I've always struggled to comprehend the widespread acclaim for this woman. Her singing doesn't quite stand out, her dancing lacks that special touch, and her proportions are far from impressive. Even her acting falls short of what one would expect.
It appears as though she's been elevated without genuine merit.
"1"
She's a triple threat, sings, dances, and acts. The other thing is she did come from the block, The Bronx where hip hop was born. I think that giver her an understanding about what's going on in music from a street level. Also, think about the fact that she's appealing to audiences of all ethnicities, white, Hispanic and black.
Her dancing abilites are even better then her singing, Then add in an attractive body and face and she perfect for the video age. The transition to films is easy because she comes with a built in audience.