SJM Feature - Estefan - FINAL_Pages 1 / 24 / 24 1 : 17 PM Page 3 Gloria Estefan think that rather than totally disbe - lieving me , he found my pro - nouncement exciting and moti - vating . ” Fast forward decades later and it’s easy to see that Estefan’s pre - monition was spot on as the group Q & A that would later become the Mi - ami Sound Machine would go on Firstoff , I wanted to ask you about peating ourselves musically in order to longevity and what that word means to “ play it safe ” with what had worked be - to tremendous success , creating you.You’ve had this wonderfully fore.We have always wanted our music to some of the biggest hits in modern amazingmusic career that has spanned grow as our lives and experiences have music . Meanwhile , she and her decades ; , you’ve been married to your grown and I believe that our fans have husband for nearly as long ; the two of appreciated it . husband are the epitome of the youhave been involved in the hospi - powercouple , continuing to build talitybusiness for quite some time and Can you talk a little bit about the con - you continue to make lasting impacts in nection you and Emilio have after all upon their empire , which has various communities . Do you ever this time together ? In a world where stretched well beyond the music pauseto think about longevity or reflect couples , especially those in the lime - world . onthe legacy you continue to build light , don’t always last , how has your upon ? love for one another continued to evolve To her credit , Estefan is one of As far back as I can remember , whenever and get stronger ? the most celebrated and recog - I would think about the things that I I have to say that , despite the fact that we nized artists of all time . She has wanted to do or decisions I needed to have spent the last 47 years as a couple , make , my second thought would be 44 of them married , time has literally soldmore than 100 million records about the impact of that decision on my flown for us both . Emilio and I have very worldwide , charted 38 No . 1 hit long - term future . Perhaps this came from different personalities but it creates a singles , won seven Grammys and being a first - generation immigrant and beautiful balance . I always kid that if we being keenly aware of the trauma my were both like me , we’d still be playing hasbeen awarded the Presidential parents and grandparents lived by having guitar on our living room couch , and if Medal of Freedom . And in 2023 to leave their successful lives in Cuba , my we were both like him we’d be dead of native land , and come to a new country heart attacks by now from overworking sheadded to her impressive list of to start over . It was important for me to every possible moment . But that’s the honorswhen she was inducted into take steps forward but try to ensure that it beauty of our relationship , we fill each the Songwriters Hall of Fame . was always on solid ground . other in . We love a lot of the same After marrying Emilio and having our things — family , nature , animals — and we There’s even a Broadway show — son , Nayib , it became important that our rarely differ on music , politics , religion or On Your Feet ! — based on her and decisions take into account the impact priorities so we don’t have many reasons Emilio’s lives and the music they they would have on our son or future to argue . children in the hopes that we would Don’t get me wrong , through the created , and which the couple make them proud . years we’ve learned each other’s ins , outs executive produced . After our initial success with our mu - and limits , but from the day we said “ I We had the chance to talk with sic , it became important for us to take do , ” our prime motivation has been to into account our culture and the impact get through and enjoy life together and Estefan about her storied career , our decisions might have on our Cuban be there for each other , supporting and life away from the spotlight and people who saw us as an example of what applauding each other’s successes with - could be achieved in this great country out allowing ego to get in the way . what drives her to continue to cre - and the world . ate the soundtrack to our lives . It has also always been very impor - Whatare some of your earliest music tant to us to continue to grow and evolve memories ? in our careers and not stay stagnant , re - I remember my mother singing to me 1 2 | S O U T H J E R S E Y M A G A Z I N E | V O L U M E 2 0 • I S S U E 1 0 | S O U T H J E R S E Y M A G A Z I N E . C O M