Gloria Estefan is one of the most successful Latin crossover artists of all time. She first rose to fame as the frontwoman of Miami Sound Machine in the 1980s with hit songs like “Conga” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” Since going solo in the early 1990s, Estefan has released numerous solo albums and continues to be a force in the music industry. So is the Cuban-American superstar still actively touring and performing her catalog of smash hits?
Brief Biography of Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan was born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García in Havana, Cuba in 1957. When she was just two years old, her family fled to Miami, Florida during the Cuban Revolution. Estefan learned English and eventually met future husband Emilio Estefan Jr. while attending the University of Miami. Emilio was managing a band called the Miami Latin Boys and Gloria joined as their new lead singer. They later changed the band’s name to Miami Sound Machine.
The group’s blend of disco, salsa, and pop music soon propelled them to the forefront of the Latin music scene in the early 1980s. “Dr. Beat” gave them their first Top 10 hit on the dance charts in 1984. The following year, they broke through to mainstream American pop audiences with “Conga” which became one of the biggest singles of the decade. “Bad Boy” and “Words Get in the Way” also reached the Top 5, making Estefan one of the biggest stars of the mid-’80s.
In 1988, Estefan achieved her first #1 hit with “Anything for You” from the album Let It Loose. Tragedy struck in 1990 when Estefan suffered a severe spinal injury in a tour bus accident. After extensive surgery and rehabilitation, she made a triumphant comeback in 1991 with her first solo album Into the Light. The title track and “Coming Out of the Dark” were both major hits, marking Estefan’s evolution from dance-pop star to adult contemporary diva. Throughout the 1990s, she continued releasing hit albums while also acting in movies like Music of the Heart.
Estefan entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 in recognition of her songwriting talents and overall legacy. She’s won 7 Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2018. Even after over 40 years in the business, Gloria Estefan remains a beloved and respected artist.
Is Gloria Estefan Currently Touring?
Yes, Gloria Estefan is absolutely still touring and performing concerts as of 2023. While she may not do the grueling tour schedules of her youth, Estefan remains committed to delivering her iconic hits to adoring fans around the world.
In June 2022, Estefan kicked off a summer tour co-headlining with fellow legends Stevie Nicks and Christina Aguilera. The 13-city tour titled “Xfinity Center Presents: LadyLand” visited major outdoor amphitheaters in the U.S. Reviews praised Estefan’s voice and energy as being in top form despite being in her mid-60s.
She also performed a show in October 2022 at Madison Square Garden commemorating the 35th anniversary of her blockbuster album Let It Loose. Billed as “The Let’s Get Loud Concert,” the show featured Estefan running through her deep catalog of smashes that night. From the conga line inducing “Conga” to the above mentioned #1 ballad “Anything For You,” it was a crowd-pleasing setlist filled with nostalgia.
Looking ahead, Estefan has scattered live appearances scheduled throughout 2023 and beyond. Some notable upcoming concerts on her calendar include:
- February 9, 2023 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL
- May 27, 2023 – Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary, Canada
- June 24, 2023 – Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT
- September 23, 2023 – Hard Rock Live in Biloxi, MS
She also figures to announce additional dates, festivals, and potential full tours later in the year as well. After the successful “Let’s Get Loud” MSG residency last fall, more concerts centered around her classic albums seem very possible.
Recent Notable Live Performances
Beyond her tour with Nicks and Aguilera in 2022, Estefan has made several noteworthy concert appearances over the last few years proving her star power remains strong:
- February 2021 – Performed at Super Bowl LV pregame show in Tampa, FL
- July 2021 – Sang with massive Korean pop group BTS on new remix of “Dynamite”
- September 2021 – Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with concert in Washington, D.C.
- November 2021 – Sang national anthem before championship fight between Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant
- May 2022 – Delivered emotional rendition of “We Are One” on American Idol season finale
Based on Estefan’s busy concert itinerary over the past couple years, there are no signs of her slowing down anytime soon. Fans can expect her to continue touring regularly and delivering her distinctive blend of pop, Latin, disco classics for the foreseeable future.
Has Gloria Estefan Announced Any Final Tour or Retirement Plans?
Gloria Estefan has not made any official announcements regarding a final concert tour or retirement from music. While she is now in her mid-60s, Estefan has reiterated her passion for performing several times in recent interviews:
“Singing for an audience is the biggest thrill you could ever have,” she told Billboard in 2022. “It fills my heart. I know all the words to the songs I’m singing, but when I’m singing them, they become something brand new to me.”
In 2021, she told Parade Magazine: “I’ll be doing this until I’m 95 years old. I have no plans to retire.”
Estefan also posted a video on Instagram in January 2023 with the caption: “I love sharing my music with you all, so as long as you want to listen, I’ll be on that stage!”
Therefore, it does not appear that retirement is imminent for the Latin pop legend. While a farewell tour could potentially happen in the coming years, Estefan seems intent on performing as long as she remains passionate about it.
Concert Draw Remains Strong
The data also supports the notion that Estefan can continue touring successfully for years to come. Pollstar’s 2022 Mid Year Top 100 Worldwide Tours chart ranked Estefan and Nicks’ co-headlining tour at #39 globally. It was the highest grossing tour by a Latin artist last year.
In recent years, veteran artists like Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Billy Joel have undertaken massive “final tour” productions playing stadiums and raking in huge grosses. While Gloria Estefan is not currently at that legends-of-rock level, she remains a huge icon with multi-generational appeal.
As long as fans keep turning out and her drive remains strong, there is no reason Estefan cannot keep touring at a comfortable pace for the foreseeable future just as she desires.
What Does Gloria Estefan’s Current Setlist Look Like?
While naturally varying some from night to night, Gloria Estefan’s 2022-2023 setlist has followed a similar structure filled with her most beloved hits. Here is a look at the songs she has been performing regularly in concert as of late:
| Song | Original Album | Year |
|---|---|---|
| “Conga” | Primitive Love | 1985 |
| “Get On Your Feet” | Let It Loose | 1987 |
| “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” | Let It Loose | 1987 |
| “1-2-3” | Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me | 1988 |
| “Coming Out of the Dark” | Into the Light | 1991 |
| “Live for Loving You” | Tres Dias | 1996 |
| “Oye” | Abriendo Puertas | 1995 |
| “Turn the Beat Around” | Greatest Hits | 1992 |
| “Anything for You” | Let It Loose | 1988 |
| “Mi Tierra” | Mi Tierra | 1993 |
| “Reach” | Gloria! | 1998 |
| “Everlasting Love” | Greatest Hits | 1992 |
| “Let’s Get Loud” | Cut Both Ways | 1989 |
The list contains a finely curated selection of her chart-toppers across eras – from signature ’80s dance-pop like “Conga” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” to emotional ballads like “Coming Out of the Dark” and “Reach.” Fans are treated to English and Spanish language hits reflecting Estefan’s diverse catalog.
She aims to create a non-stop party atmosphere by packaging the setlist with mostly uptempo, rhythmic hits. While she has so many huge singles, deeper cuts and new material are rarely included. The focus remains squarely on delivering a crowd-pleasing parade of smash after smash, keeping fans dancing all night long.
Highlights from 2022 Setlists
Some additional highlights from Estefan’s 2022 setlists supporting Stevie Nicks and on her “Let’s Get Loud” shows include:
- “Dr. Beat”
- “Don’t Wanna Lose You”
- “Cuts Both Ways”
- “Here We Are”
- “You’ll Be Mine (Party Time)”
She switched up the closing number from city to city between classics like “Conga” and “Get On Your Feet.” The common thread was leaving the audience with an energetic, celebratory dance party.
How Long are Gloria Estefan’s Concerts?
In 2022, Gloria Estefan’s concerts typically ran between 90 minutes to 2 hours in length including encore songs. Set times averaged:
- Opener: 45 minutes (when applicable)
- Estefan: 60 minute main set
- Estefan encore: 15-30 minutes
This pacing allowed Estefan to perform around 20 songs per night. While her concert outings today may be shorter vs. 3 hour extravaganzas decades ago, Estefan still delivers a fully satisfying show highlighting her catalog.
Fans know they will hear a tight collection of smash hits and favorites without lots of deep cuts or new material mixed in. The focus remains squarely on the classics everyone wants to sing and dance along with for a limited time before leaving them wanting more.
Notable Encores
Some of the highlight encores regularly performed by Estefan include:
- “I See Your Smile”
- “Wrapped”
- “I Need Your Love”
- “Always Tomorrow”
- “Reach”
The encores provide a mix of mid-tempo hits and sweeping ballads to close out the night on a powerful emotional note.
Are Any Original Members of Miami Sound Machine Still Touring With Gloria Estefan?
Yes, Gloria Estefan’s husband Emilio Estefan Jr. still occasionally performs with her in concert when not busy managing their various business interests. Emilio was the original founder and bandleader of the Miami Sound Machine.
While the members rotated over the first decade, the classic Miami Sound Machine lineup featured on smash albums like Primitive Love and Let It Loose included:
- Gloria Estefan – lead vocals
- Emilio Estefan Jr. – keyboards, percussion, songwriting
- Juan Marcos Avila – guitars
- Wesley B. Wright – backup vocals
- Rafael Padilla – percussion
- Enrique “Kiki” Garcia – drums
Emilio will sometimes join Gloria onstage behind the keyboard for certain tours and concerts. Longtime backing vocalist Wesley B. Wright also still performs with Gloria frequently today. Other surviving members like Marcos Avila and Rafael Padilla occasionally appear, but not regularly.
While the core Miami Sound Machine no longer tours, Gloria does employ a stellar band including horns, percussion, and backup vocalists meant to recreate their classic sound in concert.
Next Generation Joins Tour
Gloria and Emilio’s daughter, Emily Estefan, has also joined her mom’s tours in recent years as a percussionist and backup vocalist. Emily has her own emerging solo career, but loves hitting the road with her iconic mother when available.
This cross-generational element helps connect Gloria Estefan’s timeless music to younger audiences and adds a deeper layer of meaning for the legendary singer.
Conclusion
Nearly 40 years since busting onto the global music scene, Gloria Estefan remains a beloved and active touring artist in 2023. While she has selectively pared back her workload compared to the ’80s and ’90s, Estefan still regularly hits the road for short residencies and festival appearances.
With no signs of slowing down or official retirement plans declared, fans can count on the Latin pop pioneer to keep the conga line moving for years to come. Her infectious energy and deep catalog of hits guarantee her concerts remain unmissable events whenever she comes to town.