There’s no denying that Jennifer Lopez is one of Hollywood’s biggest names, and with good reason! As an iconic singer, dancer, actress, and designer, she has shown that there is very little she can’t do. Her successful career over her years has also landed her a prime place strutting across countless red carpets, where she continually wows fans with her unforgettable outfits. It’ll be interesting to see how she tops these memorable red carpet assemblages with her ultimate wedding dress — luckily she’s given a peek of what’s to come.
J. Lo, Jenny from the block, Jennifer Lopez – or whatever you want to call her – was born in 1969 to two parents from Puerto Rico: computer specialist father, David, and kindergarten teacher mother, Guadalupe. While her parents don’t have experience in showbiz, someone else in her bloodline does.
J.Lo’s youngest sister, Lynda, followed in the actress’ footsteps and also worked in front of the camera – but as a journalist. After being an anchor for shows like Good Day New York and Fox 5 Live, she moved to ABC Radio, where she currently works. Lopez’s older sister, Leslie on the other hand, works as a music teacher at a school in the Bronx.
At 50 years old, Jennifer Lopez remains a leading Hollywood style figure. Her legendary sartorial status was recently flaunted yet again when she made a now-viral appearance in a green number to close the Versace Spring 2020 fashion show. Taking to the catwalk, she modeled a more daring version of the iconic, green, jungle print dress that she wore to the 2000 Grammys.
To commemorate that iconic moment in fashion and Google’s history (Google Images was in some part born to serve people’s desire of looking up Lopez’s green dress), Google paired with Donatella Versace and revamped the whole experience by decorating the runway with print-inspired digital artwork. Talk about sensory overload!
Considered by many to be one of the world’s most powerful superstars, Jennifer Lopez’s unprecedented success has influenced pop culture in ways that go beyond just her musical and theatrical performances. As of 2019, the designer has launched 30 fragrances.
Lopez’s most recent fragrance, PROMISE, is very near and dear to her. Speaking of the brand, she’s said, “This is a passion project for me. PROMISE embodies everything I am, not just as a performer, but as a person, as a mother and as a daughter. A brand is a promise – and this brand is very personal to me.” An ultimate visionary, Lopez hopes it connects with women on an emotional level.
According to the TODAY Show in June 2019, Jennifer Lopez was quoted saying, “I’ve been married three times. And once was nine months, and once was 11 months. So I don’t really count those.” So, who is our favorite Hollywood star referring to?
In 1997, J.Lo married her first husband, Cuban waiter Ojani Noa when she was only 28 years old. Their marriage ended 11 months later reportedly so that Lopez could focus on her career. Her second husband was backup dancer Cris Judd, whom she met on the set for her video, “Love Don’t Cost A Thing.” Her love might not have cost a thing, but things still didn’t work out and the pair divorced after nine months. But her high-profile love life was far from over after that.
NEXT: Lopez’s high-profile relationship
Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck met in 2002 when they starred in the box office flop Gigli. The two immediately hit it off and their high-profile romance earned them the joint moniker, “Bennifer.” In November 2002, Affleck got down on one knee with a 6.1 carat pink diamond and Lopez happily said “yes.”
However, the couple’s happiness was short-lived. Days before they were supposed to walk down the aisle in Santa Barbara, California, Affleck called off the wedding, citing paparazzi interference as the reason. Their relationship ended right then and there and only months later, Affleck started dating another famous Jennifer – Jennifer Garner. In the wake of “Bennifer 2.0,” Lopez would again find love.
Following the end of her engagement with Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez claimed to have hit rock bottom. So when old friend and fellow musician Marc Anthony walked back into her life, she believed it was destiny and that he was her “knight in shining armor.”
After marrying in 2004, she vowed to “never give up on this love.” But 10 years and two children later, the couple ended up calling it quits. They’re anything but ordinary exes, however. Not only do they co-parent their twins, Max and Emme, but they also collaborate in their music. Lopez has even gone so far as to refer to him as her “best friend.”
After two years of dating, former professional baseball player, Alex Rodriguez asked for Jennifer Lopez’s hand in marriage. He popped the question while the two were enjoying a romantic getaway in March 2019. What will be Lopez’s fourth marriage will be Rodriguez’s second.
Fans from all over have been equally captivated by J.Lo’s stunning emerald-cut ring and the way the couple’s kids seem to get along swimmingly. According to The Oprah Magazine, Lopez said their kids (Rodriguez’s two daughters and Lopez’s twin daughter and son) have long waited for the two to marry. If you need any convincing as to how close their blended family already is, check out either of their Instagram feeds.
As if the Hollywood superstar didn’t do enough already – in the early 2000s, Jennifer Lopez co-founded a television and film production company, Nuyorican Productions, with her manager, Benny Medina. Though the praised performer ended up splitting with Medina shortly after it was founded, the company went on to produce a number of movies and TV series.
Nuyorican Productions’ first production was the 2006 musical drama film El Cantante, which Lopez starred in alongside her then-husband, Marc Anthony. Since then, the company has produced a wide array of shows and films, ranging from the family drama series The Fosters to the reality competition series The World of Dance and J.Lo’s newest 2019 feature film, Hustlers.
NEXT: J.Lo in the 2019 drama, Hustlers
In the 2019 drama film, Hustlers, Jennifer Lopez plays Ramona, the senior-most dancer at a New York strip club who leads a group of dancers running a group of Wall Street tycoons for all that they’re worth. Lopez took her pole dance training for the movie very seriously, and has even called it “one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do for a role.”
She was so dedicated to her pole training that she installed a portable pole in her New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles homes so that she could practice wherever she was. It seems her hard work is already paying off, as there is awards buzz about a Golden Globe nomination for the film. If it pans out, it would be her first Golden Globe nomination since the one she garnered for her titular role in the 1997 film, Selena.
Jennifer Lopez’s first headlining role was in the 1997 drama music film, Selena, where she played Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, a Texas-born singer who rose to stardom as a chart-topping Latin artist. Real life seemed to imitate art as, Lopez catapulted to household name fame for her role.
The role came before Lopez was known for her singing, which meant some critics were skeptical of her ability to both succeed in the role and then enter into the music industry… but boy, were they wrong. J.Lo not only received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, but she also became the first actress of Latin descent to earn more than $1 million for a film.
After developing an interest in performing at a young age, Jennifer Lopez began taking dancing and singing lessons when she was only five years old. Her talent and interest in the performing arts were nurtured by her parents, who encouraged her and her sisters to perform for family and friends while at home.
In her formative year, Lopez also attended an all-girls, Catholic high school, where she played on the softball team, participated in gymnastics, and ran track at a national level. In her final year, she was cast in a low-budget film, which made her realize her passion to become a famous movie star. Despite her dreams of the limelight, she enrolled in New York’s Baruch College to please her parents, but ended up dropping out after the first semester.
Unfortunately for J.Lo, her parents were not the most supportive of her dreams to enter the world of showbiz, and this put her in a tough position. Because of their differences in opinion, the aspiring movie star decided to go it alone.
At the age of 18, she left her family home in the Bronx and moved to Manhattan. She worked at a law firm by day and took dancing jobs by night. Some nights, she would even sleep in the dance studio where she practiced. This dedication proved to pay off, as Lopez later went on to get her first big break as a Fly Girl dancer in the 1990 Fox comedy, In Living Color.
If your jaw falls to the floor each time you see Jennifer Lopez strutting on the red carpet or in an incredible display of showmanship, just know you’re not alone. From her countless music videos, photoshoots, movie gigs and world tours (just mention a few of her commitments), it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize she must train… hard. In fact, in 2008 she competed in her first-ever Triathlon in Malibu.
The Nautica Malibu Triathlon consisted of a half-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride, and a four-mile run – which the performer completed in only two hours and 23 minutes! Cheering her on from the sidelines was her then-husband, Marc Anthony. With the ability to complete such a strenuous race, J-Lo had to follow a strict diet and workout regimen.
NEXT: Take a look at J.Lo’s diet and exercise plan
Lopez’s golden rule is to drink plenty of water. She supplements this by cutting out all alcohol and caffeine and eating only organic, nutrient-dense, clean foods. This means filling her lunch plate with fish and veggies and her dinner plate with a protein and quinoa. According to the indefatigable star, her favorite meat is pork and chicken.
As far as exercise goes, J.Lo’s number one rule is to never skip out on a daily sweat sesh. Her tireless dedication also stems from sticking to morning workouts and changing up the type of exercise she does. But when prepping for shows, she says she makes sure to target her “biceps, back, and booty.”
We don’t know how Jennifer Lopez has been able to defy the process of aging so well, but we want whatever she’s having. The singing, dancing, acting megastar turned 50 in July 2019 and celebrated the milestone birthday with a world tour called The World of Dance.
In response to people thinking she was “crazy” for wanting to draw attention to her age, she said, “It was important as a woman to do that; to let people know that you don’t get to write women off at a certain point in their life.” She added that aging isn’t limiting, saying, “You’re getting better and better as you go, so long as you are open to the experience of growing and evolving.” Preach, queen!
Rewind to 2001, when Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey’s hit rom-com, The Wedding Planner, hit theaters. It reached the number-one spot in the box office in the same week that her self-titled second album, J. Lo made it to the top of the US Billboard 200.
With both milestones taking place simultaneously, Lopez became the first entertainer to have a number one film and a number one album all in the same week. While we aren’t surprised (seriously, what can’t she do!?) some critics bashed her sophomore album, saying it sounded too manufactured. Her success sure proved them wrong, though.
On October 4, 2019, the Hustlers star wowed Maluma and J.Lo fans alike with a surprise appearance during the Colombian singer’s 11:11 World Tour. During Maluma’s sold-out Madison Square Garden concert, J.Lo rose up center stage in an eye-popping gold sequined ensemble.
The Latin music stars used the NYC concert as the backdrop to film a scene for their upcoming romantic comedy film, Marry Me, as they performed the hit J.Lo and Marc Anthony track, “No Me Ames.” According to Variety, the film is set to be “a cross between Notting Hill and A Star Is Born.” Acclaimed actor Owen Wilson is set to star in it alongside Lopez.
NEXT: How J.Lo’s youth influenced her career
As it turns out, J.Lo’s New York City roots have had a lot of influence on her career. The title of her first 1999 album, “On the 6” for example, paid tribute to her hometown. The aspiring movie star claimed to have relied heavily on the New York subway’s Line 6 when commuting to Manhattan from her home in the Bronx at the start of her career.
The album introduced us to some pretty big tracks like “If You Had My Love.” As Jenny from the block’s first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 list, it remained a chart-topper for an entirety of five weeks and even dethroned Ricky Martin’s hit, “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
In her early days as a dancer, Lopez worked as a backup dancer for the famous boy band, New Kids on the Block. At the age of 21, she performed with the band at the 1991 American Music Awards. From there her dancing career would take the steps toward the world-renowned performer she is known to be now.
J.Lo then went on to become Janet Jackson’s backup dancer and even appeared in the music video for her 1993 hit, “That’s the Way Love Goes.” Jackson told Vibe magazine in 2001 that although the aspiring pop-star was supposed to go on tour with Jackson, “she called and said she wanted out, because she wanted to do her own thing.”
Unbeknownst to many, J.Lo has her own nonprofit organization – the Lopez Family Foundation – which she launched with her sister, Lynda Lopez in 2009. The foundation was created after Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s daughter, Emme, had a medical scare at just three weeks old.
Although Emme’s health was restored in the end, the experience left J.Lo feeling thankful that she had access to proper medical care. It was this that motivated her and her sister to create an organization on the grounds of providing health care education and opportunities for women and children – even for those unable to pay for adequate services.
While producing her debut album, “On the 6,” Jennifer Lopez met and began dating rapper Sean Combs, commonly referred to as P. Diddy. The two arguably became one of the biggest couples of the early 2000s but broke up shortly after they were arrested following a night out in New York City that saw a dance club shooting. At the end of the 14-hour ordeal, Lopez was released and all charges against her were dropped.
In January 2019, Combs and Lopez again made headlines together when he commented on one of her Instagram photos after she had completed a 10-day challenge of cutting out carbs and sugar. He wrote “OMG” followed by a heart eye emoji, for which he reportedly later apologize to her current fiance, Alex Rodriguez.
It’s hard to imagine someone with as packed of a schedule as Jennifer Lopez having enough time to indulge in guilty pleasures. But alas, the superstar has managed to find the time and surprise us with her superhuman ways once more. Any guesses at to what her guilty pleasure might be?
When Vanity Fair asked the Hustlers star what her guilty pleasure is, she responded saying it was reality TV – specifically Mob Wives. Though she was embarrassed to admit her vice, this genre of television has actually helped excel her career. Lopez was a judge on American Idol for three seasons and has also worked as a judge and executive producer for the dance competition series, World of Dance.
At the American Music Awards in 2013, Jennifer Lopez paid tribute to the late legendary Afro-Cuban singer, Celia Cruz in what was deemed a very defining career moment. Cruz lost her battle to brain cancer in 2003 and died at the age of 77.
Lopez’s high energy performance featured many of the “Queen of Salsa’s” most memorable songs – such as “Quimbara,” “La Vida es un Carnaval” and “Bemba Colorá.” The commemorative performance even involved a number of noteworthy costume changes. And for those familiar with the 1977 film, Selena, this wasn’t Lopez’s first rodeo in taking on the role of a Latin icon.
A woman of many talents and an icon in entertainment since the ’90s, it’s no wonder Jennifer Lopez has quite a long list of awards to her name. As of September 2019, the 315-time award winner for her professional accomplishments has 11 Billboard Latin Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards under her belt, just to mention a few.
Outside of her music career, Lopez was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the 1997 film, Selena. And in 2018, Time named her among the 100 most influential people in the world – not to mention she also won the CFDA’s 2019 Fashion Icon Award. All of this just goes to show that Jennifer Lopez is at the top of her game and is living her best life!
If you’re a J.Lo fan, chances are you have probably heard the rumor that she got her renowned rear end insured for a staggering $1 million. The rumor stemmed from a 2010 Business Insider article that listed 20 celebs who had allegedly insured their body parts… emphasis on the word “allegedly.”
And to (what should be) the surprise of no one, media outlets capitalized on this news and the rumor spread like rapid fire. But to the disappointment of many, Lopez put these claims to rest after telling James Corden during a segment of Carpool Karaoke that she never did such a thing. Still, it makes for one of the most well-known rumors in modern entertainment history that can only make us say “Ain’t it Funny.”
What is that saying? Oh right – the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. On February 22, 2008, Jennifer Lopez welcomed twins Emme Maribel and Maximilian David with then-husband, Marc Anthony and it seems her daughter is growing up to be a mini version of herself.
On the twins’ 10th birthday, Lopez took to Instagram to write, “Emme, you are my soul, my inner child personified, the most joyful, deep, and sensitive human being I have ever met . . . and I adore everything about you — your artistry, your independence, your strength, and your sensitive spirit.” Doesn’t it sound familiar?!
Though J.Lo dazzles in this extravagant wedding dress, don’t be mistaken – it’s not the gown she is wearing to walk down the aisle with fiance, Alex Rodriguez. Instead, it’s the dress she wore while filming for Marry Me, where she portrays a pop star who is abandoned by her rocker fiance at Madison Square Garden right before they’re set to get married.
The strong-willed pop star refuses to be crushed and instead marries a guest (Owen Wilson). The romantic comedy also stars John Bradley, Michelle Buteau, Sarah Silverman, Chloe Coleman and Maluma. Who else is excited to see Lopez in a beautiful bejeweled wedding dress by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad?!
Jennifer Lopez has starred in quite a number of films, and with such a knack for entertaining, it is easy to fall in love with her performances on the big screen. Aside from her 1997 film, Selena, another fan-favorite performance was in the 2001 romantic comedy, The Wedding Planner.
Nothing beats the unrivaled chemistry shared between Lopez and Matthew McConaughey. In the movie, Lopez plays the role of wedding planner Mary Fiore. While her job is to help couples plan their big day, she commits a big no-no and ends up (literally) falling for the groom Steve Edison, who is played by McConaughey.
It seems Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s son, Max also takes after his parents. Just take a look at J.Lo’s Instagram feed if you need any convincing about her son’s musical talent. In September 2019, the Hollywood superstar posted a video of her kids performing a rendition of Vance Joy’s song, “Riptide.”
While Emme was on guitar, Max was the vocalist. With parents like Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, it makes sense the kid has some serious pipes! And to give insight into his personality, J.Lo wrote on his 10th birthday, “Max . . . your energy is unmatched, your sense of humor makes everyone around you laugh, and I marvel at your depth of understanding of people and the world.” Aww!
We can’t be the only ones who would die to be part of J.Lo’s posse. With such a busy life recording music, filming for movies, making appearances at different events, and caring for her fiance and kids, it’s hard to imagine she has time to maintain friendships, but alas – Lopez can do it all!
Part of her girl gang is BFF Leah Remini, who was Lopez’s co-star on the drama romance film, Second Act in 2018. Remini explained on The View that they “are very close, like sisters are and also in a different way than sisters are.” How sweet!
Seen as someone who can master it all – from singing to dancing and acting – it is no wonder jealous critics were quick to jump on the star for allegedly “borrowing” vocals from other female artists to include in her albums.
In 2018, someone took to Twitter to accuse the “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” singer of stealing her hits from other singers, though it is apparently more common than we think for singers to use other vocalists in their tracks. Among the artists she has been rumored to hire are Ashanti, Brandy, and Christina Milian. J.Lo was also bashed for using some of the artists as her song-writer, yet failing to give them credit for their work.
Characteristically unlike her, in the year 2000, Jennifer Lopez starred in the fantasy sci-fi film, The Cell: a movie filled with horror and psychological twists. If you are into mind trips, we think it is safe to say you’ll enjoy this one.
In the film, Lopez plays Catherine Deane, a psychologist who has the ability to experience what is going on in someone else’s unconscious mind. The plot centers around Deane entering the mind of a psychotic serial killer who is comatose so that she can find out where he hid his last kidnap victim. The film is seriously scary-good!
Long before former professional baseball player, Alex Rodriguez stole J.Lo’s heart, her former back-up dancer Casper Smart was the one by her side. The two became an item around October 2011 though Smart was younger than her by 18 years.
The couple met while recording the music video for J.Lo’s hit, “Dance Again” and quickly got close. But not long after, the couple split. In an interview with Univision more than three years after their break-up, Smart gave inside into their parting. He said, “I was very young and selfish. I thought I was ready for a relationship with a woman with kids and everything.”
We can always count on Jennifer Lopez to deliver a spectacular performance. And that’s why we’re extra excited for her confirmed halftime show at the 2020 Super Bowl in February, which she is set to do alongside Colombian singer, Shakira.
The Super Bowl is set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. J.Lo and Shakira are sure to deliver, just as those who came before her. At the 2019 Super Bowl, American pop group, Maroon 5 performed for the halftime show. They were joined by rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi, who were guest performers.
Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to receiving recognition for her accomplishments, as we’ve seen. Aside from all her Billboard and MTV Music awards, she is the only woman to be voted the Sexiest Woman in the World by For Him Magazine (FMH) – twice!
Now, we can’t say we’re all that surprised. J.Lo also earned herself the nickname “la guitarra” meaning “guitar” at her local gyms growing up. Must we explain? The guitar was meant to represent the way her body curves. In her hometown neighborhood of the Bronx, she was also referred to as “the supernova.” Get it, girl!
Sources: Insider, Elle, The Verge
