From Bronx to Brazil: J. Lo to sing at World Cup
In this Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 file photo, Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Jennifer Lopez said in an interview with The Associated Press that she is flying to Brazil on Tuesday June 10, 2014, to perform during the World Cup’s opening ceremony on Thursday. AP
NEW YORK — Not so fast: J. Lo is performing at the World Cup after all.
Jennifer Lopez said in an interview with The Associated Press that she is flying to Brazil on Tuesday night to perform during the tournament’s opening ceremony on Thursday.
“I’m coming. I leave tonight. We always were going,” she said. “I think people get anxious, especially with me and my schedule when I’m like, ‘Ah, OK, I can leave this day, that day, I don’t know if we can make it.'”
“People get nervous and I think it was a little bit premature to announce anything,” she said. “But we are definitely going.”
Fifa officials announced earlier this week that the singer wouldn’t perform the official tune “We Are One (Ole Ola)” alongside Pitbull and Claudia Leitte. But Lopez said they will perform before Brazil takes on Croatia at Thursday’s opening game in Sao Paulo.
Fifa said it was pleased with the latest development in its lineup of performers.
“Fifa and the Local Organizing Committee are delighted to announce that we will have the full line-up of stars,” it said in a statement.
“The performance by Pitbull, Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and Olodum will be the climax of the ceremony.”
Lopez said the World Cup song was orchestrated by Pitbull, who invited her to join on the track.
“I can’t take credit for this. This was one of Pitbull’s call-ins,” said Lopez, who has collaborated with the rapper on the hits “On the Floor” and “Dance Again.”
“He had this record and he’s like, ‘I think this record could be great for the World Cup,” she recalled. “He’s like, ‘Will you do it with me?’ And I go, ‘Yeah, of course.'”
Lopez added: “I’m so lucky that he gave me the opportunity.”
The 44-year-old singer is also busy promoting her tenth album, “A.K.A.,” to be released next week.
More than 60,000 people will be in Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena to watch the ceremony and kick-off match between Brazil and Croatia. Around a billion people are expected to tune in on TV worldwide.
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