Thirty-one years ago on March 31, the world was left in shock. Beloved Tejano singer and songwriter Selena Quintanilla-Pérez tragically passed away.
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, known more famously as Selena, was a trailblazer in Tejano music and Latin pop. Born April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, she broke into the Tejano music scene when she was just eight years old. It all started with Selena y Los Dinos, a band her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., formed.
In 1989, Selena signed a deal with EMI Latin Records, releasing her debut self-titled album. She would go on to release major studio albums and numerous singles. By the early 1990s, Selena achieved widespread stardom as the “Queen of Tejano Music”.
In 1994, Selena opened her first boutique, Selena Etc. in Corpus Christi, later expanding with a second location in San Antonio. Among the employees was a woman who would leave a mark, not just on Selena, but on her legacy.
On March 31, 1995, Selena confronted Yolanda Saldívar at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi over missing financial records. Saldívar, once a close friend, confidant, and president of Selena’s fan club, was caught embezzling funds from Selena Etc. and the Selena fan club.
Saldívar had been fired by the Quintanilla family earlier that month, on March 9.
As Saldívar refused to hand over the documents, and Selena turned around to leave the hotel, Saldívar fatally shot her in the back. Selena made to the hotel lobby, telling staff, “Yolanda… 158,” identifying Saldívar and her room number, before collapsing.
Paramedics rushed to the scene, but Selena died from blood loss and cardiac arrest shortly after arriving at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.
After a nine-hour standoff, police took Saldívar into custody. She was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 30 years.
Immediately there was an outpour of emotion from fans and the media. More than 60,000 people were in attendance for her public viewing to pay their respects. Radio stations played her music nonstop as a tribute to the Tejano star. Her death was featured on the cover of several major publications, including The New York Times and People Magazine, selling over one million copies combined across the United States and Latin America.
Usually, artists come and go like trends. Every once in a while though, someone’s impact becomes timeless. Selena is one of those exceptions. Even now, 31 years after her death, people still listen to her music every day. Currently on Spotify, she has over 10 million monthly streamers. It’s clear that she was on the verge of even greater global success at the time of her death. This year, her hit album Amor Prohibido will be inducted into the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame on May 8, recognizing recordings of lasting historical significance.
Selena not only had a huge impact on the music scene, but also fashion and Latina representation in pop culture. Many fans adopted Selena’s style, and she became widely known as a trendsetter. She paved the way for many Latina women to take pride in their culture and heritage, and to express themselves confidently. Selena encouraged people to be bold and authentically themselves, just like she was.
Selena is very near and dear to my heart, not just because I am Latina myself, but because she was one of my mom’s favorite artists to listen to. I remember growing up, I’d be woken up to the sound of Selena’s iconic melodies playing in the house as she cleaned on the weekends — that was my cue to wake up and help. A few times, we even debated on having me dress up as the Tejano icon for Halloween. My mom had so many albums, posters, and memorabilia of Selena.
Typically, Dreaming of You is heard as a song about lovers, but for me it carries a different meaning. Rather than staying up hoping a lover is thinking about me, I think about my mom. Some nights I’ll stay up thinking about my late mom, wishing I still had her. When I hear Dreaming of You, I dream of my mom, picturing her face even though she is no longer here with me. It brings me a little peace knowing in some way I can still remember her by listening to a song.
Selena is an icon and will forever be remembered as the “Queen of Tejano”. Her legacy continues more than 30 years after her death. She was taken far too soon, but her impact lives on through her music, fashion, and cultural influence.
¡Viva Selena!
