Christina Aguilera had to fight for many years to keep her last name as an artist. In an interview at Billboard Latin Music Week on Tuesday (Sept. 27), the pop icon revealed why she named her latest Latine album Aguilera.
Aguilera is Xtina’s second Spanish-language album. The LP arrived over 20 years after her debut Spanish-language album Mi Reflejo in 2000. The Aguilera album is comprised of songs from her EP’s La Fuerza, La Tormenta, and the upcoming La Luz. Aguilera explored all sorts of Latine genres like guaracha in “Pa Mis Muchachas” with Becky G, Nicki Nicole, and Nathy Peluso, and reggaeton in “Santo” with Ozuna. She also experimented with mariachi music in “Cuando Me Dé la Gana” with Christian Nodal.
During her chat with Billboard, the singer explained why she named the album after her last name. “Because I’m proud!” she said. “I’m proud to be an Aguilera!” Xtina also revealed she was pressured to change her last name at the beginning of her career. While talking about her surname, she said it proudly with a Spanish accent.
“Something that I really embody and understand is that, you know, this is a name that has been tried to be taken away from me on numerous occasions coming up in this business,” she said. “It’s not the easiest name for everyone to pronounce. It’s been butchered a lot.”
The Aguilera album represents Christina once again reclaiming her Latina roots in her music. Putting her last name as the LP’s title was a way for her to let the world know that she’s been Latina since the day she was born. “I’m Aguilera. I’m proud of where I come from,” she said. “My father being from Ecuador. Why not come full circle in all of the chapters and close it on a name, my name.”
Aguilera released a teaser for her next Spanish single, “No Es Que Te Extrañe,” on her YouTube channel. The La Luz EP will reportedly be released on Oct. 7. Today, Aguilera will receive the Spirit of Hope award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards for her years of philanthropic work.