Gloria Estefan, a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Latina to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The gala ceremony took place on June 15 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, where Estefan was honored for her impact and contribution to music.

During her acceptance speech, Estefan expressed her gratitude to the fans who found in her music what she found in the compositions of the artists who influenced her life. She described the privilege of being recognized in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and mentioned that the experience on the other side of music is truly magical.

Estefan's career spans more than four decades and is marked by the popularization of Latin rhythms and hits such as “Rhythm Is going to Get You” and “Let’s Get Loud”. Her influence led Latin sounds to gain prominence in the mainstream music scenes of the United States. Since the late 1970s, when she was the lead singer of the band Miami Sound Machine, Estefan reached the top of the international charts in the 1980s and 1990s with songs such as  “Conga”  and “Mi Tierra”, according to a report by NBCNews.

Estefan’s success paved the way for other Latin megastars such as Shakira, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Selena, who also used Latin genres to gain popularity among English-speaking audiences. Over the course of her career, Estefan has received eight Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

In addition to recognition in the Composers Hall of Fame, Gloria Estefan has won other major awards. In 2017, she became the first Cuban-American artist to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors Award. In 2015, then-President Barack Obama honored Estefan and her husband, Emilio Estefan, a music mogul and producer, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of the iconic couple's contribution to American music.

During the awards ceremony, Estefan gave an emotional performance that prompted the audience to rise from their chairs. She was accompanied by her husband Emilio and their 11-year-old grandson, Sasha. Through a medley of some of her most important songs, such as “Anything for You”, “Don’t want to Lose You”, “Words Get in the Way”, “Let’s Get Loud” and “Rhythm’s going to Get You”, Estefan demonstrated her talent and her lasting legacy in the music industry.

Gloria Estefan shared on stage that music saved her life, highlighting the transformative and inspiring power of art on her personal journey. Her induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is a testament to her exceptional talent and her lasting influence on Latin music and the global music scene.