With the distinction of the National Medal of Arts, Selena Quintanilla, ‘The Queen of Tex-Mex’ joins a prestigious group of legends such as Rita Moreno, Celia Cruz, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner.
In a private ceremony held on Monday, October 20th at the White House, President Joe Biden presented the awards to the late artist and other entertainment figures, including filmmakers, producers, photographers, actors, and musicians.
The National Medal of Arts is one of the highest honors the United States bestows upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation’s arts and culture. This recognition highlights her impact on shaping modern Latina identity, feminism, music, and culture.
The medal on behalf of Selena was accepted by her sister, Suzette Quintanilla, who shared heartfelt words about the Texan star’s legacy and her tireless efforts to pave the way for Latina women in music.
Selena Quintanilla’s Legacy in Tex-Mex Music
Selena Quintanilla continues to represent the strength and resilience of the Latino community in the United States. Before Selena (known simply by her first name), there wasn’t a prominent role model for this minority group.
Thousands of girls, young women, and immigrants have seen themselves reflected in her. The so-called “Mexican Madonna” was one of them: a woman with working-class roots who took pride in her heritage, wasn’t afraid to make mistakes, spoke Spanish without shame, and used her talent to break into the Latin music industry.
Selena showed that the American Dream could also be spoken in Spanish. From a young age, she started singing at her family’s restaurant, and although she aspired to be the next Donna Summer, she decided to embrace her bicultural heritage. The rest is history. By the early 1990s, she had become the biggest Latin star in the U.S.
She was the first Hispanic woman to sign a contract with Coca-Cola, won dozens of awards, and became the best-selling Latina artist of the decade, with over 65 million albums sold.
The National Medal of Arts awarded to Selena Quintanilla not only recognizes her remarkable career but also her ability to break cultural barriers and connect with millions of Latinos in the U.S.
As a trailblazer, she paved the way for Latino artists in a music industry largely dominated by English-speaking performers. Her success and popularity proved that Spanish-language music could captivate the U.S. market, setting the stage for future Latin stars like Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Karol G, Natti Natasha, Danna Paola, Greeicy, Gloria Trevi, and Ángela Aguilar.
Selena Quintanilla has become an enduring icon. Nearly three decades have passed since that tragic day inside a Corpus Christi, Texas hotel, where Yolanda Saldívar fatally shot her in the back on March 31, 1995, at the age of 23. Yet her legacy has remained vibrant through the decades and continues to shine in movies, TV series, music streaming charts, social media, street murals, museums, statues, dolls, clothing collections, and makeup lines—solidifying her place as a timeless Latina pop culture icon.
