Enrique Iglesias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Enrique Iglesias
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Iglesias in 2011
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Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler
8 May 1975 Madrid, Spain
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| Education | Gulliver Preparatory School University of Miami |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Works
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Discography |
| Partner(s) | Anna Kournikova (2001–present) |
| Children | 3 |
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| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Latin pop |
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Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born May 8, 1975) is a world-famous Spanish singer and songwriter. Often called the "King of Latin Pop," he is one of the best-selling Latin music artists ever, with over 100 million albums sold worldwide.
He began his career in the 1990s singing in Spanish. He became a huge star in Latin America with his first albums. Later, he successfully "crossed over" into the English-speaking music world. This means he started making hit songs in English that became popular all over the globe.
Iglesias holds the record for the most number-one songs on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. He has also had many hit songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which tracks the most popular songs in the United States. His music has earned him many awards, and he is known for his exciting live performances.
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Early Life and Family
Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler was born in Madrid, Spain. He is the youngest of three children. His father is the famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, and his mother is Isabel Preysler, a well-known journalist from the Philippines. His older siblings are Chábeli and Julio Jr.
When Enrique was young, his parents decided it would be safer for him and his brother to live with their father in Miami, Florida. There, they were mostly raised by their nanny, Elvira Olivares. Enrique later dedicated his first album to her.
He went to Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, where he started writing songs. He even performed in his school's production of the musical Hello, Dolly!. After high school, he studied business at the University of Miami but left after a year to follow his dream of becoming a singer.
Music Career
Starting in Secret (1995–1996)
Enrique didn't want his famous last name to help his career. He wanted to succeed on his own. So, he borrowed money from his nanny and secretly recorded a demo tape with one Spanish song and two English songs.
He used the stage name "Enrique Martínez" and pretended to be a singer from Guatemala. This plan worked, and he was signed by a Mexican record label called Fonovisa. His first album, Enrique Iglesias, was released in 1995. It was a huge success, selling half a million copies in its first week. The album won him a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance.
Becoming a Superstar (1997–1998)
In 1997, Iglesias released his second album, Vivir (To Live). This album made him as popular as many English-language music stars. He went on his first major concert tour, playing in sold-out stadiums in sixteen countries.
His third album, Cosas del Amor (Things of Love), came out in 1998. The hit singles from this album, "Esperanza" and "Nunca Te Olvidaré", helped make him a top artist in Latin music. He won an American Music Award for Favorite Latin Artist, beating other famous singers.
Success in the English Market (1999–2007)
In 1999, Iglesias decided to start making music in English. Actor Will Smith asked him to write a song for the movie Wild Wild West. The song, "Bailamos" (which means "We Dance"), became a number-one hit in the United States.
After this success, he signed a major record deal and released his first English album, Enrique. It included the hit song "Rhythm Divine" and a duet with Whitney Houston. His next English album, Escape (2001), was even more successful. The song "Hero" became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom and many other countries.
In 2002, he released a Spanish album called Quizás (Perhaps). The title song was about his relationship with his famous father. The album was very successful and won a Latin Grammy Award.
Global Tours and More Hits (2007–2011)
Iglesias released the album Insomniac in 2007. It was named this because he often recorded music late at night. The album had a modern pop sound and included the hit "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)".
In 2008, his song "Can You Hear Me" was chosen as the official song for the UEFA Euro 2008 soccer tournament. He performed it live at the final match in Vienna, Austria.
In 2010, he released Euphoria, his first album with songs in both English and Spanish. The English single "I Like It", featuring the rapper Pitbull, was a massive hit around the world. The Spanish single "Cuando Me Enamoro" also went to number one on the Latin charts.
... and Love (2012–2014)
On March 14, 2014, Iglesias released his tenth album, ... and Love. Before the album came out, he released several hit singles. The song "Loco" became his 24th number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
The album's biggest hit was "Bailando". The song was number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for a record-breaking 41 weeks. A version with English-speaking artist Sean Paul also became a top hit in the U.S. The music video for "Bailando" has been viewed over 3 billion times on YouTube.
Final Albums (2015–Present)
After leaving his longtime record label, Iglesias signed with Sony Music. He continued to release hit singles, including "El Perdón" with Nicky Jam and "Duele el Corazón" with Wisin. Both songs were huge successes with over a billion views each on YouTube.
Iglesias announced that his next project would be his last full albums, released in two parts called Final. He explained that he will never stop writing songs but will release them differently in the future.
Final (Vol. 1) was released in 2021. In 2023, he began The Trilogy Tour with fellow music legends Ricky Martin and Pitbull. Final (Vol. 2) was released on March 29, 2024, featuring a mix of music styles and collaborations with other artists.
Other Work
Besides singing, Iglesias has also tried acting. He appeared in the movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico with Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. He has also guest-starred on TV shows like Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother.
He is also a talented songwriter for other artists. He co-wrote songs for Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Lopez, and the UK band The Hollies.
Personal Life
Since 2001, Enrique Iglesias has been in a relationship with former professional tennis player Anna Kournikova. The couple lives in Miami and has three children: twins, a son and a daughter, born in 2017, and another daughter born in 2020.
Iglesias also does a lot of work for charity. He has helped raise money for victims of natural disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. He supports organizations like Save the Children, the American Red Cross, and City of Hope.
Discography
Studio albums
- Enrique Iglesias (1995)
- Vivir (1997)
- Cosas del Amor (1998)
- Enrique (1999)
- Escape (2001)
- Quizás (2002)
- 7 (2003)
- Insomniac (2007)
- Euphoria (2010)
- ... and Love (2014)
- Final (Vol. 1) (2021)
- Final (Vol. 2) (2024)
See also
In Spanish: Enrique Iglesias para niños
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
Images for kids
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Iglesias in 2018
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