J.Lo’s success in film led her to pursue a career in music as well. She released her debut album On the 6 in 1999, which spawned the hit singles If You Had My Love, Waiting for Tonight, and Let’s Get Loud. The album was a commercial and critical success, and established J.Lo as a pop star and a crossover artist.
She followed it up with her second album J.Lo in 2001, which featured the songs Love Don’t Cost a Thing, I’m Real, and Ain’t It Funny. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making her the first artist to have a number one album and a number one film (The Wedding Planner) in the same week.
From Romantic Comedy Queen to Action Heroine
J.Lo’s popularity in music and film continued to grow in the early 2000s, as she starred in several romantic comedies, such as Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, and The Back-up Plan. She also ventured into more dramatic and action-oriented roles, such as in Enough, Out of Sight, and The Cell. She proved her versatility and range as an actress, and became one of the highest-paid and most bankable stars in Hollywood.
J.Lo also expanded her brand and business empire, launching her own clothing line J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, her own fragrance line Glow by J.Lo, and her own production company Nuyorican Productions. She also became a philanthropist, supporting various causes and charities, such as the American Red Cross, the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and the Lopez Family Foundation.
J.Lo’s personal life also made headlines, as she had high-profile relationships with celebrities such as Sean Combs, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck. She married singer Marc Anthony in 2004, and gave birth to twins Max and Emme in 2008. She and Anthony divorced in 2014, and she later dated dancer Casper Smart and baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
From American Idol Judge to Super Bowl Performer
J.Lo’s career took a new direction in 2010, when she joined the judging panel of the reality singing competition American Idol. She became a mentor and a critic to aspiring singers, and also showcased her own musical talents on the show. She released her seventh album Love? in 2011, which included the smash hit On the Floor, featuring Pitbull. The song became one of the best-selling singles of all time, and revived J.Lo’s musical career.
