Jennifer Lopez
Dance, Electronic, Latin, Pop • The Bronx, New York, United States
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American singer, actress, dancer, and businesswoman born in 1969 in the Bronx, New York. Beginning her career as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy series In Living Color in the early 1990s, Lopez transitioned to acting and achieved breakthrough success with her starring role in the 1997 biopic Selena, becoming the first Latina actress to earn $1 million for a film role. She simultaneously launched a music career with her debut album On the 6 (1999), which spawned the hit single "If You Had My Love" and established her as a crossover artist.
Lopez achieved unprecedented success in the early 2000s, becoming the first woman to simultaneously hold the number-one album and film in the United States in 2001. Her album J.Lo became her most commercially successful record, while films like Out of Sight and Maid in Manhattan showcased her range as an actress. She became one of Hollywood's highest-paid entertainers, known for romantic comedies and blockbuster performances. Despite experiencing a career downturn in the mid-2000s following personal struggles and media scrutiny, Lopez staged a remarkable comeback through her judging role on American Idol beginning in 2011, which revitalized her music career and public profile.
In recent decades, Lopez has solidified her status as a global entertainment icon, with major achievements including a Super Bowl LIV halftime show performance in 2020 that became the most-watched in history, and critically acclaimed film roles in Hustlers (2019) and Unstoppable (2024). Beyond entertainment, she has built a vast business empire encompassing fashion lines, fragrances generating hundreds of millions in revenue, and beauty brands. Lopez founded the Lopez Family Foundation to improve healthcare access for underserved communities and has donated millions to disaster relief efforts, particularly in Puerto Rico. With over 80 million records sold worldwide and films grossing over $3 billion collectively, Lopez is widely recognized as a cultural trailblazer who expanded opportunities for Latino artists in mainstream entertainment.
Quotes
“I practiced until my legs and feet ached”
“I felt like all the women in romantic comedies always looked the same way, they were always white.”
“I lost my sense of self, questioned if I belonged in this business, thought maybe I did suck at everything.”
“It was like my whole f***ing world exploded”
Career Timeline
Marriage to Ben Affleck
Lopez married Ben Affleck in Las Vegas, reuniting with him 20 years after their first engagement and inspiring her album This Is Me... Now.
Super Bowl LIV Halftime Performance
Lopez co-headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Shakira, delivering a widely praised performance that became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show to date.
Hustlers Critical Acclaim
Lopez starred in the crime drama Hustlers, garnering critical praise for what many deemed the best performance of her acting career and earning multiple award nominations.
American Idol Judge and Career Revival
Lopez joined American Idol as a judge, which returned her to prominence and led to her career resurgence with the hit single 'On the Floor' becoming the year's best-selling single by a female artist.
This Is Me... Then Release
Lopez released her third studio album This Is Me... Then, which featured the hit single 'Jenny from the Block' and achieved the highest opening sales week of her career at that time.
Number-One Album and Film Simultaneously
Lopez became the first woman to simultaneously have the number-one album (J.Lo) and film (The Wedding Planner) in the United States, solidifying her status as a multi-talented superstar.
On the 6 Album Release
Lopez released her debut album On the 6, which achieved massive success with 'If You Had My Love' becoming a number-one hit and establishing her as a major recording artist.
Selena Breakthrough
Lopez starred in the biopic Selena and became the first Latina actress to earn $1 million, receiving critical acclaim and her first Golden Globe nomination for a star-making performance.
In Living Color Fly Girl
Lopez joined the sketch comedy series In Living Color as a Fly Girl dancer, which led to wider recognition and eventually her transition into acting and music.
