report... I'd be in Europe somewhere... it'd make me cry. I'd miss it so much. I love it. I'm a tropical girl.' Commenters on the radio station's Instagram page, which showed the clip, applauded the local superstar's loyalty. 'She's always lived in Miami and she's an icon here.' '#305' 'Gloria is the definition of Miami!'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gloria Estefan to Congress: Support for women's homeless shelters ‘a no-brainer'
She's used to belting out her hits, but now Gloria Estefan is using her voice in a different way on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to support legislation focused on homelessness and funding for women's and family shelters. 'I would say to the lawmakers, please, this is a no-brainer,' Estefan said at a news conference Thursday at Florida House in Washington, just steps from the Capitol. The 'Conga' and 'Rhythm is Gonna Get You' singer, a spokesperson for the National Women's Shelter Network (NWSN), is pushing Congress to pass the Women's and Family Protection Act, which would boost funding for women's and family shelters and homelessness support services. More than 1 million women and 2.5 million children experience homelessness each year, according to the NWSN. Despite a full plate before Congress and plenty of pressing issues, Estefan said she's hopeful that shining the spotlight on homelessness will help get the legislation passed. 'The attention is what it takes,' Estefan, 67, said. 'Absolutely, there's so much need and so many things that need to be handled. But I think that this is one of those issues that I would find hard-pressed for anybody to find a reason not to support,' the Grammy Award winner said. 'The way that we get a better America, a better United States, is to take care of all these children that have so much potential, and their mothers that care for them. And to be there on the front lines — as we need to be for people in need, marginalized, probably at the most dark moment of their lives — when they have nothing, and they need to reach out for help. I think that that's just a very easy thing for anyone to get behind, and I pray that they listen,' Estefan said. While Estefan typically shies away from political talk — her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, said last year that the couple doesn't 'do politics' and works with both Republicans and Democrats — in 2015 she was one of several artists who recorded a song, 'We're All Mexican,' to support the Hispanic community amid a surge in anti-Latino rhetoric. Asked her thoughts on the current political climate — since taking office President Trump has released a flood of immigration actions — Estefan, who was born in Cuba and emigrated to the U.S. as a toddler, said, 'It's tough, and always the last people in are the ones that get blamed for everything.' 'It's happened throughout my entire life. I've lived more than six decades — so this is not a new issue. It's an issue that has always happened, and usually behind political campaigns,' Estefan said. 'The fear really moves people,' the performer continued, calling immigrants 'the backbone of this country.' 'We're all a tapestry of cultures from everywhere, and unless you're Native American and were here before, you're from somewhere else — whether it's one generation back, this generation, five or 10 generations back,' she said. 'We are a country that is built by immigrants from all over the world and it makes us stronger. It's a beautiful thing to share all these cultures, and I'm just hoping that we can all raise our voices in support and pray that [we] keep moving forward in a positive direction. That's all we can do as human beings.' While Estefan is pressing lawmakers to take a serious look at the homelessness issue, she did have time to address a lighter question from ITK: Who does the best conga in Congress? 'The Cubans better have it, because if they don't, I don't know who would. But who knows,' she replied with a grin. But the entertainer, who's been dubbed the 'Queen of Latin Pop,' indicated that conga-ing members of Congress might not need a lesson from her on how to move their hips. 'It's very simple. Three steps to the right, three steps to the left. That's all you have to do.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Gloria Estefan to Congress: Support for women's homeless shelters ‘a no-brainer'
She's used to belting out her hits, but now Gloria Estefan is using her voice in a different way on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to support legislation focused on homelessness and funding for women's and family shelters. 'I would say to the lawmakers, please, this is a no-brainer,' Estefan said at a news conference Thursday at Florida House in Washington, just steps from the Capitol. The 'Conga' and 'Rhythm is Gonna Get You' singer, a spokeswoman for the National Women's Shelter Network (NWSN), is pushing Congress to pass the Women's and Family Protection Act, which would boost funding for women's and family shelters and homelessness support services. More than 1 million women and 2.5 million children experience homelessness each year, according to the NWSN. Despite a full plate before Congress and plenty of pressing issues, Estefan said she's hopeful that shining the spotlight on homelessness will help get the legislation passed. 'The attention is what it takes,' Estefan, 67, said. 'Absolutely, there's so much need and so many things that need to be handled. But I think that this is one of those issues that I would find hard-pressed for anybody to find a reason not to support,' the Grammy Award winner said. 'The way that we get a better America, a better United States, is to take care of all these children that have so much potential, and their mothers that care for them. And to be there on the front lines — as we need to be for people in need, marginalized, probably at the most dark moment of their lives — when they have nothing, and they need to reach out for help. I think that that's just a very easy thing for anyone to get behind, and I pray that they listen,' Estefan said. While Estefan typically shies away from political talk — her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, said last year that the couple doesn't 'do politics' and works with both Republicans and Democrats — in 2015 she was one of several artists who recorded a song, 'We're All Mexican,' to support the Hispanic community amid a surge in anti-Latino rhetoric. Asked her thoughts on the current political climate — since taking office President Trump has released a flood of immigration actions — Estefan, who was born in Cuba and emigrated to the U.S. as a toddler, said, 'It's tough, and always the last people in are the ones that get blamed for everything.' 'It's happened throughout my entire life. I've lived more than six decades — so this is not a new issue. It's an issue that has always happened, and usually behind political campaigns,' Estefan said. 'The fear really moves people,' the performer continued, calling immigrants 'the backbone of this country.' 'We're all a tapestry of cultures from everywhere, and unless you're Native American and were here before, you're from somewhere else — whether it's one generation back, this generation, five or 10 generations back,' she said. 'We are a country that is built by immigrants from all over the world and it makes us stronger. It's a beautiful thing to share all these cultures, and I'm just hoping that we can all raise our voices in support and pray that [we] keep moving forward in a positive direction. That's all we can do as human beings.' While Estefan is pressing lawmakers to take a serious look at the homelessness issue, she did have time to address a lighter question from ITK: Who does the best conga in Congress? 'The Cubans better have it, because if they don't, I don't know who would. But who knows,' she replied with a grin. But the entertainer, who's been dubbed the 'Queen of Latin Pop,' indicated that conga-ing members of Congress might not need a lesson from her on how to move their hips. 'It's very simple. Three steps to the right, three steps to the left. That's all you have to do.'
