Gloria Estefan Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Gloria Estefan has the write stuff of legends…

The 62-year-old Cuban singer/songwriter and former Miami Sound Machine member has been nominated for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gloria Estefan

Estefan, a three-time Grammy winner and three-time Latin Grammy, has penned numerousinternational chart-topping hits in English and Spanish, including  “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Here We Are,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” “Mi Tierra” and “No Me Dejes de Querer.” 

Additionally, Estefan has penned songs for other artists, including “Let’s Get Loud,” performed by Jennifer Lopez, and “Whenever Wherever,” performed by Shakira. Additionally, she co-wrote “Reach,” one of two official songs of the 1996 Atlanta Games, with Diane Warren.

In all, 24 acts are in contention for the 2020 class. In addition to Estefan, performing nominees include Patti SmithJourneyVince Gill, the Isley Brothers, former Eurythmicsmembers Annie Lennoxand Dave StewartMike LoveBread’s David Gates and Steve MillerThe Neptunes, the creative, innovative production-songwriting duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, rap icons Outkast and rock pioneers R.E.M.Mariah Carey, who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1 hits and earned her first Songwriters Hall nomination last year, is up for the prize again. 

The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the list of nominees Tuesday (Nov. 5), a day ahead of its official announcement.

Non-performing solo nominees are William “Mickey” StevensonRick NowelsSonny CurtisJerry FullerTony MacaulayBob McDill and Roger Nichols. Non-performing songwriting duos nominated include the late Tommy Boyceand Bobby Hart,Lynn Ahrensand Stephen FlahertyL. Russell Brownand the late Irwin Levine, and Kye Flemingand Dennis Morgan.

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years. Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 51st annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 11, 2020. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 16.

Levy’s Sizzling Samba Results in Another Perfect Score on DWTS

Following two top-notch performances, it looks like William Levy could be headed to the Dancing with the Stars finale…

During Monday night’s semi-finals, the 31-year-old Cuban American actor demonstrated his ballroom dancing prowess by performing a sizzling samba and tantalizing tango that earned raves from the judges.

William Levy on DWTS

In the first round, Levy and his partner Cheryl Burke took to the floor to perform a high-octane tango to the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” which received 28 points out of 30 from the judges.

“Powerful, firm, convincing, full of animal magnetism,” professed judge Bruno Tonioli. “No doubt who was on top on that. You were like the dictator of the tango!”

But it was Levy’s dance in the second round that could just seal his fate as a DWTS finalist…

Performing to Sergio Mendes’ Portuguese classic “Magalenha” and dressed in a hot pink button down and skin-tight white pants, Levy’s oh-so-marvelous moves had the audience clapping throughout, especially when he shook his bon bon to the delight of the women in the crowd.

“I’ve never looked at a man’s bum for so long in my life,” said judge Len Goodman as the crowd broke into laughter. “The hunk with his junk in the trunk. The rhythm that you brought out was just fantastic.”

“I’m going to die with bum envy,” said Tonioli unable to contain his excitement for Levy’s performance.

“You lived up to every expectation,” Carrie Ann Inaba cooed. “Amazing! Good job.”

Levy’s samba resulted in his second perfect score of the season, following his fantastic foxtrot last week.

When all was said and done, Levy found himself in second place behind television host Maria Menounos.