'Music has never brought me anything but joy': Gloria Estefan reflects on importance of music in her life

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gloria Estefan has revealed how music has “allowed [her] to survive" in the most difficult phases of her life.

In 'Life Stories’ first episode of their new YouTube documentary interview series 'The Thread', which will consist of interviews with the likes of Martin Sheen, Tony Hawk, Katie Couric and others, the eight time Grammy Award winner detailed the importance of music in her life and the purposes that it gave her. 

What did Gloria Estefan say?

“Music has never brought me anything but joy,” the 66-year-old said in the interview preview for her episode 'Gloria Estefan: Singing Through Struggles.' The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient credited music for helping her through hard times. 

“It allowed me to survive some of the toughest moments in my life,” she said, adding, “When the Castro forces came in, my father told my mother that he needed to get us out of Cuba. My mother told him, ‘They’re gonna arrest you’ and that’s exactly what happened.”

During the tough times she endured, Estefan said,  “Music moved me. It was my escape.” While she never anticipated the fame she has acquired, she “gives purpose to [her] fame” by inspiring others in difficult situations.

“I never would’ve imagined being an artist,” the singer said as per People. “But I can inspire people that are going through their own hardships and that gave so much purpose to my fame,” she added.

Gloria Estefan and her husband celebrated 45 years of marriage last year

The singer and her husband, musician and producer Emilio Estefan, celebrated 45 years of marriage in 2023. When asked what their hopes are for the future, Emilio, 70, said he hopes to inspire the next generation of singers.

"I hope the door is open now [for artists to] believe in where they come from,” he told People, adding “You have a sound for Colombia, Spain, Merengue, or the Cuban music, Puerto Rican music. Don't forget your country. Make it your own… In the long run, people respect that."

The 'Anything For You' singer said that she and her husband “make a great team.” “We love and support each other. He's been incredibly motivational for me from day one,” Estefan told the outlet, adding “He saw I didn't like being the center of attention and he saw something in me early. He has always been there loving and supporting and making things as easy as possible for me.”