The Frost School of Music is honored to recognize the leadership and support of international superstars Emilio and Gloria Estefan with the 2025 Frost Legacy Award. The couple receives the annual award, which honors philanthropic leaders in the arts, at the 2025 Winter Wonderful gala in Miami, Florida.
The Cuban-American Miami couple are beloved figures who have had a profound influence on popular music and culture. One of the best-selling female artists of all time, Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and her numerous hits include such classics as “Conga” and “Coming Out of the Dark.” Her most recent studio album, “Raices,” topped multiple Billboard charts internationally this summer. Gloria’s many awards include a Kennedy Center Honor, multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards, an American Music Award, two Billboard Spirit of Hope awards, and being the first Latina to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The creator of the Miami Sound Machine, Emilio Estefan is a powerhouse producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, director, and author who has been instrumental in the careers of numerous stars, including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, and Jennifer Lopez. He has produced the Latin GRAMMYS for CBS, the Hispanic Heritage Awards for NBC, and multiple musical events at the White House. His many honors include multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards, serving on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and numerous civic, business, leadership, and philanthropic awards.
Married since 1978, the Estefans are the only married couple to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and have also received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. They are executive producers of “On Your Feet,” the hit Broadway musical showcasing their music and life story.
The Estefans are strong supporters of the Frost School and its mission of shaping the future of music. Emilio, who received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2001, is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee, an elite group of music and business professionals. Gloria, a University of Miami trustee and 1978 graduate who was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the Frost School in 1993, hosted the gala opening of the Knight Center for Music Innovation. She has collaborated with Dean Shelton G. Berg on her albums “The Standards” and “Estefan Family Christmas,” as well as concerts and telecasts.
The couple are ardent philanthropists and advocates of humanitarian causes, which have notably included disaster relief and environmental challenges. The Gloria Estefan Foundation, established in 1997, supports various causes, including education, research on spinal cord and vocal cord injuries, animal rescue, and cultural development. The Estefans’ generous support to the University of Miami includes establishing the Estefan Voice Studio—the first clinical space of its kind in Florida, and one of only a few in the nation—at the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology.
