Gloria Estefan to Receive Legend Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Event

Gloria Estefan is set to receive a legendary recognition…

The 66-year-old Cuban superstar will be honored at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music event, which will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday, June 9, at 9:00 pm ET.

Gloria EstefanThe special will also stream simultaneously on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

Estefan will be honored with the Legend Award, which is given to outstanding artists who have left a “unique and immeasurable legacy and have significantly impacted the industry throughout their careers with their musical work.”

The “Conga” and “Mi Tierra” hitmaker is renowned globally as a multi-talented singer and composer, celebrated for seamlessly blending her Cuban roots with mainstream music and paving the way for Latin musicians in the global arena. Billboard has hailed her as the most successful Latin “crossover” artist ever, underscoring her transformative impact on music and culture.

She has sold more than 100 million records. Her many honors include three Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2019, the latter award in tandem with her husband Emilio Estefan.

Meanwhile, Ángela Aguilar will also be honored with the Musical Dynasty Award.

The title is given to artists who “keep a familial artistic legacy alive and honor the musical dynasty to which they belong.”

The Mexican singer is part of the esteemed Aguilar family, and, at 20 years old, she has carved out her own successful career with her talent while preserving the traditions of her family heritage.

With various hits under her belt, such as “Dime Como Quieres” with Christian Nodal at No. 8 on Hot Latin Songs and three No. 1s on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, the Grammy-nominated singer is a force to be reckoned with. She was also featured in Billboard’s 21 under 21 in 2022 and 2023.

This celebration, which highlights the efforts of Latin women musicians who are “proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry,” will see the Cuban-American superstar receive the Legend title and the regional Mexican music star the Musical Dynasty honor.

Other Latin Women in Music recipients include Kany García, who will be given the Spirit of Change Award, and Ana Bárbara with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the coming weeks, additional honorees will be announced for the second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music ceremony, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes.

Thalia to Be Honored at Inaugural Latin Women in Music Event

Thalia is feelin’ the love…

The 51-year-old Mexican singer and actress will be among the honorees at the first-ever Latin Women in Music, or Mujeres Latinas En La Música in Spanish.

ThaliaIn addition to the “Amor a la Mexicana” singer, the event will honor ThaliaAna Gabriel, Natti Natasha, Evaluna, Goyo and Emilia MernesBillboard and Telemundo have announced.

The inaugural event will take place May 6 at the Watsco Center in Miami and is set to be co-hosted by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen — who received this year’s Icon Award at Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music — and television personality Jacqueline Bracamontes.

The two-hour music special, which will air May 7 on Telemundo, will celebrate Latin women artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

“Our Latin Women In Music gala is a bold and inspiring event. Our honorees come from vastly diverse places, generations, styles, genres and philosophies, but all have excellence, commitment and unique and uncompromising artistry and points of view,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español. “In this landmark year for Latin music, we are so proud to launch our newest tentpole, where we will celebrate outstanding, powerful, leading women yearly.”

Ana Gabriel will receive the Leyenda Viviente Award. With more than two-dozen albums, the Mexican singer-songwriter has serenaded fans for nearly five decades with cross-genre chart toppers, including 20 top 10 hits and 6 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

The awards for the other honorees will be announced soon.

“We are proud to recognize this group of powerful artists who have redefined the role of Latin women across genres and around the world,” added Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo. “Music is more than a beat for the Latino community, it is a reflection of our identity. With this event, we aim to continue offering our audience the opportunity to celebrate our culture and come together through the music that unites us all.”

The show — which according to both companies will “embody Latin culture featuring powerhouse performances, impactful historic moments, and can’t-miss surprises” — will also be on the Telemundo app and available to stream on Peacock.

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. It aims to celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, effecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

Additional information about Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, including the first-ever Latin Woman of the Year honoree, musical performances, presenters and more, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets to attend Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música live at the Watsco Center can be purchased at BillboardMujeresEnLaMusica.com.