The Grammy Museum’s new exhibit on singer Jenni Rivera is scheduled to open on May 12 in Los Angeles and will feature costumes, rare photographs, hand-written notes, videos and awards belonging to the late entertainer who went from aspiring artist to one of regional Mexican’s biggest entertainers.
The exhibit, “Jenni Rivera, La Gran Señora,” will explore Rivera’s work in banda and norteña music, which helped the American-born singer become the leading female artist in her genre. She went on to inspire many through her work and open-book life.
“It’s a great honor for me and my siblings Jacqie, Michael, Jenicka and Johnny to be able to share such sacred items of our mother with her fans, the ones that made her,” Rivera’s daughter, Janney “Chiquis” Marin, said in a statement. “We feel it’s the least we can do, we owe the fans so much.”
Rivera died in a plane crash during the early-morning hours of Dec. 9, 2012, along with six others after leaving a show in Monterrey, Mexico. Since her death, tributes to the songstress have continued in the U.S. and Latin America.
“Jenni Rivera was, without a doubt, the female leader of the regional Mexican genre and a true musical superstar,” said Bob Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum. “We’re honored to celebrate her not only as a talented musician with Southern Californian roots, but also a successful entrepreneur and respected philanthropist.”
Rivera has sold 1.7 million albums to date in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Of that, 31% were sold since her death. This week the singer has three albums in the top 10 on the Latin Albums chart including “Joyas Prestadas,” pop (No. 3), “La Misma Gran Señora” (No. 7), and “Joyas Prestadas,” banda (No. 8).
Rivera’s feature film debut in “Filly Brown” will be seen on April 19 in theaters nationwide. The story unfolds around an aspiring Latina rapper whose drug-addicted mother (Rivera) is in prison. The independent project, directed by Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos, also stars Gina Rodriguez, Lou Diamond Phillips and Edward James Olmos, who is also executive producer.
The film’s soundtrack, featuring the Olmos/Rivera duet “Hurts So Bad,” is scheduled for release during the same week as the film.
For more information on the exhibit, go to www.grammymuseum.org.