LAS VEGAS –Gloria Estefanshimmied her hips and elbows, shuffle dancing through a song that has probably played on a million wedding dance floors. "I can't believe it's been 40 years. How can it be that long?" she mused to no one in particular on the cavernous stage at the BleauLive Theater atFontainebleau Las Vegas. The song is"Conga,"a pop culture staple since 1985, and it's among the medley Estefan, one of the bestselling Latina singers of all time, will perform during the American Music Awards May 26. It will be her first performance on the show in more than 30 years. It's 48 hours before the production airs live from the Fontainebleau (5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+) andEstefan is gamely running throughher showcase in a blue velvet pantsuit, her down-to-earth charisma apparent in between takes as she talks with stagehands and members of her vaunted Miami Sound Machine. She'sa seasoned pro, enthusiastically dancing, smiling and pointing through five takes of the medley and thanking the handful of production assistants singing and waving from the floor below her, placeholders for the crowd that will file in come showtime. Along with Estefan,the AMAs lineupincludes Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson and Reneé Rapp, along with Icon Award winnerJanet Jacksonand Lifetime Achievement Award recipientRod Stewart. The top nomineesfor the fan-voted show areKendrick Lamar(10),Post Malone(8),Billie Eilish,Chappell Roanand Shaboozey (all with 7), and all-time AMA leaderTaylor Swift,who adds six nominations this year to her overall win tally of 40. More:American Music Awards 2025 nominations: Kendrick Lamar dominates with 'Not Like Us' Estefan, 67, will be recognized for her influence on theLatin music industryby show host and performerJennifer Lopez, who told USA TODAY in a separate interview she appreciates the trail Estefan forged. "What exactly is a pioneer, right? Someone who opens the door and people's consciousness to accept certain things," Lopez said. "She definitely did that with her career for a lot of us Latin artists. She's dedicated her life to being a musician and singer and it's exciting to get to celebrate that." Estefan demurs when asked if she views herself asa custodian of Latin music. "It's nothing we ever sit down and think about because we just keep moving forward in everything we do and pick projects that make us happy," Estefan told USA TODAY when she finished rehearsal. "It was our purpose when we worked with artistslike Shakiraand JLo to push the door open a little because we knew they could do it. Everybody always told us 'no,' so we wanted to give some yeses. It's very gratifying when I seeBad Bunnysinging in Spanish on 'SNL' orKarol Gselling out four stadiums in Madrid with urban music. It makes me very happy." Estefan recalled watchingDesi Arnazduring her childhood and the effect that seeing him sing in Spanish on American TV had on her psyche. "As (Supreme Court justice)Sonia Sotomayorsays, 'If you can't see it, you can't be it'," she said. More:Jennifer Lopez talks American Music Awards: 'A big part of my musical history' Estefan'sfirst all-Spanish albumin 18 years, "Raíces," arrives May 30. The title track, released in March, vaulted to No. 1 on the Billboard's U.S. Latin/Latin Airplay chart, which is gratifying to Estefan not only because she's still topping charts, but because themusic is so personal. "I wasn't planning on doing that album at all," Estefan says, noting she's been busy writing 20 songs for the musical "Basura," which she's worked on with daughter Emily for three years. It willpremiere at the Alliance Theatrein Atlanta in May 2026. "Emilio (Estefan) wanted me to do it. He can do 50 things at once, but I have to focus, so I told him, 'Babe, I can't. But if I ever do an album again I want it to be tropical.' It's my favorite genre, my core music that I would sing as a 3-year-old." So Emilio wrote the album for his wife, including a valentine. The couple will celebrate 47 years of marriage in September. "He came to me and said, 'I wrote you a love song.' And I said, 'Oh! You're going to sing it?' and he said, 'No! You're going to sing it for me.' And I said, 'Oh, I see, so you wrote yourownlove song,'" Estefan recalls with a laugh. "Thank God I agree with everything he wrote." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Gloria Estefan talks American Music Awards, new album
