Fernández Notches His Best Sales Week with New Album “Confidencias”

It’s an extra special quinceañera for Alejandro Fernández

The 42-year-old Mexican singer has notched the best sales week of his two-decade-plus career with his 15th studio album, Confidencias.

Alejandro Fernández

Released by Universal Music Latino, Fernández’s album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums with 21,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album’s impressive opening also impacts the Billboard 200 where it enters the chart at No. 19, making this Fernandez’s best position on the chart ever.

Confidencias is only the second Latin album to breach the top 20 of the Billboard 200 this year; Earlier, Marc Anthony’s 3.0 debuted at No. 5 on August 10 with 39,000 copies. Now, 3.0 drops to No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart.

Fernandez’s previous best sales week was the January 10, 1998 frame when his Me Estoy Enamorando sold 20,000 Christmas-week units.

Confidencias is Fernandez’ fourth chart-topper behind Enamorando (12 weeks in 1998-99), Entre Tus Brazos (May 13, 2000) and Dos Mundos: Evolucion (Jan. 2, 2010).

Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti,” the album’s first single, featuring Christina Aguilera, serves as the theme song to Univision’s new soap opera La Tempestad and sits at its peak of No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, a rarity for a ballad in today’s more up-tempo dominated radio charts.

The Latin pop album also features a new rendition of Rod Stewart’s classic “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” featuring Stewart himself, as well as Alejandro’s first collaboration with his father Vicente Fernandez in over 20 years on “Me Olvide de Vivir.”

Levy to Star Opposite Jada Pinkett-Smith in “Salsa”

Sure, he competed on Dancing with the Stars… But this time William Levy will be dancing with a star.

The 32-year-old Cuban American actor and telenovela star has signed on to co-star opposite Jada Pinkett-Smith in Salsa, which the actress will also produce.

William Levy

Levy, the star of the popular telenovela Triunfo del Amor, will portray Pinkett-Smith’s salsa teacher in the film that tells the story of a woman at a turning point in her life. Through the dance of salsa she begins to get her life back on track.

Pinkett-Smith and Miguel Melendez will produce for Overbrook Entertainment, with production set to begin in the first quarter of 2014.

Levy recently wrapped two Lionsgate films: Addicted and Tyler Perry’s Single Moms Club. He’s currently shooting the remake of La Tormenta–called La Tempestad–for Univision.

Navarrete Cast as the Lead Opposite William Levy in “La tempestad”

Ximena Navarrete could be receiving hate mail in the near future…

The 24-year-old Mexican actress, model and former Miss Universe has been named as the leading lady in William Levy’s next telenovela, La tempestad.

Ximena Navarrete

“… She is working a lot, studying and I expect that the year she spent at CEA (Televisa’s Centro de Educación Artística) will serve her well,” declared Salvador Mejía of Televisa Espectáculos.

Mejía admitted that it wasn’t easy to select Navarrete as Levy’s co-star.

“Very difficult because, for example, the truth is that Silvia (Navarro) did really well, she’s a great, great actress, but this is about types, chemistry and that’s how this decision came to be,” said  Mejía.

Navarrete studied acting prior to entering the Miss Universe contest in 2010, which helped her win the crown as the most beautiful woman in the world, according to Mejía.

“I believe that had a lot to do with her winning the prize of Miss Universe, since it gave her a presence, a leading lady weight, and that’s what we’re looking for,” said Mejía.

For her starring role in La tempestad, Navarrete will be undergoing a makeover, which will be revealed to the media in the next few days.

Filming on the telenovela will begin on March 4 in Veracruz, Mexico, the setting for La tempestad.