Jenni Rivera

July 2, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Jenni Rivera, born on July 2, 1969, began her career when she recorded a song for her father as a gift for Father’s Day, and she went on to become one of the most prominent female Banda singers ever. She endured a lot of opposition initially but experienced massive success later. She went from begging radio programmers to play her music to being nominated for Grammy Awards and selling out the Mexican National Stadium. She was a trendsetter who went where few had ever been. We’ll help you celebrate this visionary right here.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Dolores Janney Rivera Saavedra

Nickname:

Jenni

Birth date:

July 2, 1969

Death date:

December 9, 2012 (age 43)

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Height:

5' 1"

Net Worth:

$25 million

Background

Jenni Rivera is well known to fans of Latin music genres for her beautiful music, bravery, and foresight. Her efforts helped improve the Mexican music industry, but she experienced a lot of setbacks and problems. However, Rivera was not one to retreat. She was a true role model.

Rivera was born on July 2, 1969, in Long Beach, California, as Dolores Janney Rivera Saavedra. Her zodiac sign is Cancer, and her ethnicity is Mexican. Her parents were Pedro Rivera and Rosa Saavedra. Her father, Pedro, owned Cintas Acuario, which later became one of the biggest Latin record labels in the world.

Rivera was sexually exploited as a teenager, and she became pregnant with her first child at 16; she supported herself and her son by selling C.D.s. After having her child, Rivera was advised to complete her high school education, and she did. She also obtained a degree in business administration and worked for her father’s recording label after that. She started music when she recorded a song for her father in 1992. She started doing small-time shows. She almost quit music when a show promoter refused to pay unless she slept with him. Her father told her it was okay to stop, but he begged her to do just one album. With that, she made her first album titled “Si Quieres Verme Llorar” in 1999, marking the beginning of her success. She released her second album later that year.

Rivera released a lot of albums in the 2000s before passing away in 2012. She won multiple awards and continued to win awards posthumously. She was concluding her third divorce when she died.

Career timeline

1992

Rivera Records Her First Song

She sings a song to honor her father, and he sees her potential.

1995

She Records Her First Single

While with Capitol/E.M.I. records, she drops her first single, ‘La Chacalosa (Party Girl).’

1999

She Drops Her First Album

She drops "Si Quieres Verme Llorar" and the album achieves great success.

2012

She Dies

At 43, the great Latina singer dies in a plane crash.

Why We Love Jenni Rivera

She was a trendsetter
Females were firmly ousted from performing Banda music — a predominantly male-dominated music genre. Rivera succeeded despite facing opposition.
She was a philanthropist
She set up a foundation to help weak and defenseless people. She went out of her way to help others.
She loved education
She was a college graduate herself. She believed in the value of good education and gave scholarships to college students to help complete their education.

5 Surprising Facts

She was a record breaker
She's the first female Banda artist to sell out multiple venues; no one had done it before her.
She was a successful businesswoman
She had other business ventures like cosmetic products, jeans, and a reality T.V. show.
She was a rape victim
She was raped on a California Highway by a man she met at a nightclub.
She attempted suicide
After her mental health declined, she attempted to end her life.
She was the best
At her death, she became the most successful woman on the Billboard 200 music charts.