by Jennifer Lopez: An Inspiration to Singers Across Generations
Jennifer Lopez is widely considered to be one of the most influential entertainers of all time. Over the course of her over 30 year career, she has achieved success in music, film, television and more. But perhaps her biggest legacy is the inspiration she has provided to countless singers who have followed in her footsteps. Her powerful vocals, electrifying dance moves and glamorous persona paved the way for a new generation of multi-hyphenate Latinx artists. Here are just five singers who have openly credited J.Lo as a major influence in their own careers.
Beyoncé
Queen Bey herself has looked up to Jennifer Lopez since the beginning of her career. In a 2021 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Beyoncé reflected on first seeing J.Lo perform as a young girl. “I remember when I first saw Jennifer Lopez perform ‘Waiting for Tonight’ on MTV,” she said. “I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She just had this glow about her, and she seemed so happy.”
Beyoncé admired J.Lo’s ability to excel across music, film, and television simultaneously. “I grew up watching Jennifer Lopez and seeing her do the Super Bowl and do movies, at the same time—as a performer, as an actress, as a dancer, as a mom, as someone who develops movies and TV shows,” she said. J.Lo proved that it was possible for a woman, and especially a woman of color, to have a major career as an entertainer on a global scale.
This inspiration was clear in Beyoncé’s own career trajectory. Like J.Lo, she found success not only as a chart-topping singer but also as an actress in films like Austin Powers in Goldmember and Obsessed. She also danced, produced and even directed, showing the same multi-hyphenate talents that made J.Lo a star. Beyoncé’s groundbreaking Lemonade visual album was directly inspired by biopics like J.Lo’s Selena as well. For Beyoncé, J.Lo opened the door for her to achieve the same level of success across entertainment.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has also cited Jennifer Lopez as a role model and inspiration, particularly for navigating the industry as a Latina woman. “Watching Jennifer Lopez and seeing the way she carried herself taught me so much about confidence and how to be a Latina in this industry,” Gomez told People en Español in 2020.
Like J.Lo, Gomez found success first in television with the iconic show Barney & Friends and Wizards of Waverly Place. She then transitioned into a hugely successful music career. Gomez admired how J.Lo used her platform to celebrate her Latin heritage through her music and films like Selena, as well as speaking out about important social issues.
Gomez said that seeing J.Lo’s journey helped her feel less alone as a Latina in Hollywood. “She was someone I definitely looked up to. I loved that about her – how proud she was of her background,” Gomez reflected. This pride in her Mexican-American identity is something Gomez has carried with her into her own advocacy work.
Becky G
Mexican-American singer Becky G is another artist who was inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s trailblazing career from a young age. “Jennifer Lopez was one of the first Latina artists I was introduced to as a young girl,” Becky G told People in 2019. “I always looked up to her and admired her.”
Becky G emulated both J.Lo’s musical style and stage presence early in her career. Her breakout single “Shower” from 2014 showed off her skills as a singer and dancer in a very J.Lo-esque way. The music video was also reminiscent of some of J.Lo’s earliest videos like “If You Had My Love” with its choreographed dance routines.
Beyond just the surface level performance aspects, Becky G was motivated by how J.Lo used her platform. “She paved the way for artists like myself by proudly repping our Latinx culture unapologetically,” Becky G said. Like Selena Gomez, she found inspiration in J.Lo’s confidence in celebrating her Mexican heritage and being bilingual in the music she created.
This pride in her Latinx identity is something Becky G has carried with her throughout her career as well. She’s become a role model in her own right, advocating for immigration reform, gender equality, and empowering other young Latinas to follow their dreams.
Cardi B
Another artist who has cited Jennifer Lopez as a major style influence is rapper Cardi B. Though their musical styles differ, Cardi B admires J.Lo’s confidence and showmanship. “Jennifer Lopez is bomb.com when it comes to performance,” Cardi B told Billboard in 2018. “Her dancing, her stage presence – she’s just got it.”
This admiration for J.Lo’s electric performances was clear in Cardi B’s own breakout concerts. Like J.Lo in the 90s and 2000s, Cardi B commands attention with high-energy choreography, costume changes, and an ability to engage with the crowd. Her 2018 “Invasion of Privacy” tour was praised for its spectacle, reminiscent of J.Lo’s headlining Vegas residencies.
Beyond the stage presence, Cardi B also appreciates J.Lo’s confidence in her sexuality and using it as a tool for empowerment. “J.Lo really represents that girl that embraces her body, embraces looking good and being sexy,” Cardi B said. This confidence to celebrate her body and femininity is something Cardi B has carried into her own music career as well.
For Cardi B, J.Lo proved that women of color can be powerful performers who own their sexuality on a mainstream level. She’s taken those lessons of showmanship, confidence and empowerment with her as she’s become one of the biggest rap stars in the world today.
Tinashe
Singer and dancer Tinashe has also cited Jennifer Lopez as a major influence in blending different genres together seamlessly. Like J.Lo, Tinashe incorporates elements of pop, R&B, hip-hop and more into her musical style. “Jennifer Lopez was always someone who inspired me to push boundaries between different genres of music,” Tinashe told Billboard in 2016.
Tinashe admired how J.Lo brought Latin influences like salsa into mainstream pop and R&B in the late 90s and 2000s. Her debut single “Jenny from the Block” showed how she could ride the line between pop, hip-hop and Latin styles. Tinashe took a similar approach, mixing sultry R&B vocals with hip-hop beats and dancehall rhythms on songs like “2 On” featuring Schoolboy Q.
Visually, Tinashe also channeled J.Lo’s signature look of glamour and sex appeal. Her dance routines pay homage to J.Lo’s energetic choreography. Tinashe cites J.Lo’s ability to use her voice, dancing and style to cross over between genres as hugely influential in her own career aspirations of being an all-around entertainer.
The Legacy Lives On
These are just five modern artists who have been vocally influenced by Jennifer Lopez over the past few decades. But her impact can be seen in countless other singers today. Whether it’s harnessing one’s sexuality, representing Latinx culture proudly or achieving success across music, film and television – J.Lo proved that with hard work and confidence, all of it was possible.
She opened doors for a new generation of multi-talented, multi-hyphenate Latinx artists to follow in her footsteps. Her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire young singers for years to come. As a true entertainer who continuously reinvented herself, J.Lo showed the world that you can have immense global success on your own terms. For that, she will always be revered as a pioneer.
