Charo Turns 71 — The Singer Is Ready to Be a Grandma & Calls Her Family the 'Greatest' Achievement of Her Life

• "The Cuchi Cuchi Girl" celebrates her 71st birthday!

• Charo said her life is filled with love from her late husband

• Charo enjoys her life now with her beloved son and family

Actress, comedian, and musician Charo, whose real name is Rosa del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza, enjoys enduring success in Hollywood thanks to her exceptional musical and acting talent as well as her iconic trademark move.

Charo is known for her cheerful and warm attitude, and even though she faced a devastating loss in 2019, she was able to move forward with the help of her family and unexpected words of encouragement from strangers.

The multitalented entertainer earned the famous moniker "The Cuchi Cuchi Girl" because of her signature move: shaking her hips while exclaiming the phrase "cuchi-cuchi!"

The renowned flamenco musician turns 71 on January 15. She expressed gratitude for another year and plans to make the most of it by simply having a good time. Charo feels fortunate to have reached this age and to still be alive.

Born in Murcia, Spain, Charo was married twice, but her second and final husband, Kjell Rasten, was the man she loved the most. She married Kjell from August 1978 until his death in February 2019.

She and Kjell share an only son, Shel Rasten, who has followed in her footsteps in the entertainment industry. Beyond that, Charo is extremely close to her only sister, Carmen Martinez Molina.

In the late 1970s, Charo had several acting credits to her name, including the films "Thumbelina," "The Concorde... Airport '79," and "Tiger by the Tail." She was also known for her work on television, especially the classic show "The Love Boat."

Charo, who has had a long career in show business, is proud of who she has become. But she also said that being born under the Capricorn zodiac sign means always striving for more and never being satisfied with what has been accomplished.

Despite the success, Charo prioritizes her family above all else and always looks toward their future. She is proud of having supportive loved ones. She added:

"My greatest accomplishment in my life is my son, my sister's happiness, and my family."

The talented singer is excited to become a grandmother and envisions dancing her legendary "cuchi-cuchi" moves with her future two-year-old grandchild. She hoped that her son would start a family and said she would be a fun grandmother.

Feeling 'Overwhelmed' with Love and Support

Charo shared that even though she lost her husband, her life is still full of love. Kjell, her husband of 40 years, was a Swedish producer and production manager who died by suicide in 2019. He was 79.

Despite facing a difficult loss, Charo was able to rebuild her life with the support of her family and fans. To honor her late husband, Charon, and her son, Shel, planted a tree at their home later that year.

She shared a video of the beautiful moment on Instagram, explaining that planting a tree is a tradition in many cultures and represents life after death. Charo said:

"I'm am so full of his love, and this has overwhelmed me with peace and love in my heart. He will always be with us and will be forever loved. Wish you were here with me my friends. I love you all!"

The Spanish performer said that after her husband died, she focused on living and moving forward because she knew her family, whom she loved unconditionally, depended on her.

She also mentioned that social media, particularly Instagram, is a motivating force for her. She has been helped tremendously by the kind words of strangers and the collective energy of the internet. She said:

"The media and Instagram saved my life, too. Little by little the nice comments from people reminded me of what I had done before. They brought me back, I swear."

With the support of her family, fans, and the power of social media, Charo was able to find the strength to rebuild her life after the tragic loss of her husband.

Choosing Family Life over Dating

Charo has made it clear that she is not currently in the market for love, opting to take a break from dating altogether. The talented artist said she has no plans to date men in the future.

She emphasized that she enjoys the company of men, but after the passing of her beloved husband, she cannot imagine finding someone to replace him. Charo said she will now focus on dedicating her life to her son and family.

Shel, Charo, and Kjell's son may not be a household name, but he has a close and positive relationship with his mother. Shel was featured on the reality series "Celebrity Wife Swap," where he appeared alongside his late father.

Since then, Charo's only son has had a career in acting. He has appeared in TV shows such as "Parks and Recreation," "Anger Management," "Workaholics," "Basket," and "CSI: Miami." He even released an album in 2015.

In an episode of "Where Are They Now?" hosted by Oprah, Shel praised his mother's many admirable qualities. According to Shel, Charo is the "best mom" because she is trustworthy, fierce, supportive, and protective of him.

Besides praising his mother's admirable characteristics, Shel also mentioned Charo's playful side. He shared that she displayed her lively gestures when she dropped him off on the first day of high school.

He described how Charo performed a small dance move while saying her iconic phrase, "cuchi-cuchi." Despite feeling "slightly embarrassed" by her actions when he was younger, Shel stated that he is fortunate to have her as his mother.

Shel continues to achieve success in both acting and singing. Charo seems happy being a mom and has enjoyed spending time with her only sister, Carmen.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Charo's career prospects remain bright. In a recent interview, Charo said the pandemic had caused delays and cancellations of several of her scheduled performances.

After a two-year break, she was lucky to start a new show at Mohegan Sun in March. Charo also mentioned upcoming concerts in Miami and North Carolina in October and said she is currently exploring dates for a more extensive tour in 2023.

As she turns 71, she looks back on her life with gratitude and appreciation. From her early days in Spain to her successful career in Hollywood and her loving family, Charo has had a fulfilling life.

Charo will always be remembered as the iconic "Cuchi Cuchi Girl," but she will also be known as a strong, resilient woman who faced adversity with grace and positivity.