Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, songwriter, and actress, best known for her 1978 disco anthem “I Will Survive”, which became a global symbol of empowerment. Crowned the “Queen of Disco”, she has sustained a career spanning over six decades, crossing genres from disco and R&B to gospel, and has won two Grammy Awards.
In 2025, Gaynor was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor by President Donald Trump and released the single “Fida Known” from her upcoming EP Happy Tears (June 2025). A devout Christian, she lives in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and is divorced with no children.
Gloria Gaynor Wiki/Bio
| Full Name | Gloria Gaynor |
| Date of Birth | September 7, 1943 |
| Age (2025) | 81 |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Actress |
| Hometown | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Current Residence | Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| @gloriagaynor | |
| Height | 5’5” (1.65 m) |
| Weight | ~60 kg (132 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Gloria Gaynor Early Life
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Gaynor was raised in a working-class, musically inclined family. Her father, Daniel Fowles, was a singer and ukulele player, and her mother, Queenie Mae Proctor, was a homemaker. She had six siblings and began singing in local clubs after being discouraged from joining her brothers’ gospel group. She graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School in 1961, later taking business courses and beauty school training before committing to music.
Family
| Parents | Daniel Fowles (father), Queenie Mae Proctor (mother) |
| Siblings: | Six (including Irma Proctor and Arthur Gaynor) |
| Marital Status: | Divorced — married Linwood Simon (1979–2005) |
Career Highlights
| Year | Milestone |
| 1965 | Released first single, “She’ll Be Sorry / Let Me Go Baby” |
| 1975 | Released Never Can Say Goodbye — 1st Billboard Dance Chart No. 1 album |
| 1978 | Released “I Will Survive” — Grammy winner (1980, Best Disco Recording) |
| 1984 | Released I Am Gloria Gaynor — “I Am What I Am” became a gay pride anthem |
| 2019 | Released gospel album Testimony — Grammy winner (2020, Best Roots Gospel Album) |
| 2025 | Received Kennedy Center Honor and released “Fida Known” |
Net Worth
| Estimated | $10–$22 million |
| Sources | Music royalties ($1–$2M/year), touring ($500K/year), acting, and real estate investments |
| Assets | Sold Green Brook, NJ home for $1.4M; built Englewood Cliffs home in 2021 for $1.1M |
Controversies
- Disco Backlash (1979–1981): Sales declined during the anti-disco movement, prompting a genre shift.
- Kennedy Center Debate (2025): Her honor under President Trump drew mixed reactions; Gaynor emphasized the award’s cultural prestige.
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