Carlos Rivera Concerts Setlist

A fairy tale for modern times, Carlos Rivera went from small-town talent to overnight international sensation. Born in 1986 in Huamantla, Mexico, Rivera was an up-and-coming local celebrity and radio host until his life-changing 2004 breakthrough on TV Azteca's "La Academia." Winning the singing competition with over 80 percent of the vote, he received more than just a recording contract-the title of "Huamantla's Favorite Son."

One interesting turn his career took was when Rivera merged his musical talents with theater. At 22, Rivera became the youngest actor in the world to play the male lead in Disney's Mexican production of "Beauty and the Beast." But it was his role as Simba in "The Lion King" that really showed off his international appeal. He beat cultural barriers and became the first Mexican actor to ever lead in a Disney production outside his country, Mexico, where more than 700 sold-out performances graced Gran Via in Madrid.

Rivera's recording career has been just as impressive, starting with his self-titled debut album through Sony Music. He has released four studio albums, including "Mexicano" and "El Hubiera No Existe", both of which attained gold certification.

However, what most probably crowns Rivera's work is the unique achievement he has made with "The Lion King"; he is the only actor in the world who has performed in two original Disney productions of this show, over 1k shows for some 1.4 million viewers. He also contributed to both of the soundtracks and participated in the adaptation of the lyrics in Spanish to further his commitment to telling the story in Spanish to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Along with performing, Rivera has flexed his critical muscle as a judge on Spain's version of "The Voice" and crossed over into television with roles in shows like "El hotel de los secretos." His 2016 album "Yo Creo" reached the top of the charts in both Mexico and Spain, confirming his status as a cross-cultural success story.