Remembering Selena Quintanilla 31 Years After Her Tragic Death

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Today marks 31 years since Selena Quintanilla, one of the most influential Latin artists, was tragically murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, the president of her fan club and manager of her clothing boutiques. Selena was 23 years old at the time of her death and was working on her American pop crossover album 'Dreaming of You' when she was killed.

Why it matters

Selena's death was a tremendous loss for the music industry and her fans. She was a trailblazer in Tejano music and was on the cusp of breaking into the mainstream American pop market when her life was cut short. Her legacy and impact on Latin music and culture continue to be celebrated decades later.

The details

Yolanda Saldívar, who had been the president of Selena's fan club and was managing her clothing boutiques, shot and killed Selena on March 31, 1995. Last year, Saldívar was denied parole, with the board deciding she was still a 'continuing threat'. Selena's posthumous album 'Dreaming of You' debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart over a year after her death. She had previously won a Grammy for Best Mexican/American Album for 'Selena Live!' and was nominated again the following year for 'Amor Prohibido'.

• Selena Quintanilla was tragically murdered on March 31, 1995.
• Selena's posthumous album 'Dreaming of You' was released over a year after her death.
• In 1994, Selena won the Grammy for Best Mexican/American Album for 'Selena Live!'.
• Selena was nominated for a Grammy again in 1995 for her album 'Amor Prohibido'.
• Selena was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017 and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.