Gloria Estefan rocks South Beach

MIAMI (WISH) - The CBS Early Show musical guest was Gloria Estefan. We all know her songs and can’t help but dance when we hear them.

I mean, even Early Show host Harry Smith shook his hips to the beat. She sang three songs and was fabulous.

But what impressed me most was that after the concert she walked down and talked to her fans, signed autographs and took pictures. It may not seem like much, but there were hundreds of fans and she stopped to sign every hat, shirt, poster, football, helmet, picture…everything. And she chatted with all the fans as she took every picture that was requested.

Gloria is an icon here in Miami. This is her hometown where she still lives where she lives with her family. Her extended family all lives close by and she calls her Miami fans her family, too.

I was so impressed by her generosity that when I was finally able to interview her that was the first thing I asked about was if she was ever tired of signing autographs and taking pictures.

She of course said “no,” but she went on to say that the fans were there for her when she really needed them and that they prayed for her when she needed prayers. No doubt she was referencing the terrible tour bus accident that almost left her paralyzed.

I remember when that happened so many years ago. I remember it because her fans did pray and cried and waited outside the hospital for word of her condition. It made international news.

The Latin community was heartbroken that the woman who made the Latin beat mainstream music was suffering.

My granny and momma love Gloria, and I do, too.