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By Michael Lopez

Three days after her tragic passing, Whitney Houston is still dominating the headlines. But regardless of what news details about her death come out, a music icon is gone forever and her loss is felt deeply within the Latino community.

Since Houston's passing, several Hispanic stars have tweeted out their condolences.

One Latina star who took the news especially hard was Demi Lovato, who told her Twitter followers that she would be going on a "mind and body cleansing retreat" to cope with the loss. She went on to list Houston as one of her biggest musical idols.

"This can't be true," she wrote, "One of my idols gone??" she posted. "This is so unbelievably sad…#RIPWhitneyHouston."

Pitbull (whose music differs quite a bit from Whitney's) proved he was a big fan when he wrote,

"RIP Whiney Houston – que descanses en paz."

Ricky Martin tweeted out some inspiring words as well, posting,

“RIP Whitney Houston. Sending my love and deepest condolences to her family and friends. Fly Whitney Fly.”

Jennifer Lopez seemed shaken by the loss too, writing,

"Such a loss. One of the greatest voices of our time. Sending out prayers to her family…#R.I.P.Whitney."

And these are just notes from the fans. A few privileged Latinos actually had the opportunity to work with Whitney and spoke out about the unforgettable experience. Mariah Carey famously dueted with Houston on "When You Believe" and sent out a very heartfelt message to her fans and followers.

Tr3s fave Fernando Garibay also had the chance to sit in the studio with Whitney, producing "Nothin' But Love" from her 2009 I Look To You album. Speaking to his Twitter followers, he wrote,

"I was lucky to work with Whitney and in our in little way we will celebrate her life tonight. 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Forever."

And if you want to see the impact her death has had on the Twitter community at large, just search the term #R.I.P.Whitney and you'll see an endless outpouring of love.

Have you tweeted out condolences to Whitney's family? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Cultura, Demi Lovato, Fernando Garibay, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Música, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, RIP, twitter, Whitney Houston

By Michael Lopez

One day before the 54th annual Grammy Awards, the music world was rocked with news of Whitney Houston’s passing. The 48-year-old legend was found lifeless in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton hotel room. As of right now, the exact cause of death is not being released.

Houston had battled addiction for many years and even discussed it openly during a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer. Whitney admitted to abusing cocaine, marijuana, and pills, which many say caused damage to her pristine singing voice.

"The biggest devil is me," she told Sawyer. "I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy."

Her body was found late Saturday afternoon and paramedics immediately rushed to the scene. Sadly, after numerous CPR attempts, Whitney was pronounced dead at 3:55pm PST. Beverly Hills detectives have now begun a full investigation but insist that there is no evidence of foul play.

The news threw music lovers for a loop as Houston's friends and fans flocked to the web to send their condolences.

"Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston," Mariah Carey posted. "My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

Christina Aguilera added,

"We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed".

Whitney's ex, Bobby Brown, reportedly went in and out of "crying fits" after hearing the news. He was with his touring band New Edition when the story broke and they are said to be consoling him during this difficult time.

"We are absolutely shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely death of our dear sister Whitney," the band said in a group statement. "As a group, we are extremely close; when one of us hurts, we all hurt."

Houston's relatives aren't holding up much better. Her famous aunt, Dionne Warwick, is "inconsolable", according to press reports, and her mother Cissy (who is also a singer) is in deep mourning. Interestingly, both of them said they spoke to Whitney earlier in the afternoon and she sounded fine.

But by far the person most impacted by Houston's death is her 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina. Whitney's only child, Bobbi was incredibly close to her superstar mom and even accompanied her for a "girls night out" in L.A. on Thursday.

Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with the Houston family during this difficult time. And you can bet we'll keep you up-to-date as more details develop.

R.I.P. Whitney

What's your favorite Whitney Houston song? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Bobby Brown, Celebrities, Chisme, Christina Aguilera, Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Grammys, Mariah Carey, Música, popnews, RIP, Whitney Houston

By Michael Lopez

Despite winning multiple Latin Grammys and having millions of adoring fans, René “Residente” Perez is still plagued with nightmares. And apparently one recurring dream that the Calle 13 frontman is dealing with involves his own death!

Residente recently told Primera Hora that he doesn't expect to live past 40. The reason, he claims, is because of the visions he constantly has that show him perishing at a young age.

"It's not that I'm a negative person," he explained in the interview. "But I don’t think I’m going to get to 40. I dream a lot about that, and they say dreams come true."

Now 33, that means we'd only have Residente around for another seven years! Clearly we hope that isn't the case and neither does Perez. He went on to say how much he values his life and how he wants to be around to someday meet his own grandkids.

What's the worst nightmare you've ever had? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Calle 13, Chisme, Nightmares, popnews, Residente, RIP

By Michael Lopez

Sure people are all hyped up about the prospects of 2012. But it's important every New Year's Eve to reflect on those who are no longer with us. This year Blogamole said goodbye to quite a few íconos, all of whom will never be forgotten.

Though he wasn’t a household name to many of today's Tweeters and bloggers, Argentine writer Ernesto Sábato influenced generations with his mighty use of the pen. He passed away in April at the ripe old age of 99 and continued publishing works for the past 60 years. Sábato's masterpiece, Sobre Héroes y Tumbas, revolutionized surrealist literature and won him respect from top authors around the world.

Genaro Hernandez came from a very different world, but broke Latino boundaries in much the same way. A Mexican-American from South Central, he gained international recognition in the boxing community for his fast reflexes and powerhouse punches. Throughout his professional career, Genaro nabbed the WBC and WBA super featherweight belts and became a KO superstar in the late 1980's. Sadly, he succumbed to cancer back in June at the age of 45.

In July, the Latino world lost another incredible talent, but in a much more violent way. Argentine musician Facundo Cabral was viciously gunned down after a Guatemalan concert. Known for his positive songs and upbeat attitude, Cabral's murder left the music world stunned. Since the attack three suspects were arrested, which can at least provide some closure to this tragic story.

Mexican movie fans found themselves in deep mourning this past September. That's when the news broke that legendary comic Gaspar “Capulina” Henaine had passed away. Thankfully, Capulina was able to live a very full (and very funny) life in his 85 years. Throughout his career, Henaine made over 80 movies and appeared on dozens of TV shows. Stars like Carlos Ponce and Chespirito sent heartfelt condolences via the Twitterverse.

Just this past week, the drama world lost another Latino powerhouse. Pedro Armendariz Jr. passed away on Monday after a long bout with cancer. Embraced by both Mexican and American audiences, Pedro acted in dozens of box office hits throughout the years (including a few with Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas). His larger-than-life talent will certainly be missed.

And though she wasn't necessarily famous herself, Thalía's manager mother Yolanda Miranda passed away very unexpectedly in 2011. Far from just a gloating parent, Yolanda helped guide Thalía's career and deserves a lot of the credit for her daughter's success. Clearly devastated by her death, Thalía wrote several touching memories on her Twitter feed and will more than likely be dedicating her next album to madre's memory.

Did you lose anyone you loved in 2011? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Capulina, Celebrities, Cultura, Ernesto Sabato, Facundo Cabral, Genaro Hernandez, Pedro Armendariz, RIP, Thalía, Yolanda Miranda

By Michael Lopez

Mexican movie fans are in mourning today after news broke that legendary screen actor Pedro Armendariz Jr. passed away from cancer. Known for his commanding presence and dramatic flair, Pedro made quite a mark in America too, with appearances in Antonio Banderas' Zorro movies and Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

Pedro actually came from an acting dynasty. His father, Pedro Armendariz Sr., was a popular Mexican movie star during the 1940's and 1950's. He too crossed over, entertaining American audiences in the classic James Bond film, From Russia With Love.

Armendariz Jr. started his career in the 1960’s and went on to make hundreds of classic Spanish movies. By the 1980's, Hollywood came calling and Pedro began appearing in a ton of star-studded films. He acted alongside Diane Lane in A Walk On The Moon, Brad Pitt in The Mexican, and even nabbed a role in a James Bond flick (just like his dad), appearing in 1989's License To Kill.

Sadly, Armendariz had been battling cancer in the past several months and succumbed to the disease this past weekend. Mexican President Felipe Calderon issued a statement immediately after the news broke, saying Pedro was "a great actor who reflected well on Mexico at home and abroad."

Several of Armendariz' co-stars took to the Twitterverse after hearing the news, expressing their love and sympathies.

"Noooooo! I am filled with sadness!” Eiza Gonzalez posted. "I can not believe Pedro Armendariz is gone. RIP an incomparable talent!"

Lucero wrote,

"I'm so sorry the loss of Pedro Armendariz Jr. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Much love."

"My deepest condolences to the family Armendariz. We will really miss Pedrito. A marvelous actor and a wonderful human being. Very sad news," Sandra Echeverria Tweeted.

Diego Luna, who will be in Pedro's final film, Casa de mi Padre, also shared some heartwarming memories.

"Pedro is one of those people who made you smile just seeing them," he wrote.

With so many friends and fans, we imagine Armendariz will have quite an emotional funeral later this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Were you an admirer of Pedro Armendariz Jr.? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cancer, Casa De Mi Padre, Celebrities, Diego Luna, Eiza Gonzalez, Felipe Calderon, Lucero, Mexico, Movies & CineMás, Pedro Armendariz, Pedro Armendariz Jr., RIP, Sandra Echeverria, twitter

By Michael Lopez

It looks like Mario Lopez and Eddie Cibrian may have some extra time to hang out these days. Lopez has just joined the Fall cancellation club with news breaking that his H8R show has gotten the axe from the CW network.

After just a handful of episodes, execs have decided that H8R wasn't making the cut. The reality series (which is based on fans meeting the stars they despise) struggled in the ratings since it debuted last month. And judging by the cost of casting real celebs, we're sure it was cheap to produce.

The most recent H8R episode featured Kim Kardashian and actually saw a spike in viewership. But apparently it was too little too late. The show has been immediately yanked off the schedule and will be replaced by reruns of Ringer.

Mario has yet to make a comment about the cancellation. But seeing how much he hits the Twitterverse, we're sure we'll see some #H8R RIP hashtags in the very near future.

Were you a fan of H8R? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, H8R, Mario Lopez, RIP, Television

By Ikam Acosta

Steve Jobs made an incredible impact on society as a brilliant innovator in the field of computer technology. In the wake of his death, many have stepped forward to mourn his loss and share how his genius has affected their lives.

Celebrities took to Twitter to express their appreciation and sadness for the Apple founder. Ashton Kutcher tweeted,

"Sending love & light to everyone @Apple & the entire Jobs family. Today we lost a Giant who will be missed even by those who didn't know him... We have all surfed on the wake of Steve Jobs ship. Now we must learn to sail, but we will never forget our skipper... I never thought I could be so busted up about someone I never met. #stevejobs"

Jane Lynch wrote,

"We will miss you, Steve Jobs. Sent lovingly from my iPhone."

Josh Groban shared his first memories of Apple when he was little.

"Such a sad day, I can trace my apple memories to the IIC when I was a kid. RIP."

So can I, Josh, so can I. The IIc was my first computer as well.

Anderson Cooper said it best when he tweeted,

"I think a lot of us dream of making the world a better place- Steve Jobs actually did."

Amen, Cooper.

Alyssa Milano expressed how much Apple products have enriched her life, and I think she speaks for a lot of people.

"Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. You were always a big part of my world with your special inventions. Thank you for your brain."

Ryan Seacrest eulogized Jobs with one of his quotes,

"Have the courage to follow ur heart & intuition. They already know what u truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Alec Baldwin equated Steve Jobs with other great visionaries when he tweeted,

"Sad about Steve Jobs. On par with Henry Ford, Carnegie, and Edison."

Kevin Spacey echoes the famous Apple slogan in his tweet,

"The world has lost a true visionary today. Think different."

Danny DeVito expressed his loss by tweeting,

"Steve Jobs miss you from the planet have you with me every day on earth."

I'm sure most of us will carry around a piece of Steve everywhere we go for years to come.

There is no doubt that many people found out about his death, ironically, through their Apple devices. I found out via a Facebook feed I read on my Mac Powerbook. It is only appropriate that the very device Steve invented would be used to eulogize him and pay tribute to such an amazing man.

How has Steve Jobs enriched your life?

Tags Alec Baldwin, alyssa milano, Anderson Cooper, Apple, Ashton Kutcher, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Danny DeVito, Jane Lynch, Josh Groban, Kevin Spacey, RIP, Ryan Seacrest, Steve Jobs, Technology

By Michael Lopez

Just yesterday we mentioned how the latest Apple announcement lacked the pizzazz of a typical company press conference. And a good reason for that was because former CEO Steve Jobs was missing from the stage. Now sadly, he will never take that stage again. 56-year-old Jobs has succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

Steve had battled the disease since the mid-2000's and showed some progress within the last few years. But continued health issues forced him to step down from his Apple position in August and he had kept a very low profile since then.

Though he is gone, Jobs' place in the history books is assured. Not only did he co-found Apple, he broke technological ground and changed the way the world does business. His company fondly remembered his contributions in their statement to the world.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," Apple said. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."

We couldn’t agree more.

Are you saddened by the death of Steve Jobs? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Apple, Blogger: Michael Lopez, RIP, Steve Jobs, Technology

By Michael Lopez

Just two months after the big anniversary for Cantinflas, one of his Mexican comedy contemporaries has passed away from pneumonia complications. 85-year-old Gaspar “Capulina” Henaine became hugely popular throughout Mexico during the 1950 s for his zany expressions and larger-than-life personality. And now, his country is mourning his loss.

Amazingly, Capulina starred in over 80 Spanish movies throughout his lifetime, many of which are regarded as classics. Originally partnered with Marco Antonio "Viruta" Campos Contreras, the comedy duo was known as the "Mexican Laurel and Hardy", for their resemblance and similar mannerisms to the silent film stars.

After huge success with Viruta in the 50's and 60's, Capulina struck out on his own, appearing on TV specials (sometimes with good buddy Chespirito) and comedy tours into the late 90's. The last few years of his life were plagued with ill health and sadly, reports of his passing broke late Friday afternoon.

"Yes, it’s official...heaven is receiving the best man, father, grandfather and the best comedian in the world," Capulina's granddaughter, Ericka Aleman, tweeted.

And she wasn’t the only sending out love to the Twitterverse. Several of Latin America’s biggest stars posted sympathy tweets after hearing the news.

"QEPD NUESTRO GRAN COMEDIANTE GASPAR HENAINE C A P U L I N A te quiero desde siempre mis sonrisa siempre fué presente cuando aparecías!" Veronica Castro wrote.

Producer Billy Rovzar shared his thoughts as well, tweeting,

"Q Descanse en paz el Gran #Capulina ... No lo veamos como una perdida por que lo que nos dejo, no nos lo quita nadie... Gracias."

"Mucho más difícil hacer reír que hacer llorar. Gracias Capulina!! RIP" came from Carlos Ponce's Twitter account.

And throughout the weekend, hundreds of #Capulina hashtags floated through cyberspace. Part of what made this Mexican comedian so beloved was his ability to entertain with clean comedy. Capulina often spoke out against using vulgarity to get a laugh and he could certainly deliver the goods using G-rated humor.

This comedy giant will most certainly be missed.

Were you a fan of Capulina’s? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Billy Rovzar, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Capulina, Carlos Ponce, Chesperito, Cultura, Gaspar Henaine, RIP, Veronica Castro

By Michael Lopez

Sure she had her issues, but there is no denying the talent of Amy Winehouse. And since her untimely passing last month, there have been a slew of tributes from her musical peers. Green Day wrote a song to her, tons of memorial concerts have been staged, and MTV has been talking about recognizing her at this weekend's Video Music Awards.

"We had a great history with Amy," VMA executive producer Amy Doyle told Billboard. "She was very near and dear to us.”

And there are plenty of more Amy updates in the news. Apparently her toxicology reports have been released and they show no signs of illegal substances in Winehouse's system at the time of her death.

Obviously that's comforting news for the family and can silence the naysayers who have been tainting her memory with overdose rumors. Amy's father Mitch spoke proudly of his daughter and her ability to defeat her demons before her passing.

"Three years ago, Amy conquered her drug dependency," he said. "The doctors said it was impossible, but she really did it. She was trying hard to deal with her drinking and had just completed three weeks of abstinence."

The full Winehouse inquest is set to be complete by October and you can look for more Amy tributes at the MTV VMAs this Sunday night.

Would like to see an Amy Winehouse tribute at the VMAs? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 2011 Video Music Awards, Amy Winehouse, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Green Day, Música, MTV NEws, MTV VMAs, RIP