Jennifer Lopez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jennifer Lopez
Lopez in 2025
Born	Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-07-24) July 24, 1969 (age 55) New York City, U.S.
Other names	J.Lo Jennifer Affleck Jennifer Muñiz
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress dancer businesswoman
Years active	1989–present
Works	Discography songs recorded videography filmography performances
Spouse(s)	Ojani Noa ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 1998)​ Cris Judd ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2003)​ Marc Anthony ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2014)​ Ben Affleck ​ ​ (m. 2022; div. 2025)​
Children	2
Relatives	Lynda Lopez (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B reggaeton hip-hop dance
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Work Epic Columbia Island Capitol Hitco BMG
Signature

Jennifer Lynn Affleck (née Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is a famous American actress, singer, dancer, and businesswoman. She is seen as a very important entertainer who helped open doors for Latino Americans in Hollywood. She also played a big part in the Latin pop music movement. Jennifer Lopez is also known for her influence on fashion and beauty trends.

Lopez started her career as a dancer. She first appeared on TV as a "Fly Girl" on the show In Living Color in 1991. She became well-known as an actress with main roles in movies like Selena (1997), Anaconda (1997), and Out of Sight (1998). These roles made her the highest-paid Latina actress. She then started a successful music career with her first album On the 6 (1999). In 2001, she made history by having the number one album (J.Lo) and number one movie (The Wedding Planner) at the same time in the United States. She became famous for starring in romantic comedies such as Maid in Manhattan (2002), Shall We Dance? (2004), and Monster-in-Law (2005). Her album J to tha L–O! The Remixes (2002) was the first remix album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

After a short break, Lopez returned to the spotlight in 2011 as a judge on American Idol and released the album Love?. In the late 2010s, she performed in a concert series in Las Vegas. She also starred in the TV show Shades of Blue (2016–2018) and was a judge on World of Dance (2017–2020). More recently, she has starred in popular streaming movies like Marry Me (2022), The Mother (2023), This Is Me... Now: A Love Story, and Atlas (both 2024).

Jennifer Lopez has sold over 80 million records. Some of her most popular songs include "If You Had My Love", "Waiting for Tonight", "Let's Get Loud", "Love Don't Cost a Thing", "I'm Real", "Ain't It Funny", "Jenny from the Block", "All I Have", "Get Right", and "On the Floor". She has received many awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Besides her entertainment career, she has her own lifestyle brand, beauty and fashion lines, perfumes, a production company, and a charity foundation.

Early Life and Family

Jennifer Lynn Lopez was born on July 24, 1969, in the Bronx, a part of New York City. She grew up in the Castle Hill neighborhood. Her parents, David Lopez and Guadalupe Rodríguez, were born in Puerto Rico and met in New York City. Her father worked as a computer technician, and her mother was a homemaker and later a salesperson and teacher. They divorced in the 1990s.

Lopez is the middle child. She has an older sister, Leslie, and a younger sister, Lynda. They shared a bedroom. Lopez has said her upbringing was "strict." She was raised in a Roman Catholic family, attending Mass every Sunday and receiving a Catholic education. She went to Holy Family School and Preston High School, an all-girls private school. In school, Lopez was very athletic. She ran track, did gymnastics, and played softball. She also danced in school musicals and played a main role in a play called Godspell. She described herself as a "tomboy" and "very athletic."

Music was a big part of her Puerto Rican home. Lopez and her sisters were encouraged to sing, dance, and create their own plays for family events. The movie West Side Story especially inspired young Lopez, who wanted to be an entertainer from a young age. As a teenager, she learned flamenco, jazz, and ballet at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. She also taught dance to younger students, including Kerry Washington. After high school, she worked part-time as a secretary at a law firm and studied business at New York's Baruch College for one semester. At 18, she became a full-time student at Manhattan's Phil Black Dance Studio. Her parents were not happy with her choice to leave college for a dance career. Lopez said her parents thought it was "foolish" because "no Latinas did that." Her mother asked her to move out, and they didn't speak for eight months. Lopez moved to Manhattan and sometimes slept in the dance studio's office.

Career Journey

Starting as a Dancer

Lopez's first professional job was in 1989. She toured Europe for five months with a musical show called Golden Musicals of Broadway. She was disappointed that she didn't have a solo part, which made her want to work even harder. In 1990, she danced with MC Hammer on Yo! MTV Raps and traveled to Japan for four months as a dancer in another show. When she came back to the U.S., she was a backup dancer for New Kids on the Block at the 1991 American Music Awards. She also toured America with musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar and Oklahoma!. During this time, Lopez also danced in music videos for artists like Doug E. Fresh and EPMD. She said she would dance in "piece-of-garbage rap or pop video for 50 bucks" to make money last.

Her most famous dancing job was as a "Fly Girl" jazz-funk dancer on the TV show In Living Color. The show's choreographer, Rosie Perez, chose Lopez because she had a look that would attract viewers. Lopez moved to Los Angeles in late 1991 for the job. She filmed In Living Color during the day and took acting classes at night. After two seasons, Lopez left to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. She appeared in Jackson's music video for "That's the Way Love Goes". She was supposed to tour with Jackson in 1993 but decided to focus on acting instead.

Early Acting Roles

Lopez's first acting job was a small role on the TV show South Central (1994). She then got roles in other TV shows like Second Chances and Hotel Malibu. She also appeared in the TV movie Lost in the Wild (1993).

For her first major movie role, in Gregory Nava's 1995 drama Mi Familia, Lopez was nominated for an award. She then starred in the action comedy Money Train (1995). Even though the movie wasn't a big hit, her performance was praised, which helped her get noticed in Hollywood. In 1996, Lopez had a supporting role with Robin Williams in the comedy Jack. Director Francis Ford Coppola cast her after seeing her in Mi Familia. She then starred with Jack Nicholson in the thriller Blood and Wine (1996).

Becoming a Star with Selena and On the 6

In 1997, Lopez played the singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez in the movie Selena. For this role, she became the first Latina actress to earn $1 million. She saw this salary as a "statement to the world." Lopez worked hard for the role, auditioning intensely and spending time with Selena's family. Selena was a big success at the box office, and Lopez's acting received great reviews. Roger Ebert called it a "star-making performance." Lopez received her first Golden Globe nomination for her role. Later in 1997, Lopez starred with Ice Cube in the horror film Anaconda, which was a box office success.

Lopez starred with George Clooney in the crime movie Out of Sight (1998). She played a deputy federal marshal who falls for a charming criminal. Her performance was highly praised. Also in 1998, Lopez voiced Azteca in the animated film Antz. She also started endorsing products, becoming a spokesperson for Coca-Cola and L'Oréal.

Lopez decided to start a music career after working on Selena. She realized she missed the excitement of being on stage. Her manager, Benny Medina, wanted to make her a famous "brand name" across all types of media. Lopez, who felt connected to her "Latin roots," recorded a Spanish-language demo. Many record labels wanted to sign her. Tommy Mottola, head of Sony Music's Work Group, signed her but suggested she sing in English. Her deal with Sony was very good. While Lopez worked on her first album, Sony helped her appear with other famous entertainers, like in the Sean Combs music video "Been Around the World" (1997).

Her first album, On the 6 (1999), was named after the 6 Subway line she used to take from her childhood home in the Bronx to Manhattan. The album received good reviews and made her even more famous. It was a success, and her first single, "If You Had My Love", was number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. Another single, "Waiting for Tonight", reached number eight. Other songs from the album included "Let's Get Loud" and "No Me Ames", a duet with her future husband Marc Anthony. In July 1999, she performed at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup closing ceremony, which was watched by over a billion people worldwide. This helped her music career reach a huge international audience.

International Success

In February 2000, Lopez attended the Grammy Awards wearing a stunning green Versace dress. This dress got worldwide attention and became the most searched item in Google's history, leading to the creation of Google Images. It also helped boost her album and movie ticket sales. Later that year, Lopez starred in the thriller The Cell, for which she earned $4 million. The movie was a box office success.

In January 2001, Lopez made history by becoming the first woman to have a number one movie and album at the same time. This happened with her second album J.Lo and her romantic comedy The Wedding Planner, which starred Matthew McConaughey. The Wedding Planner was a box office success despite mixed reviews.

Lopez named her album J.Lo after the nickname her fans and the media had given her. She also started using J.Lo as her stage name. J.Lo became her most successful album, selling 12 million copies worldwide. It included hit singles like "Love Don't Cost a Thing", "I'm Real" featuring Ja Rule, "Ain't It Funny", and "Play". To support the album, Lopez performed two concerts in Puerto Rico, which were later shown as an NBC special called Jennifer Lopez in Concert. It was one of the most-watched concert specials in the U.S. that year.

In 2001, Lopez also started her first business, a clothing line called J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez. She wanted the line to offer clothes for women of all sizes. She also started her production company, Nuyorican Productions, with her manager Benny Medina. Her next movie was the romantic drama Angel Eyes, starring with Jim Caviezel. Lopez's acting was praised, but the movie was not a big success.

Lopez released two albums in 2002. The first was J to tha L–O! The Remixes, which was the first remix album ever to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Its singles included "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" and "I'm Gonna Be Alright". Lopez's third studio album, This Is Me... Then, was released later in 2002. It was inspired by her relationship with her fiancé at the time, Ben Affleck. The album was a commercial success, with its highest opening sales week of her career. The main single, "Jenny from the Block", was seen as her response to people who thought she had forgotten her roots. The album also had the number one song "All I Have".

Lopez starred in the thriller Enough (2002), a role that required her to learn Krav Maga. While filming, Lopez felt very tired and overwhelmed. The movie received negative reviews. Her next film was the romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan (2002), where she starred with Ralph Fiennes as a maid and single mother from the Bronx. It became her highest-grossing film. In 2002, Lopez also opened Madre's, a restaurant serving Latin food, and released her first perfume, Glow by JLo. It became the best-selling perfume in the U.S.

Media Attention and Career Changes

In 2003, Lopez received a lot of media attention because of her public relationship with Ben Affleck. She also changed her management team. That year, Lopez starred with Affleck in the romantic comedy Gigli. This movie was not successful and is often called one of the worst films ever. Later in 2003, she released her second perfume, Still Jennifer Lopez, and became the face of Louis Vuitton's fall advertising campaign.

Lopez had a small role with Affleck in the film Jersey Girl (2004). Her screen time was reduced after test audiences didn't like the couple on screen. Lopez later said this was a low point in her career. Months later, she starred with Richard Gere in the romantic comedy-drama Shall We Dance?, which was a box-office success. Lopez's clothing lines and two perfumes earned over $300 million in 2004.

The romantic comedy Monster-in-Law (2005), starring Lopez and Jane Fonda, was a box office success. She released her fourth studio album, Rebirth, in early 2005. The title showed Lopez's hope for "a new professional beginning." The album reached number two on the Billboard 200, but didn't sell as much as her earlier albums. Its main single, "Get Right", became one of her most successful songs. Also in 2005, Lopez launched her second fashion label, Sweetface, which focused on "high fashion." The next year, she was featured on "Control Myself" with LL Cool J, which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lopez's next three movies were not box office successes. She starred with Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman in the drama An Unfinished Life (2005). In 2006, she worked again with director Gregory Nava in the crime drama Bordertown, playing a journalist investigating crimes in Mexico. The film was not well-received. In 2007, she starred with her then-husband Marc Anthony in the music movie El Cantante, which told the story of Puerto Rican salsa singer Héctor Lavoe. The movie didn't do well at the box office.

Lopez released two studio albums in 2007. Her fifth album, Como Ama una Mujer, was her first album entirely in Spanish. It became the fifth Spanish album to debut in the top ten of the Billboard 200. It also had the highest first-week sales for an artist's first Spanish album at that time. Lopez's sixth studio album Brave, released later that year, was her lowest-charting album worldwide. While pregnant with twins, Lopez went on her first concert tour in September 2007, co-headlining with Anthony. The tour was well-received. She also created and produced the MTV show DanceLife.

After giving birth to twins in February 2008, Lopez took a break from her career. Her restaurant Madre's closed, as did her two fashion lines. After hiring her former manager Medina again, Lopez released two songs in late 2009, "Louboutins" and "Fresh Out of the Oven." These songs were meant for her seventh album but didn't appear on the Billboard charts, leading to her leaving Sony Music and Epic Records.

American Idol and Career Rejuvenation

Lopez's first movie role in three years was in the romantic comedy The Back-up Plan (2010). A big change in Lopez's career happened when she joined the judging panel of American Idol for its tenth season in 2011, replacing Simon Cowell. Even though some people thought it was a "huge gamble," she took the job because she "was not getting offered a whole bunch of movies." Lopez's appearance on American Idol brought her back into the spotlight. Forbes described it as a "remarkable comeback," saying Idol showed her as a hardworking, caring single mother.

Lopez then had a very successful return to music. After signing a new record deal with Island Records, her seventh studio album, Love?, was released in early 2011. The album was a moderate success, but the single "On the Floor" was the highest-selling song by a female artist that year. It became her highest-charting single as a lead artist since "All I Have." The album also had two more singles, "I'm Into You" and "Papi". Around this time, Lopez became a brand ambassador for L'Oréal, Gilette Venus, Tous, and Fiat. She also launched the Jennifer Lopez Collection, a clothing and homeware line with Tommy Hilfiger for Kohl's. This collection made an estimated $3 billion in sales in its first year.

Lopez performing during her Dance Again World Tour in Paris, France in 2012

Lopez returned as a judge for American Idol's eleventh season in 2012, reportedly earning $20 million. That year, she released her greatest hits album Dance Again... the Hits. Lopez, who was divorcing Anthony and going through a "breakup of a family," felt that the album's only new single, "Dance Again", came at the "perfect moment." "Dance Again" reached number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Lopez launched the Dance Again World Tour, her first headlining concert tour, in mid-2012. It earned over $1 million per show. Also that year, she launched Teeology, a luxury T-shirt brand.

Lopez returned to movies in 2012, starring in What to Expect When You're Expecting. Lopez also voiced Shira, a saber tooth tiger, in the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift. In 2012, a talent show called ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen followed Lopez, Anthony, and director-choreographer Jamie King as they traveled across Latin America to find new talent for a Las Vegas show. In 2013, Lopez starred with Jason Statham in the thriller Parker. Her performance received positive reviews. That year, Lopez released the single "Live It Up". She also founded the mobile phone brand Viva Móvil and became the chief creative officer of NuvoTV. She was also an executive producer for the TV series The Fosters (2013–2018), a show about a lesbian couple raising a family. Lopez wanted to work on the series because of her late aunt, who was gay.

Lopez at the 25th GLAAD Media Awards in 2014

After a one-season break, Lopez returned to American Idol for its thirteenth season, reportedly earning $17.5 million. Her eighth studio album, A.K.A., was released in mid-2014. It had lower sales and became her lowest-selling album in the U.S. The album had three singles: "I Luh Ya Papi", "First Love", and "Booty". Also that year, Lopez released "We Are One (Ole Ola)", the official song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Pitbull and Claudia Leitte. Lopez also partnered with Endless Jewelry and released a book, True Love, which became a New York Times best-seller.

In 2015, Lopez co-produced and starred in The Boy Next Door, a thriller. The film received negative reviews, but it had her most successful opening at the box office for a live-action film since Monster-in-Law. Lopez also voiced a character in the animated movie Home and sang "Feel the Light" for its soundtrack. She also starred in the independent drama film Lila & Eve with Viola Davis.

Recent Projects

Lopez co-produced and starred with Owen Wilson and Maluma in the romantic comedy Marry Me, released in February 2022. The film earned over $50 million and was very popular on the streaming service Peacock. Lopez also released a soundtrack for the film. In March 2022, Lopez became the chief "entertainment and lifestyle" officer for the cruise line, Virgin Voyages. Her next project was the documentary Jennifer Lopez: Halftime, which showed her life as she prepared for her Super Bowl performance. Released on Netflix in June 2022, it received positive reviews. In September, Lopez became the global ambassador for the Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi. The next month, Jimmy Fallon and Lopez released a children's book, Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure, which became a New York Times best-seller.

Lopez co-produced and starred with Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Coolidge in the action-comedy Shotgun Wedding, released on Amazon Prime Video in January 2023. It was one of the most-streamed films on Prime Video that year. She also starred in and co-produced the action thriller The Mother, released on Netflix in May 2023. The film received mixed reviews but was the most-watched film on Netflix in 2023. That September, she partnered with BMG Rights Management for recording and publishing. In 2023, Lopez also launched a spritz drink brand called Delola, collaborated with Revolve for her lifestyle brand, and released a footwear line.

Lopez's ninth studio album This Is Me... Now, a sequel to This Is Me... Then (2002), was released on February 16, 2024. The album was part of a "three-part multimedia project" that included a musical film, This Is Me... Now: A Love Story, and a documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. Both were released on Prime Video. Lopez plays a fictional version of herself in A Love Story, which was described as an "autobiographical musical rom-com action sci-fi." Lopez funded the film herself for $20 million before Amazon bought it. "Can't Get Enough" was the album's main single. Lopez also released a lingerie collection inspired by the album. In May 2024, Lopez co-hosted the annual Met Gala in Manhattan. Lopez was planning a North American tour called This Is Me... Live starting June 2024, but she cancelled it to spend more time with her family.

Lopez co-produced and starred in the sci-fi thriller Atlas, released in May 2024. Atlas received negative reviews but was very successful on Netflix, being the most-watched movie in 71 countries on its first day. Lopez also starred with Jharrel Jerome in the biographical wrestling drama Unstoppable, based on the life of wrestler Anthony Robles. The film premiered in September and had a limited release in December 2024. Lopez played Judy, Robles's mother.

Future Projects

Lopez will star in and executive produce Kiss of the Spider Woman, a film based on the Broadway musical. This is her first role in a full musical. She will also co-produce and star with Brett Goldstein in Netflix's Office Romance. She will also co-produce a series based on Emily Henry's novel Happy Place for Netflix. Lopez is also set to lead and co-produce Netflix's film adaptation of the novel The Cipher. She has several other projects in the works as a producer.

Personal Life

Lopez was in a long relationship with David Cruz, her high-school boyfriend, until the mid-1990s. They were engaged at one point. She later said, "You get lucky, you have a first love like that." She was married to Ojani Noa from February 1997 to January 1998.

Lopez had an on-again, off-again relationship with record producer and rapper Sean Combs from 1999 to early 2001. She was married to Cris Judd, her former backup dancer, from September 2001 to January 2003.

Before her divorce with Judd was final, Lopez was in a relationship with actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck from mid-2002 to early 2004. They met on the set of Gigli (2003). They also worked together on the "Jenny from the Block" music video and the film Jersey Girl (2004). Her album This Is Me... Then was inspired by Affleck. Their relationship was very public, and tabloids called them "Bennifer". They got engaged in November 2002, but their wedding in September 2003 was postponed because of too much media attention. They ended their engagement in January 2004. Years later, Lopez said Affleck's discomfort with the media was one reason for their split.

Lopez and Anthony, 2006

After her relationship with Affleck, Lopez stopped talking about her personal life in interviews. She was married to singer Marc Anthony from June 2004 to June 2014. They had dated briefly in the late 1990s. Their wedding happened five months after her relationship with Affleck ended. During their marriage, they worked on music and performed together. They also starred together in El Cantante (2006). Lopez gave birth to fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, in February 2008. People magazine reportedly paid US$6 million for the first photos of the twins, making them the most expensive celebrity pictures at the time. In 2009, Anthony and Lopez bought a share in the Miami Dolphins football team. They announced their separation in July 2011. Anthony filed for divorce in April 2012, and it was finalized in June 2014. Lopez kept primary custody of their two children. Lopez sometimes performs with her daughter, Emme.

Lopez had an on-again, off-again relationship with her former backup dancer Casper Smart from October 2011 to August 2016. She dated New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez from February 2017 to early 2021. They got engaged in March 2019 but postponed their wedding twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They announced the end of their relationship in April 2021.

In April 2021, Lopez and Affleck were reported to be dating again, and Lopez publicly confirmed their relationship that July. In April 2022, Lopez announced their second engagement, 20 years after the first. They got married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, and had a wedding celebration for family and friends the next month. On August 20, 2024, Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck. She also asked for her legal name to be changed back to Jennifer Lynn Lopez. On January 6, 2025, the divorce was finalized.

Other Ventures

Giving Back to the Community

Lopez and then First Lady Michelle Obama posing for a selfie at the League of United Latin American Citizens National Convention and Exposition in 2014

After the September 11 attacks, Lopez was very involved in charity work. She joined other artists on charity songs like "What's Going On" and "El Ultimo Adios (The Last Goodbye)", which helped people affected by the tragedy. In February 2007, Lopez received the Artists for Amnesty prize for her work in Bordertown. That year, one dollar from each ticket sold at Lopez and Anthony's concert tour was donated to a program that fights childhood obesity.

Lopez has long supported the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Her album Rebirth (2005) is dedicated to Paige Peterson, a young cancer patient she befriended at the hospital who passed away in 2004. Lopez has said she prefers to do her charity work privately. In 2009, Lopez launched the Lopez Family Foundation with her sister, Lynda. This organization helps improve healthcare access for women and children who don't have enough resources. It does this through programs like telemedicine and by expanding medical facilities in places like Panama and Puerto Rico.

In December 2012, Lopez held a charity drive to benefit three charities: the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and the American Red Cross, mainly helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. In May 2015, she became the first celebrity spokesperson for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. That September, she became the first Global Advocate for Girls and Women at the United Nations Foundation. In this role, she works to address issues like maternal health care, education, and violence against women.

In September 2017, after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, Lopez donated $1 million from her Las Vegas concerts to help Puerto Rico. With Marc Anthony, she started a relief campaign called Somos Una Voz (English: We Are One Voice). This effort, supported by many celebrities, aimed to send supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Maria. Lopez and Anthony also held a concert and telethon called "One Voice: Somos Live!", which raised over $35 million. She also joined other artists on Lin-Manuel Miranda's charity single "Almost Like Praying" to benefit Puerto Rico.

As of 2021, Lopez continues to support charities. In September 2021, she launched her own charity, Limitless Labs, which helps and supports Latina business owners. In June 2022, Lopez and Limitless Labs partnered with Grameen America to help women-led Latina businesses with loans and financial training. Lopez has performed at many charity concerts, including the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's Blue Diamond Gala in 2022, which raised $3.6 million for education, health care, and social justice.

Lopez performing at the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021

Artistic Style

Inspirations

Lopez has said Madonna was her "first big musical influence," explaining, "It was all about Madonna for me. She inspired me to want to sing, to dance, to work hard." Other major influences include Tina Turner, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. Barbra Streisand has also inspired Lopez, who said watching her sing, act, and direct was very inspiring. Lopez has mentioned Janet Jackson as a big inspiration for her dancing and music videos. She also looked up to the careers of Cher, Bette Middler, and Diana Ross.

Growing up, she was influenced by Latin music like salsa and bachata, and artists such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. However, she said the hip hop song "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by The Sugarhill Gang changed her life. Another key inspiration for Lopez when she was young was Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno's performance in the musical film West Side Story (1961). Moreno was the only performer Lopez felt she could relate to, at a time when there were few Latinos on television.

Musical Style

Lopez's music style has been described as a "chameleon" because she tries different genres. Her music often mixes hip hop with the "romantic innocence" of Latin music. Billboard noted that she always shows her Latin identity in her music, no matter the genre. Her albums On the 6 and J.Lo mix Latin genres with R&B and hip hop, and also include dance-pop. While mostly in English, these albums have some Spanish and bilingual songs. This Is Me... Then mixed 1970s soul with hip hop. Rebirth was known for its "relaxing" feel, while Como Ama una Mujer was described as "silkily Spanish Sade worship."

Much of Lopez's music is about the "ups and downs" of love. The lyrics of This Is Me... Then focus a lot on her relationship with Ben Affleck. Its sequel album, This Is Me... Now, was inspired by her reunion and marriage with Affleck. Lopez called it an "emotional, spiritual, and psychological journey of the past two decades." Como Ama una Mujer has thoughtful lyrics about love, heartbreak, and self-doubt. For Love?, Lopez said, "There's still so much to learn and that's why the question mark." Other common themes in Lopez's music include her upbringing in the Bronx, social class, and women's empowerment.

Critics have had mixed reviews for Lopez's voice, describing it as "light" and "radio-friendly," sometimes overshadowed by her music's production. For On the 6, The Baltimore Sun said Lopez had a "breathy" style but lacked personality. Rolling Stone noted that Lopez "sticks to the understated R&B murmur of a round-the-way superstar who doesn't need to belt because she knows you're already paying attention."

In a review of Love?, AllMusic called her voice "slight" and wrote that Lopez was "never, ever about singing; she was about style." Pitchfork described her "notoriously serviceable, airy and light" voice as being "stronger than ever" on This Is Me... Now. Lopez has been criticized for using background vocals from demo singers, leading to rumors that other singers' voices were used instead of her own. However, producers and background singers who worked with Lopez have said these rumors are not true.

Lopez performing during the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil

Acting and Screen Presence

Lopez often plays "relatable everywomen" in her films. Cady Lang of Time wrote that "A longtime hallmark of Lopez's filmography is her penchant for stories about survivors. Her characters are never shrinking violets." When discussing the roles she chooses, Lopez said in 1998, "I don't think of them as strong women... I like characters that are really part of the story as opposed to window dressing, but I think the interesting thing is that they are real people. Nobody walks around being strong all the time."

Film critic Stephanie Zacharek called Lopez "one of the most gifted and appealing performers of the past two decades." While Lopez received praise for her early film work, The New York Times writer Kyle Buchanan noted that her choice to star in romantic comedies and her pop music career sometimes affected how critics viewed her. Taylor Hackford, who directed Lopez in Parker, said she "can really act" and "knows how to transmit nuances." Lopez, who loves romantic comedies, has been called the "Patron Saint of Romantic Comedies" and the "Queen of Romantic Comedies."

Impact and Influence

In Entertainment

Lopez waving the Puerto Rican flag in 2009 at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan

Jennifer Lopez is considered one of the most influential Latin entertainers ever. She is known for breaking racial barriers in the entertainment industry. Writer Ned Zeman called her "the first Latina superstar." She is seen as a triple threat performer, meaning she excels at acting, singing, and dancing. She was also one of the few actors to successfully become a music star. Rachel Sklar of The Huffington Post called Lopez a trailblazer, saying that many female artists today stand on her shoulders. Lopez is considered a pop icon. VH1 ranked her among the top pop culture icons, women in music, and women of the video era.

As the highest-paid Latina actress in history, Lopez's film career helped create more opportunities for Latino Americans in Hollywood. Biographer Kathleen Tracy noted that Lopez "blazed a trail no openly Latin actress had gone before."

With her music debut, Lopez contributed to the 1990s "Latin explosion" in entertainment. The Recording Academy called her the "breakout female star" of the Latin pop movement in American music. Her rise to fame helped open doors for American-born Latina pop artists like Selena Gomez and Becky G. It also helped Latin American pop artists like Shakira and Thalía enter the English music scene. Because of her "multi-tasking career," she has been called "the next-generation Madonna" and "the first woman to demonstrate that a Madonna could be a Latina."

Lopez's music has influenced the direction of 2000s music, including dance music, Latin music, R&B, and pop rap collaborations. Billboard named her the "Greatest Pop Star" of 2001. In 2011, after her return to fame, Lopez was called the "world's greatest musical comeback act." In July 2023, Madame Tussauds New York revealed a wax figure of Lopez inspired by her Super Bowl halftime show performance, celebrating her lasting impact.

Cultural Influence

Lopez was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. In 2012, Forbes ranked her as the world's most powerful celebrity and the 38th most powerful woman. Latina magazine founder Christy Haubegger said Lopez's influence comes from her being "the first icon that generationally fits" young Latino Americans. Lopez was on the first cover of Latina in 1996.

Lopez at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019

Jonathan Van Meter of Vogue said Lopez "changed the face of modern celebrity." Her ability to start trends led to the phrase "the J.Lo effect." This phrase is used in different ways, like how networks started hiring "big name" judges for reality shows after Lopez's success on American Idol. With her nickname J.Lo, Lopez started a trend of celebrities getting short nicknames. The name "Bennifer" for her and Ben Affleck began the trend of combining celebrity couple names.

Lopez has been called "arguably the most visible Latina in contemporary mainstream popular culture." She has been studied in academic papers about ethnicity, class, and Latin culture. While she is credited with helping Latino culture become more popular, she has also been a figure that people have strong opinions about.

Because of the public focus on her curvy figure, Lopez is credited with helping change cultural beauty standards. The rise in popularity of buttock augmentation surgery in the early 2000s was linked to Lopez. In Latin Sensations (2001), Herón Marquez wrote, "Because she wasn't rail thin, Lopez had broken the mold... Suddenly, it was okay for women to have hips, curves, and a big backside." This is seen as a sign of Lopez's power in changing mainstream media standards.

In 2014, scientists named a species of aquatic mite found in Puerto Rico, Litarachna lopezae, after Lopez. In Tok Pisin, a language spoken in Papua New Guinea, the term palopa is used for non-traditional gender identities, and its name comes from Jennifer Lopez. In 2019, she received keys to the city of Miami Beach, and July 24 was declared "Jennifer Lopez Day."

Fashion and Brands

The Council of Fashion Designers of America gave Lopez its Fashion Icon Award in 2019 for her big impact on fashion worldwide. Her green Versace "Jungle Dress" was voted the fifth most iconic red carpet dress ever. This dress had a huge impact on the fashion industry and led to the creation of Google's image search. Lopez has helped popularize many fashion and beauty trends. In 2003, she inspired a trend of designing curvier mannequins, which boosted sales for manufacturers and retailers.

Lopez's personal style and brand deals have greatly affected sales in the fashion industry. The success of Louis Vuitton's fall 2003 campaign, which featured Lopez as a model, led to more Hollywood stars becoming models for fashion and cosmetic brands. In 2021, The Daily Telegraph reported that she was among ten celebrities whose style choices caused the biggest increases in searches and news coverage for brands. Her appearance at Milan Fashion Week in 2019 generated over $31.8 million in media value.

Described as a "branding pioneer," Lopez is credited with starting a new era of celebrity branding. Her first perfume, Glow by JLo, influenced the rise of celebrity perfumes in the 2000s. Her perfume line became the most successful celebrity line in the world, with sales over $2 billion by 2012. Lopez's clothing brand was one of the first celebrity fashion lines. Experts say she redefined how fashion is made and connected with other artistic efforts.

Achievements

As of 2018, Lopez has sold over 80 million records worldwide, and her films have earned a total of US$3.1 billion. She is the only female entertainer to have a number one album and film at the same time in the United States. With J.Lo (2001), Lopez became the first female solo artist on Epic Records to have a number one album in the U.S. since the label started in 1953. J to tha L-O! The Remixes (2002) was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the first number one remix album on the US Billboard 200. Lopez's single "On the Floor" is one of the best-selling singles of all time. Its music video was named the "Highest Viewed Female Music Video of All Time" by Guinness World Records in 2012. Lopez was named the top Billboard Hot 100 female artist of 2001. Billboard ranked her as the ninth greatest dance club artist of all time in 2016, with 18 number-one songs on its Dance Club Songs chart. She was named the top Latin touring artist of the decade by Pollstar in 2021.

In 2010, Lopez was honored by the World Music Awards with the Legend Award for her contributions to the arts. In 2013, she received the 2,500th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her music. Univision gave her the World Icon Award at its Premios Juventud. In 2014, she became the first female recipient of the Billboard Icon Award. In 2017, she received the Telemundo Star Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. In 2018, Lopez received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, making her the first Latin performer to get this honor since it started in 1984. In 2022, she received the Generation Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for her work in film and television, and the Icon Award at the iHeart Radio Music Awards.

Discography

Filmography

Films starred

Tours and Residencies

Headlining tours

• Dance Again World Tour (2012)
• It's My Party Tour (2019)

Co-headlining tours

• Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony en Concierto (2007)
• Enrique Iglesias & Jennifer Lopez Tour (2012)

Residencies

• Let's Get Loud (2001)
• Jennifer Lopez: All I Have (2016–2018)

Cancelled tours

• This Is Me... Live (2024)

Images for kids

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  Lopez arriving at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2004

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  Lopez in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Jennifer Lopez para niños

• History of women in Puerto Rico
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of dancers
• List of Puerto Ricans
• Mami (hip hop)
• Nuyorican
• List of most-followed Instagram accounts