After taking several years off to focus on motherhood, Gloria Esefan, 54, is back with a new album, Miss Little Havana, produced by Pharrell Williams. The Queen of Latin Pop talked to Parade.com about her new album, her musically talented daughter, the secret to her 33-year marriage to music producer Emilio Estefan and more.

Here are some highlights:

On what prompted her return to the studio…
“It happened naturally. Pharrell and I share a trainer and he kept telling me, ‘Pharrell wants to talk to you. He’s got an idea.’ So we set up a meeting and he brought me ‘Miss Little Havana.’ He also lives in Miami, so we wanted to make a Miami-feeling record. When I heard the songs, it sparked such curiosity in me to see what kind of baby we could come up with. When we got into the studio we clicked. It was just so easy. It poured out.

“I always tell Emilio, women in the entertainment industry are kind of like athletes, you have a window and then suddenly you’re gone. So I feel so fortunate that so many years later I’m still making music and there’s still fans that want to hear it.”

On the sexier look and sound of Miss Little Havana…
“It’s fun for me. Everything ended up with a lot of double entendres, but Cubans, we use that a lot. It’s part of our culture and the music was sexy, so it just all led in that direction. I’m very comfortable in my own skin now. I started just being myself more and more. For women, this happens as you get older. I loved my 40s — I thought they were fantastic. And I’m loving my 50s. I’m going to love everything because you’re either older or dead!”

On having her 16-year-old daughter Emily play guitar on the album…
“She’s an amazing musician. I sit in awe of her quite honestly. She gets on the drums and then she grabs the guitar, and now she’s programming all this music. She did a remix for ‘WEPA.’ She does sing, but she won’t. She’s got a beautiful voice. She sounds actually like me — even in her speaking voice. She’s kind of like a clone! But I guess she doesn’t want to touch that, but I can understand. Maybe one day she’ll venture out a little into singing. I don’t want to push her. I just want her to be happy and decide what she wants to do. But she’s a total musician.”

Visit Parade.com for more on Gloria Estefan, including the secret to her successful marriage, how being critically injured in an accident 20+ years ago changed her and the possibility of a future world tour!
http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2011/10/gloria-estefan.html

Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan encountered deceased souls while making her way through the Winter’s Night: The Haunting of Hawthorn Cemetery haunted house at Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights 21 tonight. Hosted this year by Universal Orlando, Estefan and her family are avid fans of Halloween Horror Nights and have been coming to the event since its inception in 1990. Named “the country’s best Halloween event” for four years in a row, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights brings to life guests’ most intense nightmares on select nights this fall through October 31. Estefan’s newest album, “Miss Little Havana” debuted Sept. 27 with the hit single, “Wepa,” already at No. 3 on the Billboard dance chart.

Photo Credit: Roberto Gonzalez, Universal Orlando Resort

In the realm of Cuban musicians and entertainers, Gloria Estefan has been revered as the community’s first daughter, the child of exiles whose songs of love and country are a staple in any music collection.

Now the songstress is taking on a new role: On Thursday, she and husband Emilio Estefan will host President Barack Obama at their Miami Beach home for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.

It’s a political act that has drawn both condemnation and admiration in this traditionally Republican community, where the younger generation has been trending more Democratic.

“They represented our community with much dignity and class throughout their entire career,” said Val Prieto, founder of the conservative Cuban-American blog, Babablu. Now, Prieto says, he’s disappointed.

“It just leaves a real bad taste in my mouth and a lot of the people in the community,” he said.

Some have dismissed her as a traitor to the Cuban cause. Others praise her for grabbing the president’s ear on an issue that remains at the forefront of South Florida politics, five decades after the 1959 revolution.

Whatever the interpretation, they are the most famous Cuban Americans to come out in support of a Democrat – an act that many say is emblematic of a community whose political orientations have been shifting.

“The fact that they’re openly engaging the Democratic president, I think, speaks to the shift that is taking place in the Cuban electorate itself,” said Fernand Amandi, executive vice president of Bendixen & Amandi, a public opinion research and consulting firm in Miami that has surveyed Cuban Americans.

A 2008 poll of 800 randomly selected Cuban-Americans found that younger and more recent immigrants were less likely to be Republican than older generations: Among those 18 to 44, 42 percent identified as Republican, compared to 66 percent of those age 65 and older. A majority in the younger age bracket said they voted for Obama.

And while Latin pop singer Juanes’ recent “Peace Without Borders” concert in Havana drew attention to the most radical segments of the Cuban American community who condemned the concert, another poll found that a majority had a favorable opinion of the event.

“The perception in the United States is that this is a monolithic community,” said Jaime Suchlicki, an expert on Cuban affairs at the University of Miami. “That is not accurate. This is a very diversified community.”

The Thursday fundraiser reflects a growing relationship between the couple and Obama. Gloria Estefan sang at the White House for a Latin musical heritage event. Emilio Estefan was appointed by the president to a committee that will study a potential National Museum of the American Latino.

Freddy Balsera, a friend and Democratic consultant, said the Estefans are registered independents who voted for and support Obama. He noted that they also had good relationships with both previous Bush administrations.

The Estefans were both born in Cuba and together became musical luminaries, winning Grammy awards and fans across the U.S. with crossover hits like “Conga” and “Words Get in the Way,” in addition to helping the careers of other artists.

They were not available for comment on Wednesday, a representative said.

“I think from Gloria and Emilio’s perspective, they’re at a point in their lives where patriotism matters a lot,” Balsera said. “And the issue of human rights and democracy in Cuba is a tremendous priority for them.”

The Estefans have become increasingly politically active. Last month, Gloria Estefan led a march through the streets of Miami in support of the Ladies in White, a group of wives and family members of political prisoners in Cuban jails. The march attracted thousands and led to similar events in New York City and Los Angeles.

Balsera described their activism as “pure,” saying neither is interested in political office.

While other Cuban musicians have stepped into the political waters that divide the U.S. and Cuba – Celia Cruz and Olga Guillot supported similar causes – none have had a similar level of success in raising awareness and drawing supporters, said Jaime Suchlicki, an expert on Cuban affairs at the University of Miami.

“And the reason is one, it was Gloria Estefan,” Suchlicki said. “Number two, there is a belief that things are getting hot in Cuba.”

But the fundraiser – a $30,400-per couple cocktail reception – has hit a nerve.

“Mention the Estefans and many no longer conjure up images of freedom and catchy tunes,” columnist Jackie Bueno Sousa wrote in The Miami Herald. “Now – rightly or wrongly – many associate the name with Obamacare, abortion, powerful unions, creation of a welfare state.”

Prieto recalled attending the Estefans’ early performances at weddings and birthday parties, and said he knows all of their songs by heart. What upsets him is not just that they’re supporting Obama, but the Democratic party.

“I was incredibly disappointed,” Prieto said.

Lisandro Perez, a sociology professor at Florida International University in Miami said the Estefans have usually been on “the right side” of Cuban American politics.

The fundraiser is a small step out of line. “But if what you want to do is to influence a president to maintain current Cuban policy, it’s smart,” Perez said.

Some say that’s a viewpoint more are starting to agree with.

“Talking to folks and interacting with folks around town, it is a very, very small but loud minority that has been critical of this,” Balsera said. “I think generally speaking people are proud the president is coming to our city, and that he’s going to be in the home of a very well respected Cuban American family.”

Emilio and Gloria Estefan and other celebrities gathered to record a Spanish-language version of “We are the World” on Friday to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims.

Emilio Estefan said he was talking with Quincy Jones about the importance of the Spanish market when the idea developed.

“You know, Latinos always want to do things in a positive way, to show the world that even we come from different places, we wanted to definitely help,” he said. “I think now is the best time because people forget.”

Actor Andy Garcia was also participating and said that as soon as Estefan called him, he said he would take part.

“You wish you wouldn’t have to do a fundraiser for Haiti,” he said. “It’s going to need attention for quite some time … It’s not just a question of raising money today and everything is going to be all right.”

Other singers who were to participate in recording the track include Banda El Recodo, Carlos Santana, Chayanne, David Archuleta, Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano.

The song, “Somos El Mundo,” was adapted by the Estefans, who partnered with Jones, Univision and the not-for-profit We are the World Foundation to gather the artists to record the song. Univision is underwriting, co-producing and doing distribution of the song, which goes on sale in March. All of the artists volunteered.

“I just feel real good. I am not here as an artist. I am here as a human being,” said Cuban-American singer and actor Jencarlos Canela.

“I think that the world needs to realize that we cannot wait for a tragedy to happen to come together and to be united.”

Singer Chayanne said he was moved by the opportunity to work on the song.

“You do it from the bottom of your heart and you really feel great to do something like this with Emilio and Gloria,” he said.

Singer Milly Quezada called it a chance to reach people who had not yet been moved by the events in Haiti.

“It is a divine opportunity for us to stand together in solidarity. Obviously, this song is a beautiful song. Gloria made a beautiful translation,” Quezada said.

Singer Ednita Nazario said she was “flabbergasted” when she saw images of the quake’s aftermath on TV.

“I think you do what comes straight from your heart. Its important to keep Haiti in people’s minds and heart. This is a longterm situation because it’s not rebuilding a building, its building a whole country that needs help,” she said “The difference is that Haiti has nothing.”

David Archuleta said it was great to see how many celebrities were willing to come together for the cause.

“I love this song. It’s just great to be able to be a part of it in Spanish,” he said.

Jon Secada called it a “momentous recording.”

“As a music community to be able to have the opportunity to come together and to do something that really matters, and give something back, it’s important,” he said.

The singer was heading to dinner with Ricky Martin and Bulgari CEO Francesco Trapani to celebrate the jeweler’s 125th-anniversary collection at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.

A source said: “Gloria went to say hello to Ricky and show off her jewelry to Francesco — but the bracelet was gone. Her husband, Emilio, ran outside. After 30 minutes searching on the cobblestone walkway in the dark with a security team, he found it and returned it to Gloria.”

(source)