Lopez Launches “J.Lo’s Christmas Gift” Drive

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez isn’t looking forward to getting Christmas gifts this year… She’s actually excited about giving them.

“I love going and shopping for Christmas presents for everybody and making gifts for people and seeing their faces light up and surprising them; that’s where I get my joy,” says Lopez.

That’s why la Lopez launched her “J.Lo’s Christmas Gift” drive, asking her fans to donate to her three favorite charities (the Boys & Girls Club, the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Red Cross). In exchange, she’ll give someone two tickets to the last show of her Dance Again world tour in Puerto Rico on Saturday; she’ll even pay their airfare and hotel costs.

“It’s just that kind of doing something nice for somebody, and they do something nice back and kind of paying it forward,” she.

The contest, which was promoted on Twitter with the hashtag JLOSCHRISTMASGIFT, ended Monday. She got the idea to use social media to encourage her fans to give back since becoming more involved in platforms like Twitter and Facebook and seeing how much response she’s received when she’s had contests.

“I thought, `What if every person I tweeted and asked for a follow donated a dollar?’ I have 13 1/2 million followers (on Twitter),” she said. “We can collect a lot of money for these charities that I work with that are literally close to my heart.”

Part of the reason Lopez chose the Red Cross is because of its relief work in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of New York City, where Lopez grew up. She hasn’t been back to New York since the October storm but her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, was affected.

“My babies (4-year-old twins Max and Emme) had to go there and visit their dad shortly after, and it was like, kind of a scary proposition to send them because I didn’t know what it was going to be like,” she said. “He was saying how his house had a tree fall in his front yard, and he couldn’t stay there and there was no electricity. Just knowing how so many people were affected by it and when you really hear the stats of it … there’s not enough you can do.”

Lopez will be heading home for the holidays; and she feels blessed to have been able to stage her first world tour, particularly spending much of it with her family: “It’s just been an amazing year.”

Lopez to Release 3D Concert Film

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

If you’re not able to catch Jennifer Lopez’s sizzling summer tour, you’re in luck…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress is reportedly the latest artist—following the likes of Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry—creating a 3D concert film, according to Extra.

Titled Dance Again, the film will follow Lopez’s significant life changes in the last few years, including her role on American Idol, her divorce from Marc Anthony, the launch of her Q’Viva reality competition series and her departure from Idol to return to acting.

“It’s not until something bad or difficult happens that you really get to grow,” Lopez told InStyle. “You realize: There’s no reason to be terrified of things. Either way I’m going to be OK.”

No release date for Dance Again has been announced.

Lopez Nominated for MTV Tr3s’ Latino Artist of the Year Award

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

In recent years, Jennifer Lopez has joined forces with Pitbull to create instahits like “On The Floor” and “Dance Again”…

But now the 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress faces off against the 31-year-old Cuban American rap superstar for the title of “artist of the year.”

Lopez and Pitbull have been nominated for MTV Tr3s’s Latino Artist of the Year, along with Romeo, Juanes and Wisin & Yandel, who collaborated with Lopez on “Follow the Leader” earlier this year.

Through September 5, fans can vote for their favorite artist at vma.tr3s.com in the competition, which celebrates this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

The winner will be announced during a Spanish-subtitled transmission of the awards show on September 15 at 9:00 pm ET on MTV Tr3s.

Meantime, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull’s “Dance Again” video has been nominated for Best Choreography.

The show will be hosted by comedian Kevin Hart live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 6 at 8:00 pm ET/PT (Live ET/Tape delayed PT).

Gomez Receives First-Ever MTV VMA Award Nomination

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

“Love You Like a Love Song” is one Selena Gomez’s greatest hits, with James Franco even singing along to the track… And, now the inescapable hit is getting a little love from MTV…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer has received her first-ever MTV VMA award nomination for Best Female Video for “Love You Like a Love Song,” which peaked at number 22 on Billboard Hot 100 and has sold more than two million copies.

Gomez’s high-style video—which finds her in an underground Japanese karaoke club and magically mixes elements of reality and fantasy—will face stiff competition from Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” Katy Perry’s “Part of Me,” Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” and Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.”

Gomez’s one-time BFF Demi Lovato has been nominated in the Best Video With a Message category for her anthem “Skyscraper.” She’ll face off against Rise Against’s “Ballad of Hollis Brown,”  Kelly Clarkson’s “Dark Side,” Gym Class Heroes’ “The Fighter,” K’Naan and Nelly Furtado’s “Is Anybody Out There?” and  Lil Wayne’s “How to Love”

Meantime, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull’s “Dance Again” video has been nominated for Best Choreography. Other nominees in the category include:  Chris Brown’s “Turn Up the Music,” Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been,” Beyoncé’s “Countdown” and Avicii’s “Le7els”

This year’s MTV VMA Awards ceremony will take place on September 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lopez & Moonshark Partner on DancePad App

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez wants you to “Dance Again”… Even if it’s just with your fingers!

The 42-year-old singer/actress, who will be releasing her first greatest hits album this summer, has teamed up with mobile entertainment startup Moonshark to introduce a mobile finger-dancing game for the iPad.

Called DancePad, the app features 100 levels (the first 20 are free; the entire game is $2.99) and a soundtrack that includes the music of Mayer Hawthorne, Vintage Trouble and the Bangerz.

Lopez is serving in a producer capacity on the project; and she’ll be involved in helping promote and grow the game.

“We felt there would be great overlap between her fans and this game, given that it is about music and dance,” says Moonshark CEO Matt Kozlov. “We are working with her on exciting ways to integrate the game into her tour. She also has a really well-established role in the music community. So as we add new music and new dances she is going to be instrumental in helping us bring in new content.”

The game arose from a prototype developed by some game design students at the University of Southern California.

“They had an idea for a game inspired by finger break dancing videos, which is a really charming, funny meme on YouTube where people do really cool dance moves with their hands,” says Kozlov. “It was basically finger breakdancing on your iPad. I thought it was really clever, really cute and had the potential of creating a movement in the same way that Dance Dance Revolution created this movement in arcades when it came out.”

So Moonshark purchased the rights to the game from the students and let a new independent developer Triangle Studios whip it into shape.

Lopez to Release First Greatest Hits Album…

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s been a lucky 13 years of making memorable music for Jennifer Lopez… And, now she’s celebrating her success with 13 dancetastic tracks…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress—who is currently on her first world tour—will release her first best-of collection of songs next month through Epic Records.

Entitled Dance Again… The Hits, Lopez’s greatest hits album will include a pair of previously unreleased songs: “Dance Again,” the Pitbull-assisted single that peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 last month, as well as “Goin’ In,” featuring Flo Rida, which Lopez premiered during the American Idol finale in May.

In addition, The Hits will include some of Lopez’s biggest hits; including “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” “On the Floor,” “If You Had My Love” and her “I’m Real” remix featuring Ja Rule.

Lopez’s hits package will arrive in stores shortly after her summer tour with Enrique Iglesias and opening act Wisin Y Yandel kicks off July 14 in Montreal, on July 24.

Lopez—who claim the top spot on one of YouTube‘s “Rewind” lists last year—has enjoyed a remarkable comeback with the release of her studio album Love? and her stint on the American Idol judges panel. La Lopez has yet to confirm her return to Idol for a third season next year.

Here is the track list for Lopez’s Dance Again … The Hits:

1. Dance Again featuring Pitbull
2. Goin’ In featuring Flo Rida
3. I’m Into You featuring Lil Wayne
4. On the Floor featuring Pitbull
5. Love Don’t Cost A Thing
6. If You Had My Love
7. Waiting for Tonight
8. Get Right featuring Fabolous
9. Jenny From the Block (Track Masters Remix featuring Styles P. & Jadakiss)
10. I’m Real (Remix featuring Ja Rule)
11. Do It Well
12. Ain’t It Funny (Remix featuring Ja Rule & Caddillac Tah)
13. Feelin’ So Good (Remix featuring Big Pun & Fat Joe)

Lopez Kicks Off Her World Tour in Sizzling Style…

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s one down and 26 to go for Jennifer Lopez…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican pop star kicked off her international summer tour at the Figali Convention Center in Panama City, Panama on Thursday.

Lopez—who will be performing solo in Latin America before being joined by Enrique Iglesias and Wisin Y Yandel in Canada and the United States—wowed the crowd in several looks created by designer Zuhair Murad, who was the mastermind behind the American Idol judge’s show-stopping dress at this year’s Academy Awards.

Touring for the first time in four and a half years, Lopez kicked off the show by performing her hit “On The Floor” in a sheer, nude and crystal-adorned bodysuit that showed offer her curves.

Lopez later changed into another revealing outfit, a barely there red getup with a flowing robe over a fringe-filled mini skirt with matching tank top. Click here to check out Murad’s sketches!

Lopez’s next stop will be in Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday. Click here to see all her upcoming tour dates.

Lopez Leads Latino Pack of Teen Choice Awards Nominees

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The first wave of Teen Choice Awards nominations has been revealed… And, the world’s most powerful celebrity Jennifer Lopez leads the Latino pack of nominees.

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress—who has won 11 Teen Choice Awards in her career, including Choice Television Personality for American Idol and Choice Red Carpet Icon last year—received five nominations for this year’s show.

In the movies section, Lopez has been nominated in the Choice Movie Actress: Comedy category for her role in What to Expect When You’re Expecting. She’ll will face off against her co-star in the film, Cameron Diaz, as well as American Reunion’s Alyson Hannigan, Crazy, Stupid Love’s Emma Stone and This Means War’s Reese Witherspoon.

In the television section, the American Idol judge has been nominated in the Choice TV: Female Personality category, alongside The Voice’s Christina Aguilera, America’s Next Top Model’s Tyra Banks, Dancing with the Stars’ Carrie Ann Inaba and Fashion Star’s Jessica Simpson.

In the music section, Lopez is nominated for Choice Female Artist, as well as Choice Single by a Female Artist for her dancetastic single “Dance Again.”

Lastly, Lopez—who was the blue-ribbon beauty at this year’s Oscars—will face off against Miley Cyrus, Zooey Deschanel, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry in the Choice Fashion Icon: Female.

But Lopez wasn’t the only Hispanic celebrity to receive multiple nominations.

Pitbull followed close behind with four nods; Selena Gomez received three nominations; and Bruno Mars, Scotty McCreery and Christina Aguilera received two.

Other Latino/a nominees include: Salma Hayek, Noomi Rapace, Zoe Saldana, Cameron Diaz, Adam Rodriguez, Lea Michele, Sofia Vergara, William Levy, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Albert Pujols and Demi Lovato.

Fans between the ages of 13-19 can vote once each day per category on the official Teen Choice Awards website. Winners will be announced on the awards show on July 22.

Here’s a look at all the Latino/a nominees and their competition:

MOVIES

Choice Movie Actress: Action
Salma Hayek, “Puss in Boots”
Milla Jovovich, “The Three Musketeers”
Paula Patton, “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
Noomi Rapace, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”
Zoe Saldana, “Colombiana”

Choice Movie Actress: Comedy
Cameron Diaz, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Alyson Hannigan, “American Reunion”
Jennifer Lopez, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Emma Stone, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
Reese Witherspoon, “This Means War”

TELEVISION

Choice TV Actor: Action
LL Cool J, “NCIS: Los Angeles”
Daniel Dae Kim, “Hawaii Five-O”
Zachary Levi, “Chuck”
Adam Rodriguez, “CSI: Miami”
Shane West, “Nikita”

Choice TV Actress: Comedy
Miranda Cosgrove, “iCarly”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Big Bang Theory”
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lea Michele, “Glee”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

Choice TV: Female Personality
Christina Aguilera, “The Voice”
Tyra Banks, “America’s Next Top Model”
Carrie Ann Inaba, “Dancing With The Stars”
Jennifer Lopez, “American Idol”
Jessica Simpson, “Fashion Star”

Choice TV: Male Reality Star
Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio, “Jersey Shore” and “The Pauly D Project”
Rob Dyrdek, “Fantasy Factory” and “Ridiculousness”
William Levy, “Dancing With The Stars”
Scotty McCreery, “American Idol”
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, “Jersey Shore”

Choice TV: Female Reality Star
Lauren Alaina, “American Idol”
Melanie Amaro, “The X Factor”
The Kardashians, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”
Tia & Tamera Mowry, “Tia & Tamera”
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, “Jersey Shore”

MUSIC

Choice Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Blake Shelton

Choice Female Artist
Adele
Jennifer Lopez
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

Choice Music Group
Selena Gomez & The Scene
Gym Class Heroes
Lady Antebellum
LMFAO
The Wanted

Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
Beyonce
Flo Rida
Nicki Minaj
Pitbull
Kanye West

Choice Single by a Group
“We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Hit The Lights,” Selena Gomez & The Scene
“Ass Back Home,” Gym Class Heroes featuring Neon Hitch
“Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
“Moves Like Jagger,” Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

Choice Single by a Female Artist
“Set Fire to the Rain,” Adele
“Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson
“Dance Again,” Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull
“Part of Me,” Katy Perry
“Eyes Open,” Taylor Swift

Choice Single by a Male Artist
“Boyfriend,” Justin Bieber
“Take Care,” Drake featuring Rihanna
“Good Feeling,” Flo Rida
“It Will Rain,” Bruno Mars
“Give Me Everything (Tonight),” Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, AfroJack & Nayer

Choice Male Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Hunter Hayes
Scotty McCreery
Blake Shelton

Choice Country Group
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Thompson Square

FASHION

Choice Fashion Icon: Female
Miley Cyrus
Zooey Deschanel
Jennifer Lopez
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry

Choice Female Hottie
Miley Cyrus
Selena Gomez
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Kate Upton

SPORTS

Choice Male Athlete
David Beckham (Soccer)
Kobe Bryant (Basketball)
Albert Pujols (Baseball)
Tim Tebow (Football)
Shaun White (Snowboarding/Skateboarding/Surfing)

OTHER

Choice Twit
Justin Bieber
Miley Cyrus
Jimmy Fallon
Demi Lovato
Ryan Seacrest

Lopez (Swim)Suits Up for Vogue

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez may be the world’s most powerful celebrity… But she’s also one of the most bodtastic… And, she’s not afraid to show it!

Following up her boxing-inspired spread in V magazine, the 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress models five oh-so-sexy designer swimsuits in the June issue of Vogue.

Shot by celebrity photographer Mario Testino, la Lopez flaunts her gorgeous games and flat stomach in the eye-catching images, including one of her soaking up the sun on a diving board, clad in a skimpy, strapless black monokini.

Lopez’s stylish swimsuits include a maroon Charlie by Matthew Zink V-neck, a strappy black Hervé Léger by Max Azria suit and looks from Chanel, Gucci and Eres.

The bombshell, who recently set hearts aflutter during her recent performance of her latest single “Dance Again” on American Idol, is launching a summer tour with Enrique Iglesias after she completes her judging stint on the Fox singing competition.

“We have a lot of choreographers working with us,” she told reporters at a recent press conference, adding that designer Zuhair Murad is creating her costumes. “It’s going to be an amazing, amazing show.”

Vogue’s June issue hits on newsstands on May 22.

Images courtesy of Vogue/Mario Testino.

Jennifer Lopez: The World’s Most Powerful Celebrity

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Lady Gaga… There’s a new fame monster in Hollywood… And, her name is Jennifer Lopez.

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress has been named the most powerful celebrity in the world by Forbes magazine.

Lopez, who unseated Lady Gaga to reach No. 1 with a bullet, is the lone Hispanic superstar in the Top 25 on the just-released Celebrity 100 list, which shines a spotlight on the world’s most powerful celebrities.

The list ranks stars based on their masses of money, as well as their eternal fame –“fame” referring to just how well a given celebrity manages to blanket everything from television and magazines to your Facebook and Twitter feeds in a 12-month period.

The Latina multi-hyphenate parlayed her role as a judge on American Idol into hit singles like “Dance Again,” increased album sales, an upcoming world tour, three new movies and a growing portfolio of endorsements.

But that’s not all…

In September, Lopez launched a clothing and lifestyle collection for Kohl’s. In May she added an 18th scent to her successful fragrance line, Glow. And Lopez continues to work with her ex, Marc Anthony, on the Latin talent competition show, Q’Viva: The Chosen.

Here’s a look at the other Latino celebrities who made the list:

No. 44: Cristiano Ronaldo
No. 47: Rafael Nadal
No. 50: Lionel Messi
No. 59: Cameron Diaz
No. 61: Gisele Bunchen
No. 63: Alex Rodriguez
No. 76: Sofia Vergara
No. 81: Eva Longoria
No. 100: Adriana Lima

Click here for the full list.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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