Gloria Gaynor says her hit “I Will Survive” became a personal anthem of strength during one of her darkest times

Gloria Gaynor “I will Survive” has been a motivational anthem for nearly five decades, but it hasn't just served as an inspiration to millions of fans. Gaynor told CBS Mornings that the song gave her hope during one of the most difficult times in her life.

After a fall on stage in 1978 at New York's Beacon Theater, Gaynor suffered a serious spinal injury and spent several months recovering. Many thought her career was over, but during this painful healing, she recorded the song “I Will Survive,” which became a huge hit.

“I lived this song”

The song won a Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980, the only time the category existed. In 2016, it was added to the National Recording Registry of the United States Library of Congress for its cultural significance. Now Gaynor 2025 Kennedy Center Honoree for her lifetime creative achievements.

The track was intended to be a B-side, but Gaynor immediately knew it was a winner. As she recorded it while standing in a corset, she felt a deep connection to the music.

“[I was] hoping that I would get over, you know, this trauma that I went through, hoping that I would get over the fact that my mother passed away a few years ago. Yes, I lived this song and was sure that I would not be the only one,” she said.

The song became her anthem—and the anthem of the world—with more than 200 covers in more than 20 different languages. And of course, it sparked several trends on social media.

Just a girl from Jersey

Before she became the “Queen of Disco,” Gaynor was just a girl from Newark, New Jersey. Her talent went unnoticed until a neighbor heard her sing and one night she was called to the stage of a club to perform.

She ended up working in nightclubs. Her big break came when she met legendary record executive Clive Davis, who helped her get into the disco center. Her 1975 debut album, Never Can Say Goodbye, became one of the first disco albums to top the charts and enter the top 25 of the Billboard 200.

Early in her career, Gaynor said she sang R&B, but decided she really wanted to give people music to dance to.

“I remember discos were very, very new. There were only a couple of them, and they were cabaret clubs where the chairs were simply removed,” she recalls.

Her profile continued to grow as she toured the world. As disco faded into history in the 1980s, Gaynor continued to perform around the world. Years later, she found new purpose through her faith and gospel music. Her 2019 album, “Certificate”, won her a Grammy, proving that her voice is still inspiring.

Lessons for beginning artists

Now, nearly 50 years after her rise to fame, Gaynor has been awarded one of the nation's highest honors: a Kennedy Center Honor.

“My manager called me and I was thrilled,” Gaynor said when she learned of the award. “It was incredible to think that I would be accepted as someone who deserved it.”

Gaynor now shares his wisdom with new artists. Her main takeaway: Don't strive for rewards.

“I would tell them, try to do the best you can with what God has given you,” she said. “All these things are something extra. I wasn't trying to win a Grammy. I strive to write the best song I could write at the time. I strive to touch people's hearts. I strive to uplift, encourage and empower people.