The Voice Mexico (La Voz…Mexico) is set to return to the airwaves Sunday after a delay due to the death of Jenni Rivera, E! News has confirmed.
Rivera—the 43-year-old Latina superstar who, along with six others, was killed in a plane crash Dec. 9—had been a coach on season two of the singing competition, which airs on Televisa. The network had postponed last night's semifinal episode of the show, a spinoff of the U.S. hit, and replaced it with a special honoring the singer, who has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide.
The Voice Mexico was only one of several TV projects Rivera was involved with. Earlier this month, the performer known to fans as La Diva de la Banda (The Diva of Banda Music) had inked a deal with ABC to star in her own self-titled sitcom, and she also headlined her own reality show, I Love Jenni, which was in the midst of filming its third season for cable network mun2. According to a rep for the network, a programming announcement regarding the future of I Love Jenni will be made shortly. However, the network officially announced that they will be airing two marathons of season two tonight and tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The network will dedicate over 30 hours of Rivera's music in its programming starting today through Friday, Dec. 14.
"It is with a heavy heart that both the mun2 and Telemundo Media family mourn the tragic passing of Mexican-American entertainment icon and mun2 star of I Love Jenni, Jenni Rivera," Diana Mogollon, General Manager of mun2 and Emilio Romano, President of Telemundo Media said in a statement earlier today.
"Jenni was one of the most influential, authentic and captivating Latinas in entertainment. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend, who broke through the language barrier and connected with millions of fans in a unique, powerful and lasting way."
(Originally published Dec. 10, 2012, at 1:52 p.m. PT)