The 29-year-old Mexican-American hip hop recording artist’s politically driven track “Despierta (Wake Up)” has been named the official theme song for Voto Latino‘s new campaign “27 million,” which is aimed at Latino voters.
Along with influencers and activists including Dolores Huerta, Snow, whose real name is Claudia Feliciano, appears in the organization’s new video, which premiered on Friday (September 23), urging the 27 million eligible Latino voters in the U.S. to get registered and make their vote count in the upcoming November elections.
“For me, it’s important to be part of this campaign because young people need to wake up and worry about the future of our country,” Snow told Billboard exclusively. “People have been messing it up for years and it’s time for young people to fix it. Vote now, don’t complain later.”
Vicente Fernández isn’t rocking the vote, he’s ranchera-ing it…
The 76-year-old Mexican singer, known as “El Rey de la Música Ranchera,” is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a personal corrido.
Titled “El Corrido de Hillary Clinton,” Fernandez’s special announcement begins with a message to the Latino community: “Dear brothers, your voice is your vote. Together, we can.”
He explains why it’s important for Latinos to vote for Clinton in the upcoming November elections, and takes a few jabs at Donald Trump, singing, “It hurt my pueblo that someone offended us… With Hillary there is respect, and with her as president, we’ll always have a bridge.”
He adds: “Mrs. Clinton, I am here to ask you that when you become president, don’t forget about all my Mexican brothers and Latinos.”
The “El Rey” singer partnered with the Latino Victory Project organization to make the video and song.
The 33-year-old Venezuelan singer, of duo Chino Y Nacho, has released a heartfelt song dedicated to his native country.
In the midst of turbulent times in Venezuela, Nacho, whose real name is Ignacio Mendoza, hopes the single will become an anthem of hope and motivation.
Nacho released “Valiente” to coincide with the Sept 1. march in Venezuela, billed as “the taking of Caracas,” where thousands of protesters have taken the streets to demand the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro.
“I can almost break the chains, I can almost scream that freedom has arrived / My feet will be back on the road and I will walk for a better future, because waiting exasperates me,” sings Nacho accompanied by his band Los Fantásticos. “How I wish to go back in time, return to the time of magic and fantasy, the luck I had when I was younger.”
The singer and songwriter, whose been very vocal on the Venezuela economic crisis, took to social media to apologize for not being able to march along with his countrymen due to a family emergency.
“Everything was ready for me to travel,” he said in the post showing his airplane ticket. “I wish that the march and journey is a successful and peaceful one. Please don’t take weapons and control yourselves … Let’s take back our country. God bless you. I love you!”
Robert Rodriguez is shining a spotlight on Our America.
The 48-year-old Mexican American director and El Rey Network founder took the stage last night at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to debut his newest work — the short Our America.
The video, which clocks in at 1 minute and 54 seconds, stresses the nation’s multicultural roots and is part of the push to get out the vote among Latinos — his target audience on El Rey.
“I made this film you just saw because there has never been a more important time for building understanding among people, by telling our stories,” Rodriguez said onstage after the video. “I grew up in San Antonio Texas, a family of 10 kids, and it was there that I realized that storytelling amplifies our voice. To my fellow Latinos, that voice is our vote.”
He concluded, “It’s time to elect Hillary Clinton the next president of Our America.”
The 32-year-old Honduran American actress appears in a special Elizabeth Banks-produced a cappella music video in support of the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States.
In a nod to the Pitch Perfect films she produces, Banks, along with Bruce Cohen and Mike Thompkins, recruited a long list of Hollywood actors and singers, including the former Ugly Betty star, for an a cappella version of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.”
In addition to Ferrera, other Hollywood elit appearing in the video include Eva Longoria, Kristin Chenoweth, Rob Reiner, Mandy Moore, Alan Cumming, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Idina Menzel, Renee Fleming, Aisha Tyler, Jane Fonda, Sheryl Crow and, at the very end, Sia with a loud and proud, “Go Hillary.”
Eva Longoria is speaking out against Donald Trump…
The Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday in Philadelphia with a wide variety of speakers, including the 41-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star.
Before introducing Senator Cory Booker, Longoria criticized Trump for his comments about Mexican immigrants, for mocking a New York Times reporter with a disability, and for making numerous sexist remarks throughout his campaign and career.
She subsequently referred to Hillary Clinton as “the most qualified presidential candidate ever,” and pointed out that even the convention alone was making history in terms of diversity.
Longoria also repeated a call to action that she has delivered on a number of occasions on behalf of Clinton: “She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.”
Longoria joined several other celebrities at the DNC, which promised to be a star-studded four days.
“Hello Philadelphia! Oh man, I am so honored to be here tonight, and I am proud to say I’m with her!
You know, like many of you, this election is very personal to me. I’m from a small town in South Texas and if you know your history, Texas used to be part of Mexico. Now, I’m 9th generation American. My family never crossed a border — the border crossed us. So when Donald Trump calls us criminals and rapists, he’s insulting American families. My father is not a criminal or rapist. In fact, he’s a United States veteran.
When Trump cruelly mocked a disabled reporter, he was also mocking my special needs sister Lisa, and many like her. When he said that a wife who works is a very dangerous thing, he not only insulted me — he insulted my mother, who worked as a special education teacher for 30 years, raised four children while being a wife!
You know, I believe in the candidate who believes in all of us, and that candidate is Hillary Clinton. Hillary has spent her whole life fighting for all Americans, from healthcare reform to equal pay for women to gun safety to protecting the economy. She is the most qualified presidential candidate ever! She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.
Now I’m very proud to be part of that fight, and I’m very proud to be here to introduce my dear friend Cory Booker, but before I do, I want you to take a look at your convention, Philadelphia. A Latina from South Texas is introducing the first black senator from New Jersey on the week we’ll nominate our first woman candidate for president of the United States! Pretty great. So guess what, Donald? It turns out America is pretty great already. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sen. Cory Booker.”
Demi Lovatois living with mental illness, and she’s not afraid to talk about it to a national audience.
The 23-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress delivered an inspired speech regarding mental illness and a need to improve the quality and availability of medical treatment during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday in Philadelphia.
“Like millions of Americans, I am living with mental illness, but I’m lucky: I had the resources and support to get treatment at a top facility,” said Lovato, who spent time in a treatment center for bipolar disorder and anxiety. “Unfortunately, too many Americans from all walks of life don’t get help, either because they fear the stigma or they can not afford treatment.
Lovato also called on politicians to support laws that would provide access to improved health care for all those suffering with mental illness. “Untreated mental illness can lead to devastating consequences including suicide, substance abuse and long-term medical issues,” Lovato said. “We can do better. Every one of us can make a difference.”
“I stand here today as proof that you can live a normal and empowered life with mental illness,” the singer added. “I’m proud to support a presidential candidate who will fight to ensure all people living with mental health conditions get the care they need to lead fulfilling lives. That candidate is Hillary Clinton. Let’s make her the next president of the United States of America.”
Following her speech, Lovato then offered the Philadelphia crowd a live performance of her single “Confident.”
He may be currently portraying a former president on Broadway, but Lin-Manuel Miranda is throwing his support for the woman who could be the nation’s next leader…
The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer, rapper and writer, best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights, is lending Democrats a Broadway hand with a July 12 fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.
With the ex-Secretary of State’s campaign having bought out the Richard Rodgers Theatre for the unusual Tuesday matinee, tickets are going from $2,700 to $100,000 a pop (for event co-chairs).
Presumptive nominee Clinton will be in attendance for the fundraiser, which comes two-weeks before the Democrats have their National Convention in Philadelphia.
The Clinton fundraiser will add an extra matinee to the hit show’s schedule that week. For the $2,700 ticket, supporters will get a general seat, with preferred seats going for $5,000. The premium ticket of $10,000 includes a photo reception with the candidate, and a host ticket of $33,400 includes a wrap party with Clinton and other special guests.
The big-ticket purchase – $100,000 for an “event chair” spot – includes two premium seats, the wrap party and an invitation to the Democratic National Convention.
Broadway’s hottest ticket still remains so, despite recent cast departures announced as some of the original cast’s contracts expire next month.
Selena Gomez is performing in North Carolina despite the state’s controversial anti-LGBT bill. But, she’s doing it for a good reason.
The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer will donate proceeds from her upcoming North Carolina concert to charity, and says she hopes “there will be a day soon when laws like HB2 won’t be a consideration.”
The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2) law — often referred to as the “bathroom bill” — is widely perceived as being anti-LGBT. It requires that transgender people only use bathrooms that correspond with their sex at birth.
“I am very fortunate to have grown up in a home where I learned from an early age that everyone should be treated equally,” Gomez says in a statement, ahead of her June 7 concert at Charlotte, North Carolina’s Time Warner Cable Arena. “I went back and forth on whether I should cancel my concert in North Carolina and ultimately I think what is right for me is to move forward with my show and donate a portion of the proceeds to Equality North Carolina and their effort to defeat this act of discrimination. I’ve been reassured the venue I will be performing in has gender neutral bathrooms as I want everyone coming to my show to be welcomed. I feel like my generation is the most progressive one yet and believe there will be a day soon when laws like HB2 won’t even be a consideration.”
Gomez’s Revival Tour launched in Las Vegas on May 6 and continues through December with dates scheduled in North America, Europe and Asia. Proceeds from each ticket sold to the tour will benefit the Alliance for Lupus Research, a national voluntary health organization whose mission is to find better treatments and ultimately prevent lupus.
The pop princess’ latest single, “Kill Em With Kindness,” rose 22-19 on Billboard’s Pop Songs airplay chart dated June 11, and follows three No. 1 hits from the Revivalalbum: “Good for You,” “Same Old Love” and “Hands to Myself.”
The 37-year-old Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban American actress has joined several Hollywood stars in commemorating Immigrant Heritage Month with a new PSA in partnership with Welcome.us.
Dawson appears in the PSA that also features Bobby Cannavale, Lupita Nyong’o, Wilmer Valderrama, Rosie Perez and Harry Shum, Jr.
The #IAmAnImmigrant clip aims to recognize the multiple and vibrant roles immigrants – whether forced or voluntarily – contributed in the creation of the United States.
“You can trace back from trains being built and cities and industries being developed because of different influxes of people who came in,” said Dawson, the daughter of a Puerto Rican and a Cuban immigrant. “It’s incredible to be a part of a culture that’s just still living. What we expect or think about what America is, it’s fluid.”
It’s this fluidity that most excites Kenyan-Mexican Nyong’o about the country. “What I think is so wonderful about America is the fact that it is a society of immigrants,” she said,
Miami-born Colombian-Venezuelan Valderrama agrees, saying “every time we get a chance to say out loud that we are an immigrant, I think it’s important that we embrace that opportunity.”
