If the “Queen of Tejano” musician Selena Quintanilla Perez — simply known as Selena — were alive today, the Grammy Award-winning superstar would be 53 years old. Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of her death.
Yet, her standing as a musical and cultural icon was evident Monday, when President Joe Biden presented the 2022 and 2023 National Medals of Arts to a prestigious group of Americans including film directors Steven Spielberg and Spike Lee, the singer/actor Queen Latifah — and posthumously, Selena.
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. It is awarded by the president to recipients for “their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.” Suzette Quintanilla Arriaga accepted the award on her sister’s behalf. She later posted an image of the award on Instagram Stories, noting “Extreme grateful for this honor given to (my) sister today.”
Although the ceremony honored other recipients posthumously, Selena’s inclusion was notable because it came almost three decades after her death. Many devoted fans posted messages on social media platforms in response to news of the honor, with comments such as “She absolutely deserves every recognition in the world!!” and “Congratulations! Always (always) Selena!”
Deborah Paredez, professor at Columbia University and author of “American Diva,” said she was not surprised that Selena is still receiving honors and acclaim.
While teaching undergraduates recently, she was “amazed” at her young students’ fond memories and connections with Selena and her music. “It shows how she is part of our cultural inheritance,” she said. “Because Selena was modeling a way of being for young women, for bicultural young people, that part of her legacy and persona continues to be something that appeals to young people , again and again,” Paredez noted.
Born in 1971 in Texas, Quintanilla rose to fame as the ‘Queen of Tejano, or Tex-Mex, music. After growing up performing with her family, she achieved success in the Latin music market by blending a variety of Latin music styles with contemporary pop sounds.
In 1995, she was shot and killed by the president of her fan club. The outpouring of emotion that followed Selena’s death demonstrated the growing demographic and economic power of Latinos — and marked the beginning. of her enduring stardom across generations of Latino fans. Her posthumously-released bilingual album, “Dreaming of You” (1995) became a global hit, making her a pioneering crossover artist.
Write a Reply or Comment
You should Sign In or Sign Up account to post comment.