Annie Gonzalez to Star as the Late Jenni Rivera in Family-Authorized Biopic “Jenni”

Annie Gonzalez will be portraying a late banda legend…

The Latina actress will star in an authorized biopic about the life of Jenni Rivera has been greenlit at ViX.

Annie GonzalezIn addition to starring, Gonzalez will also executive produce the film.

Filming of Jenni (wt) is underway in Bogota, Colombia, and will be completed in Los Angeles.

The project is set to premiere exclusively via ViX and in select movie theaters in the United States and Mexico later this year.

Jenni (wt) will follow Rivera’s journey from her humble beginnings in Long Beach, California, to her meteoric rise to the top of the charts, and her final days before her tragic and unexpected death. The film will also share a look at the struggles she endured in her personal life and how she became the artist fans all know and love today, and how she persevered and found strength from within.

The streamer notes, Jenni is a story of resilience and bravery that shows the building blocks of what made Jenni Rivera—also known affectionately as “La Diva De La Banda”— who she was and the remarkable legacy she left behind.

“My siblings and I are very excited about this biopic and we know our mother’s story will impact generations to come,” Jacqie Rivera, daughter of Jenni Rivera and CEO of Jenni Rivera Enterprises said in a statement. “It has been an uphill battle, but we are happy to see one of our mom’s dreams come to fruition. Although we still haven’t gotten used to seeing someone portray our mother, we have faith Annie will do a great job.”

As a multiple award-winning artist—including multiple Billboard Music Awards, 22 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 18 Lo Nuestro Awards, and four Latin Grammy nominations— Rivera is not only known as one of the best-selling Regional Mexican artists of all time but also for her role in disrupting cultural precedent by crossing into banda, a male-dominated music genre and eventually into pop music, where her presence posthumously continues to shine. Rivera died in a plane crash in 2012.

“I am beyond honored to portray the essence of this phenomenal survivor that is Jenni Rivera who despite adversity at every turn was never a victim and showed her daughters, her family, and her audience what grace, forgiveness, and true authenticity is— liberating us all,” Gonzalez shared. “Jenni’s messages of feminism, civil rights, and nonconformity within her music were well before her time and made space for all of us to feel empowered. With the support of the Rivera family, I cannot wait to help tell the beautiful story and the impactful legacy of what Jenni means to me personally and what it will mean to women and Latinas everywhere.”

Manuel Uriza will star opposite Gonzalez in the role of Pedro Rivera, Jenni’s father, and Regional Mexican entrepreneur. The cast also includes Cinthya Carmona (East Los High) as Jenni Rivera’s eldest daughter, Chiquis Rivera, Jero Medina (Narcos: Mexico) and Miguel Angel Garcia (The Long Game) who will dually portray Trino Marín, Rivera’s first husband and father of her three eldest children at later and earlier stages in his life, respectively.

Additionally, Gabriela Reynoso (Si Nos Dejan) will be portraying Jenni’s mother Rosa Saavedra, J.R. Villarreal (Ultra Violet) will play Juan “Cinco” Lopez, Jenni’s late second husband, and newcomer Tatiana Juarez will portray Rivera during her early years.

“ViX is thrilled to be the official home and distributor of this powerful story about Jenni Rivera. Our commitment to this project is paramount and, along with a fantastic production team and director, we know we will have a film that will captivate our audiences,” stated Augusto Rovegno, Senior Vice President of Content ViX at TelevisaUnivision.

Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock) directs from a screenplay by Shane McKenzie (Bingo Hell).

Gonzalez is gearing up to promote Flamin’ Hot, the Eva Longoria-directed Searchlight Pictures film about how Frito Lay janitor Ricardo Montañez climbs the ranks at work and creates the spicy Cheeto snack. Flamin’ Hot premieres at SXSW on March 11 followed by a wide release via Hulu in June. The Chicana actress portrays the character of Judy, Montañez’s wife, opposite Jesse Garcia.

She also recently starred in Illegally Brown alongside Jessica Marie Garcia from filmmaker, Gabby Revilla Lugo, which is currently playing on the film festival circuit. Additionally, Gonzalez can next be seen in the upcoming independent thriller Body Language and an untitled Ethan Coen project.

Gonzalez is best known for her portrayal of Lidia Solis in the Netflix comedy series Gentefied and her guest roles in Apple’s Mr. Corman, Starz’s Vida, NBC’s Good Girls, Showtime’s Shameless, and FX’s American Horror Story, among other credits.

Jenni Rivera’s Family to Release New, Never-Released Music by the Late Banda Queen

There’s new music by Jenni Rivera headed your way…

As the 10-year anniversary of the late Mexican American singer’s death in a plane crash over Mexico (in December, 2012) approaches, her family is planning to share new music with the world.

Jenni RiveraNever-released music she left recorded before her death will see the light of day, according to daughter Jacqie Rivera, who in January took over from her aunt Rosie Rivera as head of the Jenni Rivera estate.

“It’s definitely music in Spanish, it’s more than one song, and it’s regional Mexican,” Jacqie Rivera tells Billboard in her first interview since she took over her mother’s estate. “I think it’s very important that we tie in how she started, what [music] put her up there, and share that.”

The new tracks will be part of a full-fledged album of brand-new Rivera songs set for release before the end of the year. The set will include at least some of the 11 other unreleased songs that the Rivera estate found after Jenni Rivera’s passing, and will be released by Sony Music U.S. Latin. Several of the tracks will be produced by Sergio Lizárraga, the head of Banda MS and owner of Lizos Music.

Music in English is also on the way, although plans for those releases have yet to be finalized.

The music releases are the core of a series of actions that the estate is spearheading this year. Among them is a concert commemorating Rivera’s death — which will feature performances by her children, and which Jacqie Rivera describes as “a la Coachella” — and a long-planned biopic, which has long been discussed but is now firmly in the planning stages.

The moves signal a change of direction in the management of Jenni Rivera’s estate, which had been helmed by her sister, Rosie, since her death. Now, the reins have amicably passed to Jacqie, the second of Rivera’s five children. (The five are recording star Chiquis Rivera, Jacqie Rivera and Michael Marín from Rivera’s first marriage, and Jenicka and Johnny Angel, from her second marriage.)

All five siblings are now part of the estate’s advisory board and are actively involved in major decision-making, says Jacqie.

“The little decisions, I make them. For the big decisions, we all get together and we all vote,” she explains. “My little brother Johnny is working alongside with me, especially for the music. He’s always been involved in producing, and we’re working closely together. But we definitely need each other, all of us together, to really do it. There’s always meetings, phone calls, zooms. We’re all busy but we make it happen.”

When Rivera died in 2012, at 43 years old, she was the single most successful woman in regional Mexican on the Billboard charts — with over 26 entries on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart — and at the pinnacle of her career. But she was also on the verge of much more.

She was on the verge of a major crossover, having become the first Latina ever to sign a production deal to star in her own TV series on a major U.S. network and about to have her own residency in Las Vegas. On the verge of a cinematic career, Rivera played her first role in a major film, Filly Brown. On the verge of fulfilling her dream of becoming the “Latina Oprah,” with the continued success of her weekly radio show, Contacto Directo con Jenni Rivera. And on the verge of massive stardom in Mexico, following her stint as the most popular coach on season 2 of La Voz.

Perhaps most importantly to her, after years of being the sole provider for her family, she was finally finding the time to truly enjoy her children and her grandchildren. But her death left her children reeling. Only now, says Jacqie, does she feel ready to take control of her mother’s estate.

“My mom was such a big part…she was our everything,” says Rivera. “I don’t think any of us kids would have been ready to do this job because it’s a lot of work. For sure, I’m ready now.”

As part of the changes implemented since she took over, Rivera tapped Izabel Nicholas as general manager for Jenni Rivera Enterprises and Oswaldo Rossi has remained as the estate’s lawyer. Entotal Agency, the management firm headed by Jorge Sánchez and Tom Muzquiz with Pitbull as a partner is handling artist management.

“Being part of the Jenni Rivera team is an honor and a privilege,” says Sánchez, whose company started working with the estate in March, at the recommendation of BMI CCO Alex Flores. “Working with Jacqie and Jenni Rivera Enterprises represents a great experience due to her vision, respect and the enthusiasm. Jenni Rivera died in the prime of her life, and the music she left behind reflects this vitality. We have a great task ahead, with many and amazing releases plus other projects from one of the most important names and legacies in Latin music.”

It all amounts to an outpouring of material that would have made Jenni Rivera proud, says Jacqie, whose eyes brighten when asked what she thinks her mother would tell her if she could see her now.

“I think she would remind me of what my name means: Jacqueline is a form of Jacob, and Jacob is a go-getter,” she responds. “She would always remind me of what my name meant. [So I think she would say] ‘You got this, you can do this.’ And as a mom, she’d also tell me I’m doing a good job — because sometimes, you really don’t know.”

Becky G Teams Up with Dime Optics to Launch Her First-Ever Eyewear Collection

The future’s so bright Becky G’s gotta wear shades…

The 23-year-old Mexican American singer/rapper, who recently collaborated with Chiquis Rivera for a cumbia-fied cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” has partnered with Dime Optics to launch her first-ever eyewear collection. Here you will get the Best optical shop in Singapore, do visit.

Becky G x Dime Sunglass Collection

“For me, it’s really important to be that open book that I’ve always been since the beginning of my career and the truth is, many things inspire me beyond just music,” Becky G tells Billboard. “To be able to transition into something new is exciting for me but also comes very naturally.”

Inspired by her Mexican-American roots and Latinx vibes, Becky G’s fashionable line includes eight different styles because “it’s versatile like me!

Becky G x Dime Sunglass Collection

For the “Mayores” singer, affordability and quality were key in teaming up with the glasses brand.

“That’s important because one of my responsibilities as an artist is to know that my audience, at the end of the day, is mostly hard-working individuals who are still going to school and I want them to know that they will be investing in something that’s worth it.”

Becky G x Dime Sunglass Collection

Becky G’s collection, with all pairs selling for only $30, ships worldwide. And, two of the pairs have already sold out: the 33 Clear Crystal + Blue Light, and the 333 Black Grey styles.

“When we started this collab, I wanted to make something that was amazing AND affordable,” tweeted Becky G. “So excited guys are liking them already.”

Becky G x Dime Sunglass Collection

Click here to shop Becky G’s Dime collection.

Chiquis Rivera & Becky G Release Cumbia-fied Version of Dolly Parton’s Classic Song “Jolene”

Chiquis Rivera is giving a Dolly Parton classic a Mexican cumbia twist…

The 34-year-old Mexican American singer has joined voices with Becky G torelease a new version of Dolly Parton’s 1974 hit “Jolene.” 

Becky G & Chiquis

On the track, Chiquis and the 23-year-old Mexican American singer/rapper belt the classic lyrics en español over a cumbia beat. 

Chiquis & Becky G, longtime friends, have been waiting for the opportunity to collaborate on a song. 

Chiquis, the daughter of the late Jenni Rivera, decided to reach out to Parton’s team and was pleasantly surprised when they gave their seal of approval.

“Dolly is an icon in music and for women. An example to follow and it is an honor to sing this song in Spanish,” the Chiquis told Telemundo.

Becky G was thrilled to fuse both her Mexican and American roots on the classic song.

“I was fascinated by the idea because it brings together our two worlds. When they ask me where I am from, I always say that I am Mexican. I never say that my grandparents are Mexican and I am American,” the “Sin Pijama”singer said. “However, country music was always heard in my house, with the Mexican, and our ‘Jolene’ is that. It has the essence of Dolly with a little bit of our itch.”

Jolene is the third single from Chiquis’ latest album PLAYLIST. For the women, it was the perfect time for them to come together for one of the biggest songs in history. “We were waiting for the right one, and although I never thought it would come from country, it worked perfectly.”

Chiquis and Becky G will release the music video for the track in the near future. The ladies teased the release on their respective social media accounts with clips. In the clips, the women hold guns as they ride through the dessert.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAvptSznDAJ

Chiquis Rivera Teams Up with peermusic for Her First-Ever Publishing Deal

It’s a special first for Chiquis Rivera

The 34-year-old Mexican American singer and television personality, thedaughter of the late Regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera, has landed her first publishing deal with peermusic, according to Billboard.

Chiquis Rivera

This week, Kathy Spanberger, president & chief operating officer, peermusic; Yvonne Drazan, vp, Latin Division, West Coast, peermusic, and Julio Bague, vp, Latin Division, East Coast & Puerto Rico announced that they have signed Chiquis to an exclusive global publishing agreement. 

The news comes almost three months after she and her management team, The Sixth House,signed a new dealwith Fonovisa, the Regional Mexican division of Universal Music Group back in April. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Chiquis into the peermusic family. She’s already established herself as one of Latin music’s most powerful and promising new voices, and I can’t wait until the songs she’s writing and recording are ready to be shared with the world,” said Drazan. 

“I am so excited and honored to officially be a part of the peermusic family,” said Chiquis. “Writing has gotten me through some very tough times in my life, it’s a form of therapy for me now. I love the process and thoroughly enjoy creating with amazing and talented people during the song camps at peermusic. Can’t wait to see and hear what the future holds!”

Ready to make her return with new music in 2019, Chiquis announced her single “Animate y Veras” will be released on June 28. 

A new album is also in the works, where peermusic already organized and held two songwriting camps for it, including one in Los Angeles and another in Miami. Each camp was two days long and featured six writers to collaborate with Chiquis, including both peermusic writers and non-peermusic writers. The camps have already produced one of the upcoming album’s singles.

The untitled album follows her debut studio albumAhora(2015) and her 2018 album Entre Botellas, which reached No. 1on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, making her the first woman to debut at the top of that chart since her late mother, Jenni Rivera, did in 2016.

Victor Manuelle to Perform at the Los Dells Music, Art and Food Festival

Victor Manuelle is headed to the Midwest…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer is set to perform at the second annual Los Dells Music, Art and Food Festival.

Victor Manuelle

Manuelle is among the new wave of artists confirmed for the two-day music event that’s known as the largest Latin multi-genre music fest in the Midwest.

Other additions include Flo RidaEl TriZion & Lennox, El Haragan & CIAMau y Ricky, and Jesse Baez.

Organizers of the event also revealed that FarinaDescember BuenoJarina de Marco, Raquel Sofia, Gadiel,and Oscarcito will all perform at the Toyota Music Denat the festival.

They will be joining already-confirmed acts such as Karol G, Aterciopelados, Porter, Wisin & Yandel, Bad Bunny, Molotov, Chiquis Rivera and La Original Banda el Limon.

Los Dells Festival will take place over Labor Day Weekend on September 1-2 at Woodside Ranch in Madison, Wisconsin.

For additional festival details, visit LosDells.com.

Chiquis Rivera Partners with Estrella Jalisco & Lyft to Promote Safe Cinco de Mayo

Chiquis Rivera is offering Lyfts

The 31-year-old Mexican American singer and beer brand Estrella Jalisco have partnered with Lyft to promote a safe Cinco de Mayo, the unofficial day of fiesta adopted as a national holiday in the U.S.

Chiquis Rivera

As part of the partnership, Estrella Jalisco will offer up to 10,000 discounted round-trip Lyft rides in the Los Angeles area on May 5 during peak hours (5 p.m. – 5 a.m.). The “Horas extras” singer and Estrella Jalisco kicked off the partnership at special event in East L.A. earlier this week.

“My values and cultural pride are aligned with Estrella Jalisco, and giving back to my community is at the core of my principles – especially when it comes to encouraging safe celebrations on one of the largest drinking holidays of the year,” Rivera said in a statement.

The singer added: “I’m not only proud to share my cultural heritage with Estrella Jalisco, but I am also proud to support a Mexican brew that takes a responsible approach to celebrating Cinco de Mayo.”

Chiquis Rivera

“We know that many beer lovers like to celebrate on Cinco de Mayo, and through our partnership with Lyft we’re able to help them celebrate the holiday responsibly,” Yonathan Bendesky, brand director for Anheuser-Busch, Mexican Imports, said.

In October, the Rivera family and Estrella Jalisco partnered for the Jenni Rivera hologram, which made its debut at the annual Day of the Dead event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Jenni Rivera’s Sister, Rosie, to Release Book Entitled “Mis Pedazos Rotos”

There’s another Jenni Rivera-inspired book headed to a bookstore near you…

Rosie Rivera, the youngest sister of the late Mexican American singer, has written a book entitled Mis Pedazos Rotos.

Rosie Rivera Book Mis Pedazos Rotos

The book will go on sale on February 2, 2016, on Celebra, the Penguin imprint that has published memoirs by major Latin names, including Jennifer LopezRicky Martin and Emilio Estefan.

The bio’s tag line reads: “Healing scars from sexual abuse through faith, family and love.”

The youngest in the Rivera family, Rosie Rivera was thrust into the spotlight after the death in a plane crash of her famous older sister Jenni in 2012. Beloved by Jenni, Rosie was left in charge of her sister’s estate and her children.

But even prior to her older sister’s death, Rosie had spoken often of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child and of how she had survived and gone beyond the horrors.

Mis Pedazos Rotos marks the first time she tells the story in book form.

“Today, as I unveil the cover of my book, is the beginning of bringing a dream to life,” said Rivera in a statement “It’s a mission that began in my sister’s heart 18 years ago. When I told Jenni about being sexually abused, she planted a seed in my heart: ‘Sister, you have to write a book about your life to help other abused girls.’ At the time, I thought she was crazy….But she saw beyond the pain and the broken pieces. She saw Victory. Sister, the seed is bearing fruit. Thanks for motivating me to fight battles. It’s our victory. High freakin five sister!!!”

Rosie Rivera’s memoir will be the latest in a string of books attached to Jenni Rivera.

Following her death Billboard writer Leila Cobo published a biography titled Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly, on Penguin.  Then came Rivera’s own memoir, Unbreakable, which she had written prior to her death and which became a New York Times bestseller.

Earlier this year, her daughter, Chiquis Rivera, published a memoir titled Forgiveness. And in October, Atria (which also published Unbreakable) put out Jenni Vive: Unforgettable, Baby!, a collection of never-before-seen photos and previously unpublished pages from Rivera’s journal.

Rivera to Perform New Single at This Year’s Premios Juventud

Chiquis Rivera is ready to take center stage with new music…

The Mexican-American reality television star and singer, the daughter of the late Jenni Rivera, will premiere a new single from her upcoming album on Univision’s Premios Juventud on July 17.

Chiquis Rivera

Premios Juventud awards the best in film, music, sports, fashion and pop culture. Rivera is nominated for pop culture favorite, favorite music video, best artist who communicates with fans on social media and song you can’t get out of year head.

In January, Rivera released “Paloma Blanca, which she dedicated to her late mother. The YouTube video has garnered more than 2.3 million views and Rivera, who frequently posts on social media, has more than half a million followers on Twitter and more than 600,000 followers on Instagram. She also has a web series about her life.

In the song that you can’t get out of your head category, Rivera is up against Prince Royce and Romeo Santos (featuring Drake).

“I’m excited, I’m nervous,” Chiquis says of her nominations. “I definitely feel the pressure, but I work well under pressure. It’s a huge blessing. It’s so humbling … I owe it to my mom and I own it to the fans. I’ll be on stage for the very first time. It’s a huge stage. I’m going to give it my all.”

Rivera’s mother, frequently on the Billboard charts, died in a plane crash on Dec. 9 of 2012, while working in Mexico. Chiquis says that she has always been interested in singing, but put those plans on hold until now.

Rivera is scheduled to perform a song she penned. In her web series, Rivera has made it clear that she wants to record an album. Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi recently provided Rivera with advice on the music business as seen on the web series Chiquis Confidential.

“I don’t want to look back in life and say and think, ‘I should have done this or that,’ ” Rivera said in an interview with Billboard. “My mom never gave up and I can’t either.”

Rivera Launches Online Mini-Series “Chiquis Confidential”

Chiquis Rivera is so confidential

The Mexican American daughter of the late Jenni Rivera launched an online mini-series that crashed moments after going live.

Chiquis Rivera

The debut of Chiquis Confidential was so strong that chiquisonline.com went down moments before the start of the four-minute premiere at 3:00 pm PT on Tuesday.

“It’s a good thing,” said Richard Bull of The Sixth House, who manages Rivera. “That’s what happens when a server gets hit that very second. Everything becomes affected.”

But Rivera’s fans didn’t need to worry because they were eventually able watch the premiere episode online.

Chiquis Confidential can be seen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 16 weeks. A total of 48 episodes will air and can also be seen via Twitter, Facebook and, once the series is completed, it will also live on YouTube.

Earlier this year, Rivera released “Paloma Blanca,” a banda-themed song dedicated to her mother, who died in December 2012 when her small plane crashed after a performance in Northern Mexico.

The song was also posted on the ChiquisOnline channel. Two official videos of the song combined have received about 4 million views.

At the recent BMI Latin Awards show in Las Vegas, Rivera told Billboard that she was definitely going to pursue a recording career and is actively working on a new album. The new online mini-series will chronicle the entertainer as she makes music, Bull said.

Rivera is no stranger to the spotlight as she’s had her own reality show on cable network Mun2 and in recent years has expressed interest in fashion, beauty and entertainment. In 2013, she was a guest host on ABC‘s The View, where she sat with Barbara Walters and talked about her mother, career and life.

Rivera also wrote the song for her new series, which will be heard on each episode. During the premiere episode, which is produced by Bull as well, the singer talks about why she launched the series.

“I’ve come to realize that sharing my feelings with others is helping me heal the wound that I don’t think I’ll ever completely get over, but I do want to start that process,” Rivera said.