Former American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez has one of the most impressive resumés of any entertainer out there, and 2021 has brought both success and drama for the superstar. As a triple threat, Jennifer's career spans music, film, television, and beyond. Beyond work, J Lo rekindling her romance with Gone Girl star Ben Affleck has made 2021 a momentous year for Jennifer and her millions of fans.
Jennifer's work on American Idol came during a time she was distancing herself from working in film. For seasons 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15, Jen served as an expert mentor for contestants aspiring to her level of stardom. During her years as a judge from 2011 to 2016, Jennifer only starred in a few films, including What To Expect When You're Expecting and The Boy Next Door. Jen also released two albums during those years, LOVE? and A.K.A., both of which came with complimentary deluxe albums. In addition to J Lo's career during this time, she was also in an interesting period of her life regarding her relationship status. After seven years of marriage, Jennifer announced she and her then-husband Marc Anthony were splitting amid rumors of Marc's infidelity. Although Jen was making $12 million on American Idol in 2011, she was also losing her marriage.
After Jennifer decided to part ways with the singing reality competition in 2016, her career and love life took on new trajectories. In 2017, Jen confirmed her relationship with Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez. In 2018, Jennifer made a more concrete return to film with her starring role in Second Act. Jennifer received critical acclaim for her performance in Hustlers in 2019, a film she also produced. For her work on Hustlers, Jen received nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Critics' Choice, and Independent Spirit Awards. Unfortunately, the Oscars snubbed Jennifer of a nomination for Hustlers.
In 2021, however, Jen is building upon her success. While Jennifer doesn't have any films coming out in 2021, she was busy starring in and producing several movie this year, including rom-com Shotgun Wedding and crime-drama The Godmother. Jen's first big moment in 2021 came with her salient performance of "America the Beautiful" at President Biden's inauguration in January. That was soon overshadowed, as her love life hit unexpected turbulence. After four years of dating, Jen and A-Rod endured extraordinary levels of difficulty in 2021. After their engagement in 2019, it first appeared the A-list power couple wouldn't make it down the aisle in March 2021. Amid reports of a breakup, the couple shared that they were "working through some things."
In April, Jennifer and Alex officially ended their relationship. Not long after, Jen sent the internet into a frenzy with the resurrection of her relationship with her ex-fiancé. After Ben's breakup with Ana de Armas, he and Jen were suddenly both back on the market for a new partner. Currently, 2021 is the year of Bennifer's revival. J Lo and Ben have a long history that dates back to their meeting on the set of Gigli in 2002. In modern times, new photos of Jen and Ben enjoying each others' company are ushering in a renaissance of early 2000s nostalgia. While it is unclear how long this resurgence will last, Bennifer fans are savoring every moment.
J Lo is one of the most accomplished entertainers of her time and that has not changed in 2021. While she might not have starred in many films that were released this year, she has been busy making more movies that her fans can anticipate. On top of her work, Jen's rekindled romance with Zack Snyder's Batman, Ben Affleck, is a welcomed distraction from the chaos of the past year. While many American Idol fans certainly miss Jennifer gracing the judges' panel, the superstar is preoccupied in 2021.