D.C. ON YOUR FEET!
GLORIA ESTEFAN GOES
FROM THE CONGA LINE TO
THE HISTORY BOOKS
BY JEN ROSE SMITH
W
ielding a rose-printed gown and a youthful shimmy, Gloria
Estefan danced across the stage and into history at D.C.’s DAR
Constitution Hall in March 2019. That night, Estefan and her husband
Emilio jointly accepted the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize
for Popular Song, becoming the first Latino musicians to win the
exclusive award. Her signature curls tamed into a chic ponytail for the
occasion, the 61-year-old, Cuban-born artist then performed alongside
daughter Emily Estefan and a lineup of music legends including Patti
LaBelle, Jose Feliciano, and Cyndi Lauper.
It was a fitting tribute to a career that’s spanned genres, cultures,
and decades. “This show is a reflection,” Estefan said from the stage
where she stood alongside Emilio, “of so many different people like
us who have moved here to make a better life, who love our country
deeply and are proud to be Americans.”
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
AUTUMN 2019
7 FLYWASHINGTON.COM