Ana Bárbara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ana Bárbara
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Ana Bárbara in 2007
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| Born |
Altagracia Ugalde Motta
January 10, 1971 El Pitayo, Sanciro De Acosta, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) |
José María Fernández «Pirru»
(m. 2006; div. 2010) |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels | Fonovisa AB Productions Lo Busqué Productions Sony Music Latin |
Altagracia Ugalde Motta (born January 10, 1971), known as Ana Bárbara, is a famous Mexican singer. She started her music career in 1994. She is now one of the most important female artists in regional Mexican music.
Ana Bárbara is known for her amazing voice and her talent for writing and producing songs. She helped shape the modern Grupero music style. She is one of the few regional Mexican artists who became popular not just in Mexico and the United States, but all over the world.
Over the past twenty years, Ana Bárbara has released many albums and music videos. She has sold over 6 million records. She has also won many big awards in Latin music.
Contents
Her Music Journey
Starting Out
In 1988, Ana Bárbara won the Miss Mexico beauty pageant for her home state, San Luis Potosí. After that, she looked for every chance to sing. She performed at local talent shows and music festivals. In the 1990s, she even toured in Colombia. There, she represented Mexico's mariachi music.
In 1993, she was named the "Ambassador of Ranchera Music." She also won an award for "The Heraldo's Beautiful Face." Because of this, she was invited to sing for Pope John Paul II at The Vatican. When she didn't get a chance to sing, she bravely started singing anyway. After the Mass, the Pope blessed her and wished her luck.
In 1994, record companies noticed her. She signed with Fonovisa, a top label for regional Mexican music. She then chose her stage name, "Ana Bárbara." Her first album, Ana Bárbara, came out that year. Songs like Sacúdeme and Nada helped her become a Grupero star.
Her second album, La Trampa, was released in 1995. This album made her even more popular. It became a big hit on the radio. Ana Bárbara started touring with famous artists like Vicente Fernandez. She also appeared on popular TV shows like Sabado Gigante. Her hit songs and music videos, such as Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta and La Trampa, topped the Billboard charts. This earned her the nickname La Reina Grupera (The Queen of Grupero Music).
Becoming an International Star
By 1996, Ana Bárbara became famous worldwide with her third album, Ay, Amor. This album helped her become a successful Latin recording artist. It was also her best album debut on the Latin Billboard charts. Ay, Amor mixed different styles, including Grupero and ranchero ballads. Songs like No Lloraré and Ya No Te Creo Nada made her popular in Latin America.
In 1997, she was crowned "Queen" of the Calle 8 Music Festival in Miami. In 1998, she released her fourth album, Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa. This album had mostly ballads. It included a duet with Mexican singer-songwriter Marco Antonio Solís. A cover song, "Como Me Haces Falta", became a huge hit. It was played everywhere in Latin America, Mexico, and the United States.
In 1999, she released her fifth album, Tu Decisión. This album was special because it was the first time Ana Bárbara wrote some of her own songs. The song "Engañada" became a big hit from this album. That same year, she also acted in a TV movie called Todo Contigo. The song "Todo Contigo" was on her album. Her music videos, like "Quise Olvidar", became very popular on TV.
The next year, Ana Bárbara was the first solo Grupero artist to be recognized by The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Her album Tu Decisión was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award.
In 2000, Ana Bárbara took a short break when her first child, Emiliano, was born. She returned in 2001 with her sixth album, Te Regalo La Lluvia. This album had a different style, focusing on Mariachi ballads. She received her second Latin Grammy nomination for Best Ranchero Album. She also sang in "El Último Adiós", a song made to remember the 9/11 attacks. Many other famous artists were part of this song.
After many years, Ana Bárbara started producing her own music. She chose her own songs and melodies. In 2003, she released Te Atraparé...Bandido, which became one of her most successful albums. In 2005, she released Loca de Amar. Her songs like Bandido, Deja, Loca, and Lo Busqué were huge hits. They were played on the radio all over South America, Mexico, and the United States.
Selena Tribute Concert
In April 2005, Ana Bárbara took part in Selena ¡VIVE!. This was a special concert to honor the Latin music icon Selena. Many stars performed at this event in Houston, Texas. It was shown on the Univision TV network. It became the most-watched Spanish-language TV special in the US. Ana Bárbara created a new version of Selena's song "La Carcacha". She mixed Selena's original style with her own Grupero sound.
Latin Grammy Award
In 2005, Ana Bárbara won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Grupero Album for her album Loca de Amar. This was at the 6th Annual Latin Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles. She also performed a mix of her songs Lo Busqué and Loca at the show.
Even though her career was very popular, she decided to take a long break from music. She wanted to spend time with her new family. She moved to Cancún, México, with her husband and their children. Her second child, José María, was born in 2006. During her break, she also opened a restaurant and a nightclub in Cancún.
Tribute to José José
In July 2008, Ana Bárbara performed in a special concert for the legendary Mexican singer José José. She sang his classic hit Lo Pasado, Pasado. Her performance was one of the best of the night.
Later, her record label asked her for a new album. In April 2009, she was featured on the cover of People en Español magazine. She was on the "Los 50 Más Bellos" (50 Most Beautiful) list.
New Music and Leaving Fonovisa
While she was on her break, several collection albums of her music were released. After almost five years, Ana Bárbara was still a favorite in the music world. She started working on a new album called Rompiendo Cadenas. This album was different because it moved away from her usual Grupero style. It was more Latin Pop.
In 2009, she released Rompiendo Cadenas, an upbeat pop song. The music video was filmed in Cuba and quickly got millions of views online. The song reached number 39 on Billboard's Latin Pop Songs chart. Ana Bárbara also released other versions of the song.
In January 2010, she introduced her Latin pop album Rompiendo Cadenas. She explained that she was leaving her record label, Fonovisa Records. This album was special because Ana Bárbara wrote all 10 songs herself. Fonovisa wanted her to stick to her old music style. But Ana Bárbara decided to leave and release Rompiendo Cadenas on her own record labels.
In February 2010, she hosted the 2010 Lo Nuestro Awards in Miami. She was also part of a Spanish version of Michael Jackson's We Are the World, called Somos El Mundo. Many famous artists like Juanes and Ricky Martin were in it. She also hosted a TV special honoring Selena.
The second song from Rompiendo Cadenas, "Que Ironía", came out in March 2010. It was a Latin rock song. Ana Bárbara later said she wrote this song for another singer, but decided to record it herself. A music video for it also got over a million views. Even though Rompiendo Cadenas didn't sell as much as her earlier albums, fans loved it.
In May 2010, she announced two new Latin pop songs. One was "Ahora Tengo", a duet with Mexican singer-songwriter Reyli. The other was "Alma Perdida", a ballad for a TV mini-series.
In 2011, she appeared in a TV show called Una Familia Con Suerte. She also sang the song Suerte for the show's soundtrack. She released another Latin pop song and music video called "Refugio Para el Amor".
New Beginnings in Los Angeles
After a less successful period, Ana Bárbara decided to make changes. She started writing and producing songs for a new regional Mexican album. This time, it was in the banda style. In April 2012, she announced new projects. She moved to Los Angeles with her three children.
She released a banda song called "Tu Ingratitud". This was a cover of a 1993 song. A music video for it came out in July 2012 and quickly got millions of views. "Tu Ingratitud" became number one in Mexico and a top 20 hit in the United States. This song marked her return to the music charts. She also worked with other artists like María José.
In July 2012, she became a judge on the TV show Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento. In October 2012, her song "Dos Abrazos" was used in the Hollywood movie, Border Run. A banda version of "Dos Abrazos" was later released on her eleventh album. In December 2012, Ana Bárbara sang Mexico's national anthem at a boxing match in Las Vegas.
More TV and Music
In April 2013, Ana Bárbara hosted the 2013 Latin Billboard Music Awards. She also sang a special song for Latin music icon Jose Jose. In July, she had a singing role in the TV show Amores verdaderos. She sang the popular song "Tu De Que Vas". In August, she sang "Yo Soy la Mujer", the theme song for the TV show Marido En Alquiler. She performed the banda version of "Yo Soy la Mujer" at the La Voz Kids finale.
She also took part in a tribute for Mexican singer Jenni Rivera. She sang one of Rivera's hits, "Inolvidable". She continued to appear on Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento. In November, she released the song "Yo Ya No Estoy".
After taking time for her family and TV work, she released "Yo Soy La Mujer" on December 3, 2013. This was her first full banda album. She said the album was "sentimental, but fun." It mixed traditional and modern banda sounds. The album reached No. 11 on the Top Latin Albums chart in the United States. This was her best album debut in over ten years. A music video for the song "Ahora Me Toca A Mí" was also released.
20th Anniversary Celebration
Yo Soy La Mujer was released in Mexico in February 2014. It included two new songs. In January 2014, Ana Bárbara announced the "Yo Soy La Mujer: Celebrando 20 Años de Trayectoria" tour. This tour celebrated her 20 years in music. She said the tour marked the end of one chapter and the start of a new one. The tour began in Bolivia and went through South America, Central America, and the United States.
In April, she released her second single, "A Donde Crees Que Vas". She also announced a duet with K'ala Marka for "Niña de mis Ojos".
Ana Bárbara celebrated two decades in music on April 12, 2014, in Hollywood, California. She sang her popular songs and classics from other famous artists. Marco Antonio Solís made a surprise appearance and sang a duet with her. Other singers like Pepe Aguilar sent messages of support. A TV special of the show aired in October 2014. She ended the tour in Guatemala in front of a huge crowd.
Recent Projects
Ana Bárbara started an eleven-city U.S. tour on New Year's Eve 2015. The tour included cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and Las Vegas. She also worked with other artists on the album Compass.
Personal Life
Family Life
Ana Bárbara has three children. Her first child, Emiliano, was born in 2000. Her second child, José María, was born in 2006. Her third child, Jerónimo, was born in December 2011. In 2012, she shared that singer-songwriter Reyli is Jerónimo's father.
In 2011, Ana Bárbara shared that she was getting treatment for an illness. In July 2011, she moved from Mexico to Los Angeles, California.
Awards and Recognition
Ana Bárbara has won many important awards. These include Latin Grammys, Lo Nuestro Awards, Juventud Awards, and Oye Awards.
Her former record label, Fonovisa, said these awards show her success over more than a decade. She has won four Lo Nuestro Awards for Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year. She won in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2006.
She has also received seven Premio Furia Musical Awards. She won three Premio El Heraldo trophies. These were for Best New Artist in 1994 and Best Female Singer in 1997 and 2000.
In 2002, Ana Bárbara won a Casandra Award for Most Outstanding International Artist. In 2005, she won My Favorite Regional Mexican Artist at Univision's Juventud Awards. In 2006, she won Best Female Performer at Mexico's Oye! Awards.
In September 2012, she was crowned queen of the LGBT community in Los Angeles. She also received this honor in Atlanta in 2014 and San Francisco in 2015.
In 2012, she was honored for her 20-year music career at the Premios de la Radio awards. She has sold over 8 million albums, singles, and videos worldwide. This makes her one of the few female regional Mexican artists with fans all over the world. To celebrate, she performed a mix of her famous songs. She also sang a duet with Jenni Rivera.
In 2013 and 2014, she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at various awards shows. By 2015, her music videos had over 75 million views on YouTube. She was also set to be honored by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2015.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2002 | Todo contigo | Ana Bárbara | Television film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2001 | Mujer, casos de la vida real | Unknown role | Episode: "Canto de sirena" |
| 2004 | La escuelita VIP | Ana Bárbara | Episode: "Bienvenida a Ana Bárbara" (Season 1, Episode 16) |
| 2011 | Una familia con suerte | Laura Torrés de López | Special appearance |
| 2013 | Amores verdaderos | Herself | Musical guest |
| 2013 | Marido en alquiler | Herself | Musical guest Song: "Yo soy la mujer" |
Discography
- Ana Bárbara (1994)
- La Trampa (1995)
- Ay, amor (1996)
- Los besos no se dan en la camisa (1997)
- Tu decisión (1999)
- Te regalo la lluvia (2001)
- Te atraparé... Bandido (2003)
- Loca de amar (2004)
- No es brujería (2006)
- Rompiendo cadenas (2009)
- Yo soy la mujer (2014)
- Bordado A Mano (2023)
Images for kids
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Ana Bárbara in 2007
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Ana Bárbara in Puebla's Plaza de la Concordia (2005)
See also
In Spanish: Ana Bárbara para niños
