Jennifer Lopez gets 2,500th Hollywood star

"I really am overwhelmed," she said at the ceremony on Tinseltown's star-studded sidewalk, a tourist favorite. "This all feels, I don't know, kind of surreal, but so real. It's awesome."

US rapper Pitbull and Nigel Lythgoe, former executive producer on "American Idol" on which Lopez was a judge, were also on hand, as well as Gregory Nava, who directed Lopez in 1997's "Selena."

"She should have an entire block of stars," said Fonda, who co-starred with Lopez in "Monster-in-Law" in 2005, adding: "In my opinion, she's only scratched the surface of what she's capable of."

Nava called her "the hardest worker I have ever known," and recalled how Lopez told him: "Greg, I'm going to become the first Latina superstar. I'm going to have a number-one movie and a number-one record at the same time."

"And I said, 'Impossible, nobody does that.' Yeah. Impossible for everybody but Jennifer."

Fighting back tears, Lopez thanked the crowd, saying: "I love you, thank you so much for going on this journey with me.

"This landmark moment inspires me to work harder and dream bigger for all that is the future. I hope you feel as I do that it was all worth it, and I hope that I have touched your hearts even in a small way."

Known to her fans as J.Lo, Lopez made her leading lady movie debut in "Selena," in 1997 -- for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe -- and went on to become a Grammy-nominated singer.

Her first studio album, "On the 6," was released in 1999. She is soon to release her 10th album, possibly in November, according to media reports.