Community Corner
Jennifer Lopez to Receive Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame [Updated]
The actress and singer was honored on Thursday.
In front of a screaming crowd of fans, Jennifer Lopez was honored for her musical accomplishments today when she received the 2,500th
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I really am overwhelmed,'' she said during the ceremony in front of the W Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard. "This all feels, I don't know, kind of surreal, but so real. It's awesome.''
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were her manager, Benny Medina; singer Pitbull; actress Jane Fonda; and former "American Idol'' producer Nigel Lythgoe.
Fonda, who starred with Lopez in the film "Monster-In-Law,'' said that while Lopez's star was in the recording category, "She should have an entire block of stars.''
"In my opinion, she's only scratched the surface of what she's capable of,'' Fonda said.
Gregory Nava, who directed Lopez in "Selena,'' called her "the hardest worker I have ever known.''
"We made a couple of movies together and when I directed `Selena,' -- she rocked the world when she played `Selena.' Jennifer said to me, `Greg, I'm gonna become the first Latina superstar. I'm gonna have a number-one movie and a number-one record at the same time.' And I said, `Impossible, nobody does that.' Yeah. Impossible for everybody but Jennifer.''
Lopez, fighting back tears at times, thanked the cheering crowd and her colleagues at the event.
"I love you, thank you so much for going on this journey with me,'' she said. "This landmark moment inspires me to work harder and dream bigger for all that is the future. I hope you feel as I do that it was all worth it, and I hope that I have touched your hearts even in a small way.''
Lopez has sold more than 70 million records worldwide in a recording career that began in 1999 with the release of the single "If You Had My Love,'' which reached top of the charts in the U.S. and five other nations.
The first of her seven studio albums, "On the 6'' was also released in 1999 and sold 8 million copies. Her second, "J.Lo'' released in 2001, sold 7 million copies.
Lopez has also released five compilation albums, 37 singles and seven
promotional singles. She is set to release a new studio album this fall.
Born in the Bronx on July 24, 1969, Lopez has also had an extensive acting career -- starring in such films as "Selena''; "The Wedding Planner'';
"Monster-In-Law''; ``Maid in Manhattan''; "Out of Sight''; "The Back-up Plan''; "What To Expect When You're Expecting''; "An Unfinished Life'';
`Jack''; "Parker''; "Blood and Wine'' and "Mi Familia.''
Lopez began her television career as a dancer on the Fox sketch comedy series "In Living Color,'' was a cast member of the short-lived CBS drama "Second Chances'' and ``Hotel Malibu'' and a judge on Fox's ``American Idol'' in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. She is an executive producer of the ABC Family drama "The Fosters,'' which premiered June 3, and chief creative officer of the NuvoTV cable network.
- City News Service
