Jenni Rivera Honored with Posthumous Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
La Diva de la Banda was recognized for her trailblazing career with a star following her death in 2012
FILE - In this March 8, 2012 file photo, Mexican-American singer and reality TV star Jenni Rivera poses during an interview in Los Angeles . (AP Photo/Reed Saxon/File)
The legendary Jenni Rivera was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in an unveiling ceremony last Thursday in front of the Capitol Records building. The children of the late Mexican American singer-songwriter—Jacqie, Johnny, Chiquis, Jenicka, and Michael—accepted the star on her behalf 14 years after her tragic death in a 2012 plane crash at age 43. Guest speakers at the ceremony included iconic Mexican singer and friend Gloria Trevi, Univision journalist Ninette Rios, and TV personality Jessica Maldonado, who were all close friends of ‘La Diva de la Banda.’
Trevi said she was honored to be part of the celebration of the “beautiful life of a brilliant, distinguished woman,” adding that Rivera “lives through all of us who love her and admire her.”
“Today we gather to celebrate the accomplishments of a genre-defining artist – radio personality, TV personality, philanthropist, aspiring actress and mother of five. And before all that, she was just a little girl from Long Beach,” Michael said. “She’s here in spirit celebrating with us. I’m just so proud of you mom.”
Born to Mexican immigrant parents in Long Beach, CA, as Dolores Janney “Jenni” Rivera Saavedra, Rivera is known as one of the best-selling Mexican-American artists of all time with 20 million albums sold. She is the highest-earning Banda singer of all time and a trailblazer in an industry dominated by men. She had more than 30 songs on Regional Mexican airplay and 14 of them were in the Top Ten. Some of her biggest hit include “Ovarios,” “La Gran Señora,” “De Contrabando,” and “Las Malandrinas.
“I am so grateful, it is such an honor to be the daughter of such an amazing woman. A woman that accomplished so much, yes, but more than anything, being the daughter of a woman who has left her footprint on this earth and in so many people’s hearts,” Chiquis said during the ceremony.
According to the Hollywood Walk of Fame press release, Rivera’s star represents her achievements as an artist as well as her resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit that continues to inspire her fans long after her passing.
“She cemented herself in the hearts of people in the city and her fans and now she’s quite literally being cemented into the pavement into the streets of this city and that’s so cool for me. It’s like her winning a championship,” Michael said during the ceremony.
