Enrique Iglesias
Biography
Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler was born in Madrid, Spain on May 8, 1975, to Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and Filipina socialite and journalist Isabel Preysler. Following the kidnapping of his grandfather in 1981, Iglesias and his siblings were sent to live with their father in Miami for safety reasons. Growing up largely in Miami, he was primarily raised by his nanny, Elvira Olivares, to whom he would later dedicate his first album. Iglesias attended the prestigious Gulliver Preparatory School and briefly studied business at the University of Miami before dropping out to pursue a music career in secret from his parents.
Career Beginnings and Spanish Success
In 1995, Iglesias released his self-titled debut album, "Enrique Iglesias," on the Fonovisa Records label. The album was a massive success in the Latin music world, selling millions of copies and earning him his first Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1997. His subsequent Spanish albums, "Vivir" (1997) and "Cosas del Amor" (1998), further solidified his status as the best-selling Spanish-language artist of the 1990s. These albums produced a string of number-one singles on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart, including "Por Amarte," "No Llores Por Mí," and "Trapecista."
Crossover to English Market
At the turn of the millennium, Iglesias made a successful transition into the mainstream English-language market. His first English album, "Enrique" (1999), featured the global hit "Bailamos," which reached number one on the U.S. charts. This was followed by his most commercially successful album to date, "Escape" (2001). The album, which he co-wrote, included hit singles like "Hero," "Escape," and "Don't Turn Off the Lights." He continued to release successful English albums such as "7" (2003) and "Insomniac" (2007).
Bilingual Albums and Continued Chart Dominance
In 2010, Iglesias released his first bilingual album, "Euphoria," which included hits in both English and Spanish. The album featured collaborations with artists like Pitbull on the hit "I Like It" and won the Billboard Music Award for Top Latin Album. His 2014 album, "Sex and Love," also enjoyed significant success, featuring the massively popular track "Bailando." Iglesias holds the record for the most number-one songs on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart with 27, and has had 14 number-one hits on Billboard's Dance charts, more than any other male artist. In October 2022, he was honored as the Top Latin Artist of All Time at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Enrique Iglesias (1995)
- Vivir (1997)
- Cosas del Amor (1998)
- Enrique (1999)
- Escape (2001)
- Quizás (2002)
- 7 (2003)
- Insomniac (2007)
- Euphoria (2010)
- Sex and Love (2014)
- Final (Vol. 1) (2021)
- Final (Vol. 2) (2024)
Personal Life
Since 2001, Enrique Iglesias has been in a relationship with former professional tennis player Anna Kournikova. The couple met on the set of his "Escape" music video. They have three children together: fraternal twins, a son and a daughter, born in December 2017, and another daughter born in January 2020. The family resides in Miami.