UPDATED 3:50 p.m.: Tickets for the Jenni Rivera memorial service at Universal Studios' Gibson Amphitheatre sold out less than hour after they went on sale at noon today, according to Billboard.com.
"About 15 minutes after the sales began, many of the tickets were already taken and only available as individual seats, instead of the 2-ticket maximum option," the music site reported. All tickets were sold within an hour.
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Original post:
A limited number of tickets will be offered today for a Jenni Rivera memorial service scheduled for Wednesday at Gibson Amphitheatre.
According to concert promoter Live Nation, tickets can be obtained beginning at noon by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and searching for "Jenni Rivera Memorial Service." Up to two tickets can be purchased for $1 each, and the charge will be refunded to customers' credit card within 72 hours of the event, according to Live Nation.
No actual tickets will be issued online. People who purchase tickets must bring the credit card used for the transaction and identification to the event to receive a receipt that will provide admission, according to Live Nation.
It was unclear exactly how many tickets will be available.
The service, billed by the Rivera family as a "Celestial Graduation," will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City. Rivera's brother, the Rev. Pedro Rivera Jr., will lead the ceremony.
Rivera, a 43-year-old Long Beach native, died Dec. 9 when her rented Learjet LJ25 crashed in northern Mexico about 15 minutes after departing Monterrey, Mexico. Six other people aboard also died.
The singer was en route to Toluca, outside Mexico City.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, fans make donations to the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation, along with a single white rose.
Burial services will be private.
Born in Long Beach, the mother of five who maintained an estate in Encino dominated the "banda" style of regional Mexican music popular in California and northwestern Mexico. She was one of the biggest stars on Mexico television and was popular on "regional Mexican" stations in California.
Rivera lived a tumultuous life, which was the basis for much of her music. She had been married and divorced three times, the last time from former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Esteban Loaiza.
The singer, who sold more than 15 million records, sang songs of heartbreak and abuse. She had her own reality show, and ABC was developing a comedy pilot for her, according to the entertainment website Deadline.com.
Her tumultous trail of life style did not represent her real self... Jenni Rivera was kind and humble, generous and very loving... My heart goes to her Mom and Dad, and to all her children... Rest in peace Jeni, heaven is very lucky to have you...