Gloria Estefan made her return to music with “Raíces,” a brand new album rooted in household and heritage, and one monitor was important, devoted to her grandson.

After spending a long time largely out of the highlight, the award-winning singer introduced followers to their ft with a nostalgic efficiency on the American Music Awards.

Gloria Estefan, who shares two youngsters with husband Emilio, crafted “Raíces” as a musical love letter to the individuals who have formed her life. 

Gloria’s newest album, “Raíces,” could also be a household affair, however one monitor particularly held deep private which means, a track she wrote years in the past for her grandson, Sasha.

Whereas her husband wrote many of the album, she added her personal voice to the undertaking by penning a heartfelt ballad titled “My Lovely Boy (For Sasha).”

Gloria defined that she initially wrote the track throughout a quiet second in Vero Seashore, Florida whereas spending time along with her grandson. After Sasha left, she picked up her guitar and let the feelings pour out. 

PEOPLE reported that Gloria realized years later that the monitor lastly had a house whereas recording the album. In her phrases:

“I am going, ‘Oh my God. It is only a excellent match, as a result of we’re speaking about our roots, the place we come from,’ and these are the issues that I wish to move on to him. He is the most recent present in our household and one that’s the pleasure of my life.”

The Miami native studied on the Los Angeles Movie College and appeared in initiatives like “Punks” and “Yearbook,” ultimately incomes a soundtrack credit score within the Sundance quick “The Solar Like a Massive Darkish Animal.”

However his ardour didn’t cease there; he additionally opened a drive-in theater in his hometown and commonly carried out below the title DJ Monkey.

Their daughter, Emily, born in 1994, additionally entered the music world on her phrases. A graduate of Berklee School of Music, she launched her debut album, “Take No matter You Need,” in 2017, with a sound that differed considerably from her mom’s. 

Emily is not only a singer; she is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and podcast host who has additionally launched her indie label, Alien Shrimp Data. The label signed a distribution cope with Sony RED in 2016.

Gloria made a robust return to the highlight forward of releasing her album Raíces, taking the stage on the American Music Awards for the primary time in three a long time.

The Blast reported that Jennifer Lopez launched the legendary artist, who shocked in a black velvet jumpsuit paired with a shimmering mesh high.

She kicked off her efficiency with a crowd favourite, “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” adopted by her new monitor, “La Vecina,” and wrapped up with the high-energy traditional “Conga.”

Earlier than stepping onstage, Gloria shared her pleasure about returning to carry out at such a significant occasion. “Oh, it is implausible; it is my fiftieth 12 months within the enterprise. I am unable to consider it,” she gushed.

J.Lo, who danced all through the set, praised Gloria in an earlier interview, calling her “a pioneer who opens the door and other people’s consciousness to just accept sure issues.”

Earlier than she launched Gloria on the 2025 American Music Awards, J.Lo was as soon as the subject of dialog, due to remarks she made in regards to the 2020 Tremendous Bowl halftime present she co-headlined with Shakira.

The Blast reported that when requested how she felt about J.Lo’s Netflix documentary remark suggesting the halftime present ought to have featured only one artist, Gloria stored it sincere.

“You’ve got like 12 minutes or one thing to get issues on and off the set,” she defined, noting that whereas a solo act might work, the NFL seemingly wished a “Miami and Latin extravaganza.” “They tried to pack in as a lot as attainable, and so they killed it. An incredible present,” she added.

Gloria, who was invited to carry out however declined, additionally added a bit humor, saying, “Think about what J. Lo would have mentioned if I had been a 3rd! I actually would’ve come out, carried out ‘Shake Your Physique’ [‘Conga’] and out.”