Altagracia Ugalde Motta (born January 10, 1971), better known as Ana Bárbara, is a Mexican singer. She has become a prominent figure within Latin entertainment since her professional debut in 1994 and is one of the leading female figures in
regional Mexican
Regional Mexican music refers collectively to the regional subgenres of the country music of Mexico and its derivatives from the Southwestern United States. Each subgenre is representative of a certain region and its popularity also varies by ...
music.
She is recognized for her musical talent as well as her sex appeal. With a distinct vocal range, songwriting and producing talent, Ana Bárbara has defined the modern
Grupero performance and is one of the few regional Mexican acts to garner an international following that extends beyond Mexico and the United States.
In the past two decades, Bárbara has released eleven studio albums, eighteen compilation albums, over thirty music videos, and four music video DVDs. She has sold over 6 million records in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the United States; she is also the recipient of Latin music's most prestigious accolades.
[Ana Bárbara Biography Official Website](_blank)
/ref>
Career
Early career
In 1988, Ana Bárbara entered the local Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...
-sponsored Miss Mexico beauty pageant representing her native state of San Luis Potosí and won; however, she lost at the national level. By then, an unknown Altagracia Ugalde moved forward and began to seize any opportunity to sing at local talent shows, and at times professionally at variety of music events and festivals. In the 1990s she had the opportunity to tour overseas in Colombia and represent Mexico's mariachi
Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music dating back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, two ...
music.[ Ana Bárbara AllMusic Bio/ref>
In 1993, Ana Bárbara was proclaimed the ''Ambassador of Ranchera Music.'' She also earned the ''El Rostro Bonito de El Heraldo de México'' ("The Heraldo's Beautiful Face") award. As a result, she was invited to perform for ]Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005.
In his you ...
during a Mass at The Vatican. When Mass neared its close; however, she still hadn't been given an opportunity to sing, so she interrupted the proceedings, commanded the attention of the Pope, and began to sing. After mass Pope John Paul II approached her, blessed her, and wished her luck in her career.[ In 1994, she was noticed by record executives from Fonovisa, one of the top labels in the regional Mexican market. After signing with Fonovisa, she created artistic stage name "Ana Bárbara" and launched her self-titled debut album '' Ana Bárbara''. Songs like ''Sacúdeme'' and ''Nada'' helped Bárbara establish herself as a Grupero star. Bárbara released her second album titled '' La Trampa'' in July 1995, also produced by Aníbal Pastor. ''La Trampa'' catapulted her popularity and immediately became a commercial and radio hit. Bárbara received industry accolades as well as invitations to tour and open for some of the biggest regional Mexican artists, such as Vicente Fernandez and Los Tigres del Norte. She has appeared on important Latin American television shows such as '' Sabado Gigante'' and '' Siempre en Domingo''. Consecutive hits and popular music videos, such as ''Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta'' and ''La Trampa'', topped ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Tracks and established her as ''La Reina Grupera'' (The Queen of Grupero Music).
]
International stardom
By the summer of 1996, Ana Bárbara broke through to mainstream international success with third album ''Ay, Amor''. The album solidified her as a successful Latin recording artist and also became her best album debut on the Latin ''Billboard'' charts.[Ana Bárbara, bárbaramente sensual](_blank)
. Terra.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-22. ''Ay, Amor'' offered a wider appeal to her music by offering some alternate takes on Grupero, and even some ranchero flavored ballads like ''No Ha Sido Facil'', and ''Entre Ella y Yo''. Her attractive appearance and sensual dancing style captivated Latin America audiences during promotional tours with hit singles and music videos of ''No Lloraré'' and ''Ya No Te Creo Nada''. In 1997 she released her first and only calendar. '' Coors Light'' beer also selected Bárbara as their Hispanic promotional figure for marketing and advertising. Later that year she returned to Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, Florida for the annual ''Calle 8 Music Festival'' where she was crowned "Queen" of the 1997 parade. In 1998, she released her fourth studio album produced by Mexican singer-songwriter Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís Sosa (born 29 December 1959) is a Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Solís began his musical career at the age of six, performing with his cousin Joel ...
. The album, titled ''Los Besos No Se Dan En La Camisa'', was largely a ballads album with only one Grupero-style song. It included a duet and background vocals by Solís, as well as a 1982 Los Bukis
Los Bukis (English: the Bukis; ''buki'' meaning "kid" in the Purépecha language) are a Mexican Grupera, grupero band. Formed in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán in 1973, the band's current lineup consists of singer and songwriter Marco Antonio Solís, ...
cover of "Como Me Haces Falta", which quickly became a popular hit. The song also dominated airwaves across Latin America, Mexico, and the United States. Bárbara kept up the momentum of her previous release as her popularity continued to grow. In 1999, she released fifth studio album ''Tu Decisión,'' produced by Aníbal Pastor. One of his two songwriting credits, "Engañada", became the album's lead single and most popular hit. ''Tu Decisión'' was also notable in songwriting terms because it marked Bárbara's debut as a songwriter.[ In the same year she also debuted as an actress, starring in the made-for-TV film ''Todo Contigo,'' via Hispanic networks ]Televisa
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., simply known as Televisa, is a Mexican telecommunications and broadcasting company. A major Latin American mass media corporation, it often presents itself as the largest producer of Spanish-language content.
In April ...
and Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the L ...
. The film's song "Todo Contigo" was included in album ''Tu Decisión.'' Music videos like "Quise Olvidar" grew in popularity on television shows like ''Onda Max'' and other music video television networks. The following year Bárbara became the first solo grupero act recognized by The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., trading as The Latin Recording Academy (; ), is a multinational membership-based association composed of Latin music industry professionals, musicians, producers, recording engineers, and ...
for album ''Tu Decisión,'' which received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Grupero Album.
In 2000, Ana Bárbara took a short maternity leave when her first child, Emiliano, was born. She returned in 2001 with her sixth studio album, ''Te Regalo La Lluvia.'' The Mariachi-ballad effort was a challenge to her custom Grupero style; however, industry critics who had written off Bárbara as simply "a grupero novelty built chiefly upon sex appeal" consequently took her and her music a bit more seriously. In the fall, she received her second Latin Grammy nomination for Best Ranchero Album. She participated in " El Último Adiós (The Last Goodbye)", a song written in memory of the 9/11 attacks, which included other artists, such as Alejandro Fernández, Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís Sosa (born 29 December 1959) is a Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Solís began his musical career at the age of six, performing with his cousin Joel ...
, Thalía
Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda (; born 26 August 1971), known mononymously as Thalía, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and actress. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Latin Pop", she is considered one of the most ...
, and Ricky Martin
Enrique Martin Morales (born December 24, 1971), known professionally as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his musical versatility, with his Ricky Martin albums discography, discography incorporati ...
, among others. As Bárbara promoted her album, ''Te Regalo La Lluvia'', she began preparations for a Grupero-style album.[
After several years as a recording artist, Ana Bárbara began to produce her own material. She took control of the direction of her music and began to compose, arrange, and select her own lyrics and melodies, yet followed patterns of earlier albums.
In September 2003, ''Te Atraparé...Bandido'' was released; it became one of her most successful albums to date. Soon record executives pushed for a follow-up album, and in May 2005 she produced and released ''Loca de Amar''. She continued booking success with popular chart-topping singles like ''Bandido'', ''Deja'', ''Loca'', and ''Lo Busqué'', which dominated airwaves across South America, Mexico, and the United States, as well as on ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Tracks.
]
Selena tribute concert
In 2005, she participated in '' Selena ¡VIVE!'', an anniversary tribute concert held in honor of Latin music icon Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer-songwriter. Known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Tejano Music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most cel ...
. The star-studded event was held on April 7, 2005, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas and included mainstream acts, such as Thalía, Ana Gabriel, Alejandra Guzman, Olga Tañón, Pepe Aguilar, and Banda el Recodo, among others. The iconic tribute was produced by Spanish-language network Univision, and made history by becoming the most watched Spanish-language television special in the US. Bárbara produced and co-wrote a new version of " La Carcacha", which mixed Selena's original version with her Grupero signature style.
2005 Latin Grammy recognition
In 2005 Ana Bárbara was awarded a Latin Grammy Award for Best Grupero Album for her album, ''Loca de Amar'' at the 6th Annual Latin Grammy ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium
The Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles, California. It is also the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 139) in 1975, an ...
in Los Angeles. This was also Bárbara's Grammy ceremony debut where she performed a medley of ''Lo Busqué'' and ''Loca.''[Fonovisa Superstar Recording Artists’ Banda El Recodo and Barbara Earn a Latin Grammy Award]
Univision Press Release (2005-04-11)
When her career was in its peak popularity she put her career on hold for several years in order to dedicate time to her new family.[ She also relocated to the popular resort city of ]Cancún
Cancún is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito J ...
, Mexico with new husband Pirru and their three children.[ Her second child, José María, was born in the fall of 2006. During her "time-off," she joined the food-industry business.
In 2008, Ana Bárbara opened a nightclub ''Bandido'' located in Cancún. It was sold to a business investor a year later.
]
2008 and 2009
In 2008, Ana Bárbara appeared in a concert tribute for José José, performing his hit ''Lo Pasado, Pasado''.
In April 2009, she was featured on the cover of '' People en Español'' on the "Los 50 Más Bellos" list.
Return to recording and Fonovisa departure
Several compilation albums and DVDs were released during her time off, such as ''Una Mujer, Un Sueño'' and ''Para Ti, Mi Historia''. Compilation albums featuring peers such as Alicia Villarreal
Martha Alicia Villarreal Esparza (born August 31, 1971), known simply and professionally as Alicia Villarreal, is a Mexican singer.
Villarreal participated in different bands in Monterrey, before becoming the lead singer for Grupo Límite in ...
, Jennifer Pena, and Selena, were also released by record label Fonovisa. After taking nearly five years off from recording, Ana Bárbara remained a favorite in the music industry. AllMusic.com said: "She has not only dominated the Grupero movement, but Ana Bárbara is one of the driving forces behind the Grupero-style realization."[ During the pre-planning and creative realization of album ''Rompiendo Cadenas'', she began to deviate from her Grupero beginnings and slowly traversed into ]Latin Pop
Latin pop () is a pop music subgenre that is a fusion of US–style music production with Latin music genres from anywhere in Latin America and Spain. It originates with List of countries where Spanish is an official language, Spanish-speaking ...
. This musical change became evident in the fall of 2009 with the release of ''Rompiendo Cadenas''; an uptempo Urban/Pop track, produced by Dominican duo Luny Tunes featuring Reggaeton
Reggaeton (, ) is a modern style of popular music, popular and electronic music that originated in Panamanian reggaetón, Panama during the late 1980s, and which rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a plethora of Puert ...
duo Dyland & Lenny. The music video for ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' was filmed in La Habana, Cuba and quickly reached over four million views on YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
. ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' debuted at number 39 on ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' ''Latin Pop Songs'' on November 12, 2009. Two alternate versions of the song "Rompiendo Cadenas" premiered on iTunes, one in banda and another in acoustic. Bárbara introduced her Latin pop album ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' in January 2010. During its press conference, she described the departure with label Fonovisa Records. Not only did the album ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' reveal a completely different genre, but she was also sole songwriter of the 10-track album, a challenge she had never experimented with. Furthermore, Fonovisa Records request to reconsider and change the music style or terminate the contract. Ana Bárbara left Fonovisa after increasing problems and immediately launched ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' on her own record label ''AB Productions'' / ''(Lo Busqué Productions)''.
In 2010 she hosted a series of events for Hispanic networks Univision and TeleFutura. She and Puerto Rican singer Víctor Manuelle hosted the 2010 Lo Nuestro Awards live from Miami, Florida. Bárbara was voted finalist for most elegant dressed celebrity. The following day she participated in a star-studded Spanish remake of Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
's ''We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones for the album '' We Are the World''. With sales in excess of 20 milli ...
'', titled '' Somos El Mundo'' alongside Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born 9 August 1972), known professionally as Juanes, is a Colombian musician who was a member of the Rock music, rock band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. Since releasing his solo debut album ''Fíjate B ...
, Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born 7 June 1957) is a People of the Dominican Republic, Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer. Throughout his career, he has won numerous awards including 28 Latin Grammy Awards, three
Grammy Awards, ...
, Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (; born February 3, 1976), known professionally as Daddy Yankee (), is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to worldwide prominence in 2004 with the song "Gasolina". Dubbed the "Honorific ...
, Thalía, Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Latin Music", she has had a Cultural impact of Shakira, significant impact on the ...
, Pitbull, Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Estefan (; ; born September 1, 1957) is an American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is an eight-time Grammy Awards, Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of t ...
, Jenni Rivera
Dolores Janney "Jenni" Rivera (July 2, 1969 – December 9, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and producer known for her work within the regional Mexican music genre, specifically in the styles of Banda (music), ...
, and Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri (; born 19 April 1970) is a Mexican singer and record producer. Born in Puerto Rico to an Italian mother and a Spanish father, he is often referred to as Honorific nicknames in popular music, ''El Sol de Mexico'' ...
. In the same month, she hosted a televised music special in honor of fallen Latin icon Selena. She also participated as judge for a special Selena contest titled ''Buscando la doble de Selena'', alongside Hollywood producer Moctesuma Esparza, and Merengue music singer Milly Quezada. In March 2010, the second single from ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' premiered to mixed reviews. While the lead track "Rompiendo Cadenas" became the album's most notable hit, Latin rock single "Que Ironía" signalled that her patented formula was beginning to run out of steam. The track was also featured in a pop version, but neither sparked much interest in radio or the general public. Bárbara later explained that the song was originally written and intended for Mexican pop singer Gloria Trevi
Gloria de los Ángeles Treviño Ruiz (born February 15, 1968), known professionally as Gloria Trevi, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her emotional lyrics, performances, and lasting influence on Latin music, being ...
, but when her eldest son Emiliano reassured her confidence, she decided to take a new challenge, record the track, and make it her own. A music video premiered the following month and reached over a million views. Although album ''Rompiendo Cadenas'' did not fare well in sale comparison to previous efforts, it did win Ana Bárbara critical acclaim and was well received by fans. In May 2010, she announced two new additional Latin pop songs. The first track was "Ahora Tengo", a duet featuring Mexican singer-songwriter Reyli; its music video was filmed in New York and premiered in June 2010. The next song was "Alma Perdida", a powerful ballad composed specifically for Univision's mini-series '' Mujeres Asesinas 3''.
In 2011 projects included an appearance in Univision's soap opera ''Una Familia Con Suerte;'' the cameo role became her official debut as an actress in a soap opera. Ana Bárbara also sang ''Suerte'', which was included in the soap opera soundtrack. In the fall, she released yet another Latin pop bonus track and music video titled "Refugio Para el Amor", but like several recent releases since 2009's "Rompiendo Cadenas", they too garnered a lukewarm reception.
2012 relocation, music, television show, and Hollywood
After an unsuccessful period, Ana Bárbara began writing and producing tracks for a new regional Mexican album recorded for the first time in banda. In 2012, she revealed career projects that included a new single and filming a television show. She migrated to the United States, Los Angeles area with her three children. She released stand-alone banda single "Tu Ingratitud", a 1993 Los Bukis
Los Bukis (English: the Bukis; ''buki'' meaning "kid" in the Purépecha language) are a Mexican Grupera, grupero band. Formed in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán in 1973, the band's current lineup consists of singer and songwriter Marco Antonio Solís, ...
cover composed by Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís Sosa (born 29 December 1959) is a Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Solís began his musical career at the age of six, performing with his cousin Joel ...
. A music video was released in July 2012 and quickly reached over three millions of views on YouTube. "Tu Ingratitud" peaked at number one in Mexico and top 20 in United States and South America. The record soon reached international popularity and became Bárbara's return to music charts and touring. She also collaborated with peers such as María José, Anahí
Anahí Giovanna Puente Portilla (born 14 May 1983), known Mononymous person, mononymously as Anahí, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and actress. In 1986, she started her acting career when she was cast on ''Chiquilladas''. After working on man ...
, and La Original Banda El Limon in each of their new albums. In July 2012, she became the newest judge on Estrella TV
Estrella TV () is an American Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by the Estrella Media subsidiary of HPS Investment Partners, LLC. The network primarily features programs, the vast majority of which are produced by the networ ...
's music and reality contest ''Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento,''. She replaced fellow regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera
Dolores Janney "Jenni" Rivera (July 2, 1969 – December 9, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and producer known for her work within the regional Mexican music genre, specifically in the styles of Banda (music), ...
for the seventh season after Rivera left to judge '' La Voz Mexico''. In October 2012, "Dos Abrazos", a song written by Ana Bárbara from her multi-Grammy nominated album ''No Es Brujería,'' appeared in Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American actress and film producer. Known for primarily playing femmes fatales and women of mystery on film and television, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s. She is the ...
's 2012 Hollywood motion picture, Border Run. A banda version of "Dos Abrazos" was later re-released in her eleventh studio album. The motion picture went straight to DVD and was released in February 2013. On December 8, 2012, Ana Bárbara sang Mexico's national anthem during the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez IV fight live from Las Vegas, Nevada.
2013 television show and music
In April 2013, Ana Bárbara hosted the 2013 Latin ''Billboard'' Music Awards live from Miami, Florida via the Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. It provides content ...
network; however, her best highlight was an impromptu "a capella" serenade to Latin music icon Jose Jose. In July, she returned to small television soap operas. She had a singing performance cameo in Televisa and Univision soap opera '' Amores verdaderos'' grand finale where she sang the popular Franco de Vita
Franco Atilio De Vita De Vito (born January 23, 1954, in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan Latin Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter. His first album as a solo artist garnered three Spanish-language hits in Venezuela. He signed with the ...
ballad "Tu De Que Vas". In August, she became the voice of "Yo Soy la Mujer", the theme song to Telemundo's soap opera '' Marido En Alquiler''. She premiered "Yo Soy la Mujer" in a banda version on La Voz Kids grand finale. She participated in the 2013 Premios de la Radio's tribute in honor of Mexican singer Jenni Rivera
Dolores Janney "Jenni" Rivera (July 2, 1969 – December 9, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and producer known for her work within the regional Mexican music genre, specifically in the styles of Banda (music), ...
; she performed one of Rivera's most popular hits, "Inolvidable". She continued filming small television during the 8th and 9th season of ''Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento,''. During the reality show finale in November, she premiered heartbreak track "Yo Ya No Estoy". After a long layoff to concentrate on family and filming small television, she released "Yo Soy La Mujer" on December 3, 2013. Although she had produced and composed banda for over a decade, her eleventh studio album became her first full banda album. During a press interview at The Congo Room, she stated, "Yo Soy La Mujer" is sentimental, but fun; it has a blend of traditional and modern banda elements and sounds that pay tribute to my heritage and childhood." The 10-track album included songwriting from fellow Mexican artists Joan Sebastian ("Los Cazahuates"), Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís Sosa (born 29 December 1959) is a Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Solís began his musical career at the age of six, performing with his cousin Joel ...
("Tu Ingratitud"), José Alfredo Jiménez ("Te Vas o Te Quedas"), and Reyli ("Yo Ya No Estoy"). The album peaked at No. 11 on Top Latin Albums
Top Latin Albums (formerly Latin 50) is a record chart published by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the United States, American music market. ...
in the United States and yielded her best studio album debut on the charts in over a decade. A music video for lead single "Ahora Me Toca A Mí" premiered on her official Vevo account, along with a Latin pop version.
2014 ''20 Year Celebration'' and ''Yo Soy La Mujer'' projects
''Yo Soy La Mujer'' was released in Mexico in February 2014; a limited edition included two previously unreleased tracks: "Al Pie de un Árbol" and "Como Quieras Quiero". In January 2014, Bárbara announced the Yo Soy La Mujer: Celebrando 20 Años de Trayectoria tour in honor of her 20-year musical career, she stated that the tour symbolized the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in her professional life. The tour kicked off internationally in La Paz
La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...
, Bolivia. The tour made its way through Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
, Chile and other countries in South America and Central America, as well as big cities in the United States. In April, she premiered second single "A Donde Crees Que Vas" on ''CNN en Español''. Not only did she become a self-proclaimed "advocate of woman empowerment," but her music videos and wardrobe ensembles also revealed a stronger sex-appeal than ever before. She announced a duet with K'ala Marka for "Niña de mis Ojos".
Ana Bárbara celebrated two decades in the music business on April 12, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre
The Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre) is a live-performance auditorium in the Ovation Hollywood shopping mall and entertainment complex, on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue (Los Angeles), Highland Avenue, in the Holly ...
in Hollywood, California. She performed popular songs from her repertoire, medleys of her beginnings, and classics from icons Juan Gabriel
Alberto Aguilera Valadez (; 7 January 1950 – 28 August 2016), known professionally as Juan Gabriel (), was a Mexican singer-songwriter and actor. Colloquially Honorific nicknames in popular music, nicknamed Juanga () and El Divo de Juárez, ...
, Lola Beltran, and José Alfredo Jiménez. The intimate show was full of surprises, including the unexpected appearance by Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís Sosa (born 29 December 1959) is a Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Solís began his musical career at the age of six, performing with his cousin Joel ...
, who was on hand to personally congratulate her and perform a duet. Singers such as Pepe Aguilar, Cristian Castro
Cristian Sáinz Castro (born 8 December 1974) is a Mexican pop singer. He is the son of actors Verónica Castro and Manuel "El Loco" Valdés, and nephew of actors Ramón Valdés (known for playing Don Ramón in '' El Chavo del Ocho'') and ...
, and Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (; born 8 May 1975) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican label Fonovisa where he released three Spanish albums ''Enrique Iglesias (album), Enrique ...
also sent words of love and support during the show. The two-hour special aired in October 2014 via ''Estrella TV''. She ended the ''Yo Soy La Mujer'' tour in Guatemala among a crowd of over eighteen thousand people.
2015 tour and album
Ana Bárbara made an eleven-city tour of America, beginning in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 2015. The tour included Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago and Houston. She was also one of the collaborators on ''Compass'', Toy Selectah & Camilo Lara's album.
Personal life
Ana Bárbara got engaged to José Maria Fernández (Pirru) in 2005.
In June 2010 there was speculation over divorce rumours between Ana Bárbara and Pirru, due to his infidelity. On July 2, 2010, Bárbara released a statement confirming the end of their five-year marriage. Months after the split, she confirmed a new relationship with wealthy business man Elias Sacal, but that also went sour several months later.
In 2006, Ana Bárbara released the official ''2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to FIFA World Cup hosts ...
'' soccer anthem ''Arriba Arriba'', and her ninth studio album ''No Es Brujería''.
2010–2011 car accidents
In July 2010, Ana Bárbara was involved in a car accident in Cancún
Cancún is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito J ...
that left a 79-year-old woman dead; the incident sparked a media circus. Authorities arrested Ana Bárbara's driver (bodyguard and family friend). Some eyewitnesses, however, speculated that it was Ana Bárbara who was driving. She denied the accusations and any wrongdoing. Due to immense media pressure, Ana Bárbara granted network Televisa an exclusive interview where she broke down in tears and offered the victim's family an apology about the accident. She also stated that on-scene police authorities allowed her to leave the scene because they had apprehended her driver. To add fuel to the fire, the victim's daughter used several media outlets to blast Ana Bárbara and presume that it was she that was driving. Ana Bárbara was exonerated after Mexican authorities found no evidence that could have linked her behind the wheel. She faced civil charges for being the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the accident. In December 2010, Mexico's CNDH (Human Rights National Committee) recommended that the governor and Municipal President of Quintana Roo review the case after a petition was filed by the victim's family claiming investigative fallacies. During the appeal, Bárbara was called to re-testify, but was found innocent of any wrongdoing. Munguía (driver) was free on bail while the case was pending, but in October 2011 he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter
Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...
. In early 2012, he was sentenced to two years in prison; he was released in 2014. On February 3, 2011, Bárbara was involved in another car accident in Cancún
Cancún is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito J ...
, Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 administrative divisions of Mexico, federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into municipalities of ...
. Officials in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo say the singer was driving a Porsche Cayenne that hit the back of another vehicle at a stop light. Traffic officer Abraham Coutino said "no one was injured" and "the singer's insurance covered all damages." Bárbara was highly criticized by the media once again, but asked the general public not to believe the exaggerated reports over the minor fender bender accident.
2011 third pregnancy
After divorcing Ana Bárbara announced in August 2011 that she was pregnant via artificial insemination
Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...
. She decided to undergo the procedure after her children suggested they wanted a bigger family. She said she expected to be criticized for deciding to have a child without a father, but she would not let the criticism bother her. "I felt my puzzle was missing a piece and now it's complete," she told the Mexican edition of ''¡Hola!'' magazine. Her third child was born in December 2011 in Mexico City. In March 2012, Ana Bárbara revealed the identity of Jeronimo's father to ''¡Hola!'' magazine as longtime best friend, singer-songwriter Reyli.
Health concerns
After several public and tumultuous incidents in recent years, Ana Bárbara experienced depression and anorexia. She confirmed via Twitter in March 2011 that she had "an illness" and was receiving treatment in Spain to improve her overall well-being. In July 2011, Ana Bárbara confirmed that she was moving from Mexico and relocating to the United States.
She moved to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California.
Awards
Ana Bárbara is the recipient Latin Grammy
The Latin Grammy Awards (stylized as Latin GRAMMYs) are awards presented by the Latin Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin music industry. The Latin Grammy honors works recorded in Spanish or Portuguese from any ...
's, Lo Nuestro Awards
The Lo Nuestro Awards or Premios Lo Nuestro (Spanish language, Spanish for "Ours") is a Spanish-language awards show honoring the best of Latin music (genre), Latin music, presented by TelevisaUnivision, and is carried by its Univision network in ...
, Juventud Awards, and Oye Awards.
Her former record label Fonovisa said, "These recognitions are milestone accomplishments in ercareer that has spanned for more than a decade of uninterrupted success in the United States, Mexico and Latin America."[
She has also been awarded four Lo Nuestro Awards for Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year, with a total of 9 nominations since her debut. She has won the following years: ]1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
, 1997
Events January
* January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States.
* January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis.
* January 1 ...
, 1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
, and in 2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
.
She has received seven Premio Furia Musical Awards, as well three Premio El Heraldo trophies: one for Best New Artist in 1994 and two Best Female Singer in 1997 and 2000.
In 2002, Ana Bárbara won the a Casandra Award for Most Outstanding International Artist.
In 2005, she won My Favorite Regional Mexican Artist at Univision's Juventud Awards and a singer-songwriter award at the Latin Grammy Awards.
She was 2006's Best Female Performer at Mexico's Oye! Awards (Mexico's version of the Grammy Awards).
In September 2012, she was crowned queen of the LGBT
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...
community in Los Angeles, California, as well as in Atlanta, Georgia in 2014 and in San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
on January 1, 2015.
By the fall of 2012, she was honored for her 20-year music trajectory from Regional Mexican Music award show Premios de la Radio. In a career spanning over 20 years, she has sold over 8 million albums, singles, and videos worldwide, making her one of the few female interpreters of Regional Mexican music to garner an international following that extends beyond México and the United States." To celebrate her first ''career recognition'', Bárbara performed a medley of signature songs: "Lo Busque," "Como Me Haces Falta," "Tu Ingratitud," and "Bandido". She also celebrated the special ceremony by performing a duet of "Te Voy Olvidar" with Jenni Rivera
Dolores Janney "Jenni" Rivera (July 2, 1969 – December 9, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and producer known for her work within the regional Mexican music genre, specifically in the styles of Banda (music), ...
(only one month before Rivera's death).
In 2013, she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at Premios de la Radio and the Mexican ''Billboard'' Music Awards.
In 2014, she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at Lo Nuestro Awards, Premios de la Radio, and People En Español's Entertainment Awards.
In 2015, Ana Bárbara was nominated for Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year at ''Univsion's'' Lo Nuestro Awards.
By 2015, Ana Barbara reached over 75 million combined YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
views of her music videos and special televised performances. She was scheduled to be honored by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2015.Ana Bárbara tendrá su estrella en el Paseo de la Fama en Las Vegas
Musica.univision.com (2012-09-19). Retrieved on 2012-12-22.
Filmography
Discography
* ''Ana Bárbara
Altagracia Ugalde Motta (born January 10, 1971), better known as Ana Bárbara, is a Mexican singer. She has become a prominent figure within Latin entertainment since her professional debut in 1994 and is one of the leading female figures in reg ...
'' (1994)
* '' La Trampa'' (1995)
* ''Ay, amor'' (1996)
* ''Los besos no se dan en la camisa'' (1997)
* ''Tu decisión'' (1999)
* ''Te regalo la lluvia'' (2001)
* ''Te atraparé... Bandido'' (2003)
* ''Loca de amar'' (2004)
* ''No es brujería'' (2006)
* ''Rompiendo cadenas'' (2009)
* ''Yo soy la mujer'' (2014)
* ''Bordado A Mano'' (2023)
References
External links
Ana Bárbara's official website
Search: Ana Bárbara
- AllMusic.com
*
Ana Bárbara's Acceso Total performance and interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbara, Ana
1971 births
Living people
Fonovisa Records artists
Grupera musicians
Latin Grammy Award winners
Latin music songwriters
Mexican women singer-songwriters
Mexican singer-songwriters
People from Rioverde, San Luis Potosí
21st-century Mexican singers
21st-century Mexican women singers
Women in Latin music