Although Gloria Estefan has been away for 3 decades, her return performance at the AMAs more than makes up for her hiatus!
Gloria Estefan, a prominent Latin artist, made a triumphant comeback to the stage of the “American Music Awards.” Her performance was a nostalgic journey that resonated with fans.
Rising to stardom as the frontwoman of Miami Sound Machine in the 1980s, Gloria Estefan has transitioned into a successful solo career, making her mark in various music genres, especially Latin music.
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Gloria Estefan Took The Fans On A Delightful Spin With Her Performance
Introduced by the show’s host, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan appeared on stage exuding poise and confidence in a stunning black velvet jumpsuit paired with a sparkling mesh top.
Gloria brought the crowd to its feet with a three-song medley at the show. The AMA Lifetime Achievement winner opened with “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” then broke out into a new song, “La Vecina,” before closing out with “Conga.”
Earlier, on the awards’ red carpet, the singer was asked to express her feelings about returning to the stage following a 30-year hiatus. In her words:
“Oh, it’s fantastic; it’s my 50th year in the business. I can’t believe it.”
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The star raved about her upcoming 30th studio album, which drops on Thursday. She noted that the lead single from the album has maintained a top spot on the charts for weeks, an exciting testament to her longevity.
“So to have people still caring about and listening to my music is a beautiful thing,” she noted to the ET interviewer.
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The Hitmaker Reminisced On The Significance Of The ‘AMAs’ In Her Career
Gloria also touched on her rich, long history with the award show. She instantly linked the “AMAs” to one of the most important times in her life, as she reiterated the fleeting nature of time.
“Coming back from that accident, 35 years ago, I can’t believe it’s been that long,” the singer recalled about her infamous 1991 comeback on the “AMAs” stage after getting involved in a ghastly auto crash.
The incident left Gloria temporarily paralyzed, but her return to the stage months after was nothing short of a show of strength.
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Lopez, who gleefully introduced her to the stage and could not stop dancing as Gloria performed, had earlier gushed about the singer and her iconic status. She described Gloria to USA Today as “a pioneer who opens the door and people’s consciousness to accept certain things.”
The actress continued that Gloria definitely opened doors for several Latin artists with her astounding career. “She’s dedicated her life to being a musician and singer, and it’s exciting to get to celebrate that,” Lopez concluded.
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Inside The Latin Music Legend’s Family Life
Not only is her career enduring, she also holds it down in her personal life. The mother-of-two tied the knot with her heartthrob, Emilio Estefan over 4 decades ago, with two very talented children as proof.
She welcomed her son, Nayib, in 1980 and their daughter, Emily, in 1994, and both have not strayed from their mother’s creativity; Nayib is a filmmaker and entrepreneur, and Emily is a singer-songwriter.
She fondly reflected on her close relationship with her kids in an interview with PEOPLE. Gloria expressed that witnessing her children’s happiness and success is the greatest gift she could ask for.
The family has collaborated on several projects over the years, including their show, “Red Table Talk: The Estefans,” which features heartfelt conversations among Gloria, Emily, and her Emmy Award-winning niece, Lili.
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The Grammy Winner Detailed Her Abuse Experience
As noted by The Blast in 2021, the singer shared a candid moment with her family on “Red Table Talk: The Estefans” about a painful memory from her past.
Gloria revealed that her abuser was a family member, though not someone particularly close. At the time, her father was serving in Vietnam, leaving her and her mother vulnerable.
Gloria noted that her mother signed her up for a music school run by this estranged relative, which allowed him to manipulate the situation.
The singer recalled that the abuse was not an isolated incident; instead, it was a prolonged experience where this family member groomed her over several months. He would praise her musical talent to her mother, suggesting that Gloria needed one-on-one coaching.
This tactic reportedly allowed her abuser to draw closer to her under the guise of helping her develop her skills. Gloria reflected on this grooming process, noting how her mother felt fortunate for the attention she was receiving at the time, unaware of its underlying motives.
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Gloria Estefan’s Abuse Case Was Poorly Handled By The Authorities
While her abuser could not convince 9-year-old Gloria to agree to his evil scheme, he resorted to threatening her into forcefully meeting his demands. Her abuser mentioned that he would eliminate Gloria’s mother if she did do his bidding.
The singer shared her story with unwavering courage, explaining her thought process, saying, “I knew that this was a very dangerous situation, and when I revolted, and I told him, ‘This cannot happen, you cannot do this, he goes, ‘Your father is in Vietnam, your mother’s alone, and I will kill her if you tell her.”
Gloria added that she began to exhibit severe signs of stress and anxiety as a result of the ongoing abuse she was enduring. Her silence about her experience became so overwhelming that her hair started to fall out.
She eventually reached a breaking point, leading her to confide in her mother about her situation. In response, her mother contacted the police for assistance. However, the police advised against pressing charges against the abuser, suggesting that doing so might lead to further trauma for Gloria.
