Songfacts®:

• Raíces is Gloria Estefan's first full Spanish-language album in 18 years since 90 Millas (2007). The album was produced primarily by Gloria and her longtime collaborator and husband Emilio Estefan and recorded live at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami. It was released on May 28, 2025, 50 years after Estefan and her cousin Mercedes "Merci" Navarro first met Emilio Estefan and formed Miami Sound Machine.
• Gloria Estefan calls Raíces "a modern Mi Tierra," referring to her seminal 1993 album that lovingly recreated the golden age of 1940s Cuban music. But this time, the sound is a little looser around the collar. It still leans on classic Latin styles - salsa, bolero, tropical rhythms, but with a sprinkling of contemporary influences.
• Speaking on the Today show, Estefan described English as requiring "restraint" in emotional delivery to avoid sounding overly sentimental. But in Spanish, she said, "it's my heart pouring out." That emotional authenticity is at the core of her Raíces album.
• The album title means roots, but this is no museum piece. The title track uses gardening metaphors to express how honest effort and love can plant seeds for a better future. "Personally, this song is a tribute to where I come from - to my heritage, my culture and the rhythms that shaped me," Estefan said. "Professionally, it's a reminder that music truly has no expiration date when it comes from the heart, and to see Latin music elevated and crossing charts globally really is a dream come true and a testament to the growth of our culture and sound."
• "Raíces" topped Billboard's Latin Airplay, Latin Pop Airplay, and Tropical Airplay charts dated May 1, 2025. Estefan's first #1 on Latin Airplay was "Abriendo Puertas" in 1995, meaning she broke the record for the longest span of reigning at the summit: 29 years, six months and three weeks.