Gloria Estefan made her return to music with “Raíces,” a new album rooted in family and heritage, and one track was significant, dedicated to her grandson.

After spending decades largely out of the spotlight, the award-winning singer brought fans to their feet with a nostalgic performance at the American Music Awards.

Gloria Estefan, who shares two children with husband Emilio, crafted “Raíces” as a musical love letter to the people who have shaped her life. 

Gloria’s latest album, “Raíces,” may be a family affair, but one track in particular held deep personal meaning, a song she wrote years ago for her grandson, Sasha.

While her husband wrote most of the album, she added her own voice to the project by penning a heartfelt ballad titled “My Beautiful Boy (For Sasha).”

Gloria explained that she initially wrote the song during a quiet moment in Vero Beach, Florida while spending time with her grandson. After Sasha left, she picked up her guitar and let the emotions pour out. 

PEOPLE reported that Gloria realized years later that the track finally had a home while recording the album. In her words:

“I go, ‘Oh my God. It’s just a perfect fit, because we’re talking about our roots, where we come from,’ and these are the things that I want to pass on to him. He’s the latest gift in our family and one that is the joy of my life.”

The Miami native studied at the Los Angeles Film School and appeared in projects like “Punks” and “Yearbook,” eventually earning a soundtrack credit in the Sundance short “The Sun Like a Big Dark Animal.”

But his passion did not stop there; he also opened a drive-in theater in his hometown and regularly performed under the name DJ Monkey.

Their daughter, Emily, born in 1994, also entered the music world on her terms. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, she released her debut album, “Take Whatever You Want,” in 2017, with a sound that differed significantly from her mother’s. 

Emily is not just a singer; she is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and podcast host who has also launched her indie label, Alien Shrimp Records. The label signed a distribution deal with Sony RED in 2016.

Gloria made a strong return to the spotlight ahead of releasing her album Raíces, taking the stage at the American Music Awards for the first time in three decades.

The Blast reported that Jennifer Lopez introduced the legendary artist, who stunned in a black velvet jumpsuit paired with a shimmering mesh top.

She kicked off her performance with a crowd favorite, “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” followed by her new track, “La Vecina,” and wrapped up with the high-energy classic “Conga.”

Before stepping onstage, Gloria shared her excitement about returning to perform at such a major event. “Oh, it’s fantastic; it’s my 50th year in the business. I can’t believe it,” she gushed.

J.Lo, who danced throughout the set, praised Gloria in an earlier interview, calling her “a pioneer who opens the door and people’s consciousness to accept certain things.”

Before she introduced Gloria at the 2025 American Music Awards, J.Lo was once the topic of conversation, thanks to remarks she made about the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show she co-headlined with Shakira.

The Blast reported that when asked how she felt about J.Lo’s Netflix documentary comment suggesting the halftime show should have featured just one artist, Gloria kept it honest.

“You have like 12 minutes or something to get things on and off the set,” she explained, noting that while a solo act could work, the NFL likely wanted a “Miami and Latin extravaganza.” “They tried to pack in as much as possible, and they killed it. An amazing show,” she added.

Gloria, who was invited to perform but declined, also added a little humor, saying, “Imagine what J. Lo would have said if I had been a third! I literally would’ve come out, done ‘Shake Your Body’ [‘Conga’] and out.”