Mary Ann Acevedo

2006–2008: Objetivo Fama, Mary Ann, and Los Favoritos

In 2006, Mary Ann was a contestant on the third season of Objetivo Fama 3,^{[citation needed]} which was viewed by around 14 million people over four months.^[4] She came in fourth place in the competition.^{[citation needed]}

Songs performed by Mary Ann on Objetivo Fama 3 in 2006:^[5]

• "El Frío de Tu Adiós" (Olga Tañon)
• "Amar Sin Ser Amada" (Thalía)
• "Como Tu Mujer" (Rocío Dúrcal)
• "Bandolero" (Olga Tañon)
• "Vivo Por Ella" (Andrea Bocelli and Marta Sánchez)
• "Contigo En La Distancia" (Christina Aguilera)
• "El Hombre Que Yo Amo" (Myriam Hernández)
• "Si No Te Hubiera Conocido" (Luis Fonsi and Christina Aguilera)
• "Que Ganas De No Verte Nunca Más" (Lupita D'Alessio)
• "Héroe" (Mariah Carey)
• "A Que Vuelve" (Gisselle)
• "Si Tu No Estas Aquí" (Rosana)
• "Tu si que sabes amar" (Rocío Dúrcal)
• "Fuera de mi vida" (Valeria Lynch)

In October 2006, Mary Ann became the first contestant on Objetivo Fama to release her own record, her debut self-titled album (Mary Ann).^{[citation needed]} It was produced by Italian record producer Bob Benozzo and arranged by Sergio George, Eduardo Barreras and Eduardo Reyes.^{[citation needed][4]} It consisted of pop ballads.^{[citation needed]} The first single released was "Mírame".^{[citation needed]} Her songs were played both in Puerto Rico and abroad.^[4] Mary Ann became the second best-selling album in Puerto Rico in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

On 26 April 2008, Mary Ann sang a duet with Cristina Eustace (winner of the Objetivo Fama Fifth Season) of the song "Fuera De Mi Vida".^[6]

On 2 May 2009, Mary Ann sang a duet of the song "Mírame" (the first single of Mary Ann Acevedo's album) with Hannaní Peraza on the last season of Objetivo Fama.^{[citation needed]}

From 2008 to 2009, Mary Ann performed alongside Arquímides Gonzáles, Ediberto, Mary Ann Acevedo, Blanca Rosa, Jometh Andujar and Jonathan (ex-participants of Objetivo Fama) at the concert Los Favoritos: The Show (which included acting and singing).^{[citation needed][7]} The first concert was performed at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré.^{[citation needed]} Francisco Zamora, their former teacher on Objetivo Fama, also appeared on stage.^[7] The event sought to convey a message of hope and motivation to young people. It had a live orchestra under the direction of Guillermo Torres (Mary Ann's husband) and choreography by Danny Lugo.^[7]

2009: Cántale a tu Bebé

At the end of 2006, Mary Ann had started recording her second album with the label Univision Music Group, which was to be released in mid-March and May 2008.^{[citation needed]} The album was to be produced and directed by Francisco Zamora and Guillermo Torres.^{[citation needed]} At this time, the label was sold to Universal Music.^[8] As a result, Mary Ann, ended her contract with the label.^[9]

Mary Ann composed the songs for the album with Torres. The album Cántale a tu Bebé was released on 5 October 5, 2009.^{[citation needed]} It consists of lullabies written for babies that reflect the sentiments of mothers.^[9]

2009: Flow: El Musical

Mary Ann performed in the musical Flow: El Musical, an urban adaptation of the opera Carmen.^{[citation needed]} It was presented at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferre on 17 September 2009.^{[citation needed]} She played the character Nica. Other performers in the musical included musicians Auudi and Javier Baerga, and the model and TV presenter, Natalia Rivera.^[9]

2010: Génesis (single)

In January 2010, Mary Ann announced the name of the first single of her third studio album on her website: "Génesis".^{[citation needed]} The single was produced by Guillermo Torres.^{[citation needed]} The song was composed by Guillermo Venegas Lloveras. It is a classic of Latin music and was sung by Lucecita Benítez, better known as "La Voz Nacional de Puerto Rico", who won the Festival de la Canción Latina (Mexico) in 1969.^{[citation needed]} The single was set to be part of Mary Ann's album El Amor es la Solución, which was scheduled to go on sale in February 2010, but the date was changed to mid April 2010, then GT Music announced the release of the album was cancelled.^{[citation needed]} "Génesis" was released on 18 June 2010, for digital download through iTunes.^[10]

2011: Idol Puerto Rico

In May 2011, Mary Ann auditioned for the reality show Idol Puerto Rico in Hiram Bithorn Stadium.^[11] At the first casting, Acevedo sang the song "Que Lastima" by Lourdes Robles. She was part of the 80 selected to go to the second round. In her second casting (which was divided into two presentations), she sang "No Te Mentia" and then the song "Recuerdame" with Luis Xavier Zayas (participant of Idol Puerto Rico). Mary Ann was selected for the competition as one of 24 semi-finalists.^[12] On 4 August 2011, it was announced on the live entertainment program SuperXclusivo that Mary Ann was one of the 12 participants to go through to the finals.^[12]

The first live concert for the participants of the reality show was held on 5 September, where Acevedo played the song "Aprenderé" by Ednita Nazario, receiving good reviews from the jury.^{[citation needed]} However, there had been some controversy at the time, as the public felt that Mary Ann had more experience than the other contestants because of her involvement in Objetivo Fama and the fact that she recorded three albums as a professional singer with a music label, as well as performing with other singers, headlining concerts in Puerto Rico and being a guest artist for awards shows.^[13]

The second live concert was held on 15 September, where Mary Ann was given good reviews for her performance with the song "Todos Me Miran" by Gloria Trevi.^{[citation needed]} The Third Live Concert was held on September 19, where Mary Ann received the best reviews of the jury, but was eliminated as she was given the fewest votes from the public.^{[citation needed]} She was the second participant eliminated from the competition.^[14][15]

2012: Génesis

Mary Ann had a break between her second and third studio album to have her child and participate in Idol Puerto Rico.

On 1 January 2012, Mary Ann released her third studio album, Génesis.^[16] The album was originally going to be called El Amor es la Solución (Love is the Solution), but Genesis was thought to be a more commercial as it took the name of the first single.^[17]

The album including covers of songs previously sung by artists including Rocio Durcal, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. It also includes a new version of the song "Todo para Mi" (a song that is on her first album with the title "Todo Eres Tú"), this time featuring the jazz flautist Néstor Torres. It also features a merengue version of "Mírame".

Studio albums

• 2006: Mary Ann
• 2009: Cántale a tu Bebé
• 2012: Génesis

Other albums

• 2006: Con tus Estrellas En Vivo
• 2007: Navidad Boricua: Mi Pueblo esta de Fiesta
• 2008: Tu Favorito
• ^[when?]Mary Ann participated in the Christmas compilation album "Navidad Boricua: Mi Pueblo esta de Fiesta".^[4]

Marriage to Guillermo Torres

Mary Ann married in December 2006, with the "merenguero" singer and former member of Grupo Kaos, Guillermo Torres.^[27]

On June 1, 2009, having tried for more than two years to get pregnant,^{[citation needed]} Mary Ann and Torres announced on the program Anda Pa'l Cara that they were expecting their first child.^[28] She had learnt of her pregnancy on May 28, 2009. She planned to have a natural birth, without undergoing a caesarean section.^{[citation needed]} She had planned to name the baby Maria Alejandra if it was a girl or Guillermo Enrique if it were a boy.^[28]

In December 2009, Mary Ann had been taken to the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, with contractions, but this was a false alarm.^[29]

On February 1, 2010, Acevedo and Torres had a daughter named Anna Carolina Torres Acevedo at the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan.^{[citation needed]} For Guillermo this was his sixth daughter, but the first time attending the birth of a baby.^[30]

In 2011, press reported an alleged separation between Mary Ann and Torres, which turned out to be true.^{[citation needed]} After a reconciliation in August, there were other rumours about an alleged pregnancy, but she denied it at the second gala of the reality show Idol Puerto Rico.^{[citation needed]} In November, Mary Ann posted on her official Facebook page that she had started the divorce proceedings with Torres.^{[citation needed]} Both stated that they made the decision seeking the best welfare of their daughter.^[31]

Charity work

In 2009, Mary Ann joined RED, an organisation that helps children with HIV in Africa.^{[citation needed]} She was involved in the campaign "USA Baby – Child Space", where with each baby car purchased at a store would include a percentage donation to RED.

Return to education

In January 2012, Mary Ann announced her intention to return to college and complete studies she began in 2006 and then left to enter Objetivo Fama.^{[citation needed]} On January 24, Acevedo officially restarted her Bachelor of General Music Education-Vocal at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San German Campus.^{[citation needed]}