Gloria and Emilio Estefan to receive Gershwin song prize

PASADENA, Calif. – Gloria Estefan didn’t think she’d get married. Her focus was on attending the Sorbonne in Paris. But Emilio Estefan “landed in her lap” and music became her career.

The native Cubans will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in May. They are the first married couple (together 40 years) and musicians-songwriters of Hispanic descent to receive the honour.

Estefan told a TV critics’ meeting on Friday that the success of their personal union is due to having the same values and priorities.

The couple met when Emilio saw her sing in church. Six months later, he was playing a wedding and he asked her to join the band for a song.

Rita Moreno and Andy Garcia co-host the Gershwin tribute airing May 3 on PBS.