Gloria Estefan puts on protective suit to hug husband in lockdown on birthday

In her own words, Cuban former Miami Sound Machine singer Gloria Estefan – who had a string of global hits in the 1980s – talks about the lessons she’s learned in life…

My motto in life is, ‘Who knows anything?’

The answer is no one! It’s taken me all these years to realise. When I was a kid, I thought people in authority knew things, had better knowledge or a better handle on life.

But I now realise we are all flying by the seat of our pants! I will trust myself over anybody else.

Throughout my career, I’ve done my own thing. Emilio [her husband of 41 years] and I never bought into fame. We worked and we had our family at home in Florida.

I look back at other artists who were at their peak the same time as me and I feel very sad for them.

Whitney Houston died right on the heel of success before her comeback movie, Sparkle, which was going to be phenomenal. Michael Jackson, poor thing, he was doomed.

I myself never thought he would make it to 50. There were so many issues, he never had a childhood, he never had a normal life. He was a very sensitive man and we all know he had his problems, but as an artist, no one will top him. Never.

And I remember George Michael, from when we came to England to promote Dr Beat. Wham! was huge. But fame is tricky. I was lucky I was never alone, I had Emilio by my side the whole time.

The best piece of advice I’ve been given, and I say it to my daughter, is ‘You need to be true to your own vision’.

People will tell you how to do things in life, but you should never do something you don’t feel is you, or that you don’t like. Your life will become a living hell if you’re doing something you don’t like.

It’s better to fail in something you believe in than succeed in something that doesn’t make you happy.

My grandmother was my biggest influence.

Since I was a little child, she would say singing was my gift and you’re not going to be happy unless you do it.

She told me one day that opportunity would land in my lap and she hoped I would be smart enough to take it on. That way I’d find my happiness. She was very spiritual and a woman ahead of her time.

I learnt a lot from her. My grandmother was like the consummate stage mother. My mum was set to be a Latin version of Shirley Temple, until my father put his foot down. Maybe she had a secret wish to be on stage herself…

I don’t have regrets.

But I wish I’d been more expressive to my grandmother about how important she was to me. It’s the kind of thing you only learn with experience. You shouldn’t wait to tell people why you love them.

In a way, it’s something good to come out of Covid. We’ve slowed down and appreciated our lives and family. We’re usually all going at such a fast pace. I’m all about finding a balance in life.

As a kid, growing up inCuba, I was always very introspective.

I was very friendly and funny with my friends – I wasn’t shy. But I felt old when I was a kid, like I’d been around a while already. I always felt very self-assured and knew what I believed in and how I felt. I also drove my mum mad with my questioning.

I was very inquisitive. I finally studied philosophy at college. I love to exercise my brain – I still do. I’m always looking for new things to learn. I like to be self-sufficient.

My husband Emilio will always be the greatest love in my lifein a romantic sense. But right now, my grandson, Sasha, is the love of my life.

I see flashes of his father, Nayib, in him, it is mind-blowing to me. He’s just turned eight, but he speaks fluent Italian, Spanish, English and French.

For his birthday in lockdown in Miami, I rented a giant water slide in my back garden. I put a big protective suit on, just so I could hug him. And I hugged him so tight.

You can feel a great sense of power in saying no to things.

It took a long time for me to say no. My most successful image was a natural look – my curly hair, very little make-up, jeans and a white shirt. It was very low-key.

Stylists would want to blow-dry my hair, but no, I wanted to hang upside-down and diffuse my curls. It was a look I could carry with confidence because it was me.

I don’t feel any older. I’m more aware of the fact the time I have left is getting shorter.

Emilio says, ‘I look like Santa!’, but in my mind he looks 22. He’s still so energetic. I’m active, but I’m not hardcore about it. After my accident in 1991 [a bus crash while on tour], I had metal rods put in my back, so I worked at getting stronger every day.

But now, I don’t feel guilty if I want to relax. I’ll enjoy a glass of wine too. Although I’m noticing alcohol is fun in the moment, but you don’t sleep the same.

Me and Sasha took a two-week trip to Europe in the summer of 2019.

Emilio and I were opening a West End musical about our lives, On Your Feet. We turned it into a family vacation and toured England, Paris and Milan. This was at Mary Arden’s Farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother.

I love the history in England. We have beautiful memories of that trip, we rented a big bus and moved around to Bath for the Roman Baths and London for Henry VIII.

Can I just say, one of the best things you have in England are the service stations – we don’t have them. You can stop and fill your car and shop for groceries to make sandwiches. Amazing!

More On

Gloria EstefanMusicMarriageCubaMotorways