Today’s birthday is beautiful Gloria Estefan (1957–), the singer and songwriter who brought vibrant Latin and dance music to the mainstream.

Born Gloria María Milagros Fajardo in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Miami, she once shared, “I come from a family of strong and confident Latino women.” Her grandmother’s spirit and common sense deeply influenced her life.

In 1985, she danced onto the scene with the Miami Sound Machine and the unforgettable hit “Conga.” Her Latin roots fused with American pop, and her fame soared.

A Grammy winner with over 70 million records sold, Estefan’s life changed in 1990 when a tour bus accident fractured her spine. “I remember thinking I would rather die than be paralyzed,” she said. “But I told myself, 'No way. I'm not accepting this. I'm gonna get through it.’”

Through grueling therapy and determination, she walked again. Later, she donated $250,000 to the Miami Project To Cure Paralysis, supporting spinal cord research and recovery.

“You never know what life has in store,” she reflected, “but I believe there are things one is meant to go through.” Her recovery deepened her perspective: “I learned to enjoy what’s happening now. You must not take life for granted.”

Her voice still carries grace, resilience, and rhythm. She reminds us to dance through what life delivers and listen to what the soul already knows.