Jenni Rivera: The Personal Tragedies She Faced Before Dying

SplashNews

Although the late singer had great success in her career, the years leading up to her death were filled with many obstacles.

Jenni Rivera, 43, was at the height of her fame when she was tragically killed in a plane crash Dec. 9 in Mexico. And while she seemed to have a picture perfect career, the mother of five dealt also with many serious issues in her personal life.

Jenni was a teen mom, but she didn’t let that stop her from accomplishing her dreams. The singer made it big in 1995 with her first hit “Las Malandrinas,” then skyrocketed to fame, selling over 15 million albums, starring in two reality shows, and serving as a judge on the Mexican version of The Voice.

But her success also came with torment. Jenni’s first husband, Jose Trinidad Marin, was convicted of sexually abusing their daughter Janney (“Chiquis”) and Jenni’s sister Rosie in 2006.

Her second husband, Juan Lopez, also had a run in with the law when he was convicted of drug trafficking in 2007. He later died in jail in 2009.

In 2012, rumors circulated that Jenni’s current husband, former baseball player Esteban Loaiza, was having an affair with her daughter Chiquis. Two months before her death, Jenni filed for divorce from Esteban.

Although Jenni dealt with many struggles in her life, there was a positive side to her heartbreak.

“She had gone through hell and always came out great,” explains Raul De Molina, the host of Univision’s El Gordo y La Flaca. “All these things helped fans identify with her better.”

Despite the personal battles she faced, Jenni could always rely on her supportive fans. During her last concert in Monterray, Mexico, on Dec. 8, she received one gold and two platinum albums. She became emotional after hearing the roar of the cheering crowd.

“Thank you to my public,” she told her fans. “To all of you… who are with me, who love me just like I am.”