Courtesy Crescent Moon, Estefan Enterprises Inc.Gloria Estefan has received Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honors, Billboard Awards, an MTV VMA and dozens of other honors. But she’s going to have to clear a space on her mantle yet again: She and her husband Emilio are the next recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
The Gershwin Prize is given to a living artist in recognition of their lifetime achievement in “promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of entertainment, information, inspiration and cultural understanding.” Previous winners include Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Paul McCartney and Smokey Robinson. Gloria and Emilio are the first married couple to receive the award, and the first recipients of Hispanic descent.
In a statement, Gloria said she’s “deeply honored” to receive the award, adding, “We feel privileged to have been able to live our lives making and sharing music. We are profoundly humbled to have been chosen for this singular accolade.”
Emilio added, “My life and career in music has been a blessing and I’m humbled by this amazing honor and to be sharing it with my wife,” and noted, “Throughout my career, my wish has always been to inspire minorities and to be an example that with hard work and dedication all your dreams can come true.”
The couple will receive their award at an all-star tribute concert in March, which will air on PBS in the spring of 2019.
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