Reflecting on her career arc, Lopez said, “Everything feels like I just did it. I remember the moments. I remember getting dressed for them. I remember things people said when we were walking to the stage afterwards
Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez has long been one of the most recognisable global entertainers, with a career spanning decades in both music and film. At 55, the multi-hyphenate star reflects on her journey, grapples with her inner perfectionist, and looks forward to a summer of celebration and freedom. Speaking about her recent turn as host at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, Lopez opened up about the pressure she puts on herself — even after years of acclaim.
“I’m so hard on myself,” she told Extra. “I don’t wanna be that way, but I can’t help it sometimes. I felt it went really, really well. I am such a perfectionist, I always feel like, ‘Ah, I could have gotten this little piece or that little piece.’ But it was, it was perfect. It was fine.”
Despite her high standards, Lopez admits she’s learning to balance ambition with gratitude. Watching clips of her earlier performances made her realise just how far she’s come — and how much she’s evolved.
“We were just looking at [old footage] to see the progression of the stuff that we’ve done,” she told People. “It’s a very important part of my musical career and life.”
Reflecting on her career arc, Lopez said, “Everything feels like I just did it. I remember the moments. I remember getting dressed for them. I remember things people said when we were walking to the stage afterwards. So it’s all these amazing core memories of my life. I don’t know that I get emotional, but I definitely get like, ‘Wow.’ Happy. I’ve been doing this, and I’m proud of that.”
Pride and presence are themes Lopez returns to often. While she doesn’t measure success by critics or commercial hits, she believes in the emotional truth behind every project. “There’s going to be things that are huge commercial successes, and there’s going to be things that are super critically acclaimed. And then there are things people don’t like,” she said in an interview with IndieWire. “But at the end of the day, none of that really matters as an artist. What matters is that you put out something truthful into the world that you felt compelled to do.”
That connection with truth and her audience is one reason Lopez is excited about her upcoming summer tour, including headlining WorldPride in Washington D.C.
“I’m excited to tour. I’m excited first to go do Pride. I’m working on that show right now, and crafting the tour as well,” she shared. “It seems like a perfect summer to celebrate being free and being happy. Everything in my life right now just feels really healthy and good.”
Of course, Lopez is also a devoted mother to her 17-year-old twins, Max and Emme, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Despite her best efforts, the teens are developing minds of their own — especially when it comes to joining mom at glitzy events. “My kids are 17 now, they’re twins, and they don’t like to hang with mom,” Lopez joked. “I begged them to come with me this weekend and they were like, ‘Mom, we’re tired. We want to hang out with our friends.’ And I can never say no to them. It’s terrible. I think deep down they’re proud of their mom.”
Whether on stage or off, Lopez’s focus remains steady: to stay grateful, give her best, and enjoy the journey. “I’ve been doing this for so long, and it’s still exciting,” she said. “I just want people to sing, dance, and have a good time. That’s always my goal.”
