What Happened to Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva?

Julio Iglesias, born on September 23, 1943, in Madrid, Spain, rose to international superstardom as a romantic balladeer, becoming the best-selling Spanish singer and one of the top record sellers in music history. His career, spanning over six decades, saw him release more than 80 albums in 14 languages, selling over 300 million records worldwide. His distinctive voice, magnetic stage presence, and ability to connect with diverse audiences cemented his legacy as a global icon.

Iglesias's journey to music was unexpected. Initially a promising footballer for Real Madrid's junior reserve squad, his athletic career was cut short by a severe car accident in 1963 that left him temporarily paralyzed. During his two-year recovery, a nurse gave him a guitar, leading him to discover his passion for music and songwriting. This pivotal turning point transformed a potential law career into an unparalleled musical one, beginning with his win at the Benidorm International Song Festival in 1968 and representing Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Iglesias achieved global stardom, collaborating with artists like Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, and Frank Sinatra, and earning numerous awards, including Grammy Awards for Best Latin Pop Performance and a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was recognized by Guinness World Records multiple times, including for being the best-selling male Latin artist of all time. His personal life, including his marriages to Isabel Preysler and Miranda Rijnsburger, and his eight children (Chábeli, Julio Jr., Enrique, Miguel, Rodrigo, twins Cristina and Victoria, and Guillermo), has also frequently been in the public eye. His sons Julio Jr. and Enrique Iglesias have also achieved success in music.

In recent years, Iglesias has faced various health rumors, often fueled by his reduced public appearances. However, in April 2025, he directly addressed these speculations, stating in an interview with ¡HOLA! Spain that he was in "great shape and happy" and dismissed retirement rumors, affirming, "There's no retiring. I'm working hard on the Netflix series about my life". He clarified that while he has less strength and his back hurts, a lingering effect of his 1963 accident, this is normal for his age (81 at the time).

The most recent significant developments occurred in January and July 2026. In January 2026, allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking by two former employees surfaced, which Iglesias vehemently denied, calling them "absolutely untrue". Spanish prosecutors initially investigated but later shelved the complaint due to a lack of jurisdiction. On July 21, 2026, Iglesias filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against Spain's second vice-president, Yolanda Díaz, for "illegitimate interference with the right to honor and personal privacy" due to her public comments on the allegations. He also sued several journalists from 'ElDiario.es' for defamation and slander. These legal actions underscore his continued engagement with public perception and his active defense of his reputation, even as he focuses on his biographical Netflix project.