Jennifer Lopez is stepping into a new phase of her life with a sense of peace she says she has never felt before. In a preview of her upcoming interview on “Nightline,” which aired March 11 on “Good Morning America,” the global superstar opened up about life after her 2024 divorce from Ben Affleck and what it has meant to rediscover herself.
“I’m in my happy era,” the former “American Idol” judge, 56, said, as quoted by People. “I think, for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m free; I’m on my own. And it feels really good.”
Jennifer Lopez Says Being Single Feels New After Years of Relationships
Lopez said the sense of independence is still new to her, having spent most of her life in relationships.
“I didn’t really know what that felt like since I was in my early 20s — and even before that,” she said. “I’ve always had boyfriends. There was always someone in my life, and so many things that I felt like were out of my control.”
GettyNow, she says this chapter has allowed her to slow down and reconnect with herself.
“I’ve gotten to the point where I really trust myself and appreciate myself a little bit more, instead of being so hard on myself and always trying to prove myself,” she said.
The End of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Second Chance Romance
To jog your memory, Lopez and Affleck began dating in the early 2000s after meeting on the set of the film “Gigli.”
GettyTheir relationship quickly captured global attention, turning them into one of Hollywood’s most closely watched couples. The pair ended their engagement in 2004.
Nearly two decades later, Lopez and Affleck reunited in 2021, surprising fans by rekindling their romance.
In July 2022, they eloped at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas before later celebrating with a larger ceremony at Affleck’s Georgia estate.
Their second chapter together lasted two years. Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024, on the second anniversary of their wedding celebration. The divorce was finalized in January 2025.
Jennifer Lopez Took Time Away From Work to Reflect
GettyAfter the marriage ended, Lopez chose to slow down and step away from her demanding schedule.
“I had to stop everything, and I took a year off,” she said. “I canceled tours and just decided to be home and sit in what had happened without running away from it through work, through another person, through anything — just sit.”
The break gave her space to focus on her family and begin processing the emotional fallout.
Lopez has previously described that period as feeling as though her life had suddenly unraveled. Speaking with Chang, she acknowledged just how overwhelming that moment was.
“It did. It did feel that way,” Lopez told Chang. “I needed to be home with my kids, and that was the priority at that time.”
The time away also pushed her to reflect more deeply on her own life.
“I just got to the point where I was like, ‘What is going on with you?’ ” Lopez said. “Because I couldn’t blame anybody else, because I don’t think that’s where the lesson is. And so I really wanted to figure myself out.”
Lopez Says She’s Happier Than Ever Being Single
Despite growing public curiosity about her personal life, Lopez says she is in no hurry to start another romance.
When asked if she was “dating up a storm,” Lopez laughed before quickly dismissing the idea.
“No!”
“No. I’m not!” she added with a laugh. “God forbid, I don’t want to ruin anything!”
Instead, Lopez says she is embracing the calm and clarity she has found in this chapter of her life.
“It’s so nice right now. I’m so happy. It’s the best. I just feel really good right now,” she said. “And that was the scary thing for me when I was younger. Like, I didn’t know if I could do that. I was always afraid to do that.”
The singer also shared that the love surrounding her family has helped ground her during this time.
“I am a mom of graduates this year who are going to college,” she said of the 18-year-old twins she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, Max and Emme. “I am a showgirl and an entertainer and an actor. An entrepreneur. And I am happy. I am happy. And I am healthy. And I am grateful.”
Alongside this personal renewal, Lopez remains focused on her career. She recently launched her Las Vegas residency, “Up All Night,” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
For the show, Lopez wanted to explore a different musical style.
“I wanted to have an orchestra on stage for this show, which I’ve never done,” she said. “All of the songs are reimagined that way.”
“It’s a celebration,” she added. “You have to cherish and live every single moment.”
