Thalia on Her Billboard Women in Music Icon Award and Cumbia Roots

Thalia, the Billboard Women in Music 2026 Icon Award recipient, spoke about the emotional journey that shaped her career and her deep connection to cumbia music during a recent interview. She reflected on her early struggles in the entertainment industry and how those experiences now inform her perspective as a mentor to emerging Latin artists.

She described feeling overwhelmed and doubtful during her teenage years, recalling moments of pain and self-doubt that she never imagined would one day inspire young girls looking up to her. “I was surviving back then,” she said, noting that she did not believe in herself at the time and never expected to be an example during her most difficult moments.

Now at 54, Thalia emphasized her current state of peace and self-acceptance, saying she feels relaxed and happy in her own skin. She described receiving the Billboard Women in Music Icon Award as a moment of celebration, one that aligns with the spirit of cumbia music — a genre she associates with joy, family, memories, and cultural roots.

Her new album, ‘Todo Suena Mejor En Cumbia,’ emerged from a spontaneous need to reconnect with that energy. She explained that the project was driven by a desire to feel the music in her body and to express themes of love, happiness, and heartbreak through cumbia’s distinctive sound, particularly highlighting the role of the accordion in the arrangements.

Thalia also shared personal memories tied to music, recalling dancing to “Dancing Queen” in her living room with her family, and sisters. She described those moments as a source of sisterhood and nostalgia, using the song as a metaphor for resilience — urging listeners to keep their heads up, celebrate their identity, and never forget where they come from, regardless of life’s challenges.

She emphasized that cumbia, for her, is more than a genre — it is a celebration of life, history, and community. The album, she said, was not only a creative endeavor but a personal necessity, born from a moment in the studio where the music, the story, and the collaborators came together organically.

Throughout her reflections, Thalia positioned her journey as one of transformation — from a young artist filled with doubt to a respected figure using her platform to uplift the next generation of Latin talent, all while staying true to the rhythms and roots that have long defined her artistry.