In case you missed it, the annual Grammys were held earlier this month. Months prior the Recording Academy had revealed that among a long list of deserving recipients, one of my favorite artists of all time would receive their Lifetime Achievement Award; the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla.

Multiple misleading social media posts advertised Selena specifically, urging viewers to tune in to watch what many believed would be a tribute. On the night of the awards I watched for hours, through numerous commercials, waiting for the honorees in this category to respectfully have their moment of earned recognition. Finally, at the last five minutes of the show, Selena and the other recipients of this award were recognized in a ridiculously brief slideshow. The presentation flashed through pictures of each artist for a few seconds, and failed to even play a snippet of any of the artists’ music. This left me, and other viewers stunned.

After the show thousands of fans, took their astonishment to social media to voice their disappointment in the show. Some might try to excuse this as being due to a time constraint in the show. Devoted fans felt that each of the rewarded artists, but especially Selena who would be receiving this grand award posthumously, deserved more. Many also thought the show missed the opportunity to allow her family members to speak publicly and receive the award on her behalf. Though grateful for the honor, the brevity of the remembrance didn’t go unnoticed by her family.

Seemingly in some previous years, at least one honoree has been allotted time to make an acceptance speech. Another way that recipients have been honored for the past four years is in a separately-aired show entitled “GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends”. This is a tribute concert to honor each Special Merit Award recipient. Although it is unclear exactly when the show is taped, it seems to air months after the taping of the award show. Even last year in the midst of the pandemic, this tribute took place. It’s now been weeks since the 63rd Grammy Awards and with no mention of this tribute show, the Recording Academy seemingly just advertised Selena in order to attain viewers.

As someone who believes Selena deserved better recognition for such an outstanding achievement, on the last day of Women’s History Month, today I felt a strong need to give a real salute to a music legend.

Hailing from Texas, Selena Quintanilla-Peréz was a Mexican-American singer who never spoke fluent Spanish growing up, but eventually taught herself how to sing in the language. She performed in a band comprised of her two older siblings, her brother A.B. as the bassist and her sister Suzette as the drummer, since the early 80s. Their band Selena y Los Dinos would later come to include other members, including guitarist Chris Peréz, who in 1992 became Selena’s husband. The band performed Tejano music which is a fusion of different genres. It is a distinct genre that takes Latin influences of Cumbias and Mariachis and blends them with Country, Polka, and even Pop sounds. Selena is noted for having a number of hits such as “Como La Flor”, “Amor Prohibido”, and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, to name just a few.

Selena would go on to achieve many successes in her life, such as her first and only Grammy Award win in 1994 for Best Mexican-American Album with her album Selena Live!, which was recorded from a live concert. This win marked the first time a female Tejano artist won in this category. The next year she was nominated again in the same category for her Amor Prohibido album. On February 26th 1995, the singer set the all-time attendance record with 66,994 fans showing up to watch her perform at the Astrodome in the Houston Rodeo. This was her third appearance in the show and third consecutive time to break such record.

The saddest part of this rising star’s story is its unfortunate ending. Today marks 26 years since the tragic passing of Selena, who at just 23 years old, was fatally shot by her fan club president. After her death, songs from her unfinished English album “Dreaming of You” and “I Could Fall In Love” were released. Though some may not understand the words she’s singing in Spanish, she was an artist who had the ability to entertain anyone. Selena once said, “The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will.” Years later Selena’s music continues to live on.

You may be familiar with Selena’s story the same way I first saw it as a young girl, through the 1997 biopic Selena, in which she is portrayed by the now popular singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. The movie’s soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy the following year. While the film is just a snapshot of the performer’s life, it portrays Selena as a multifaceted artist, as being not only a gifted singer but a skilled designer of fashion and business owner of a couple of her own boutiques. A Netflix series that debuted last year shares Selena’s tight bond with her family while exploring more in depth her journey as a young artist trying to make it into the mainstream market. Whether you’ve watched her story on screen or you’ve listened to her music, there’s no denying the impact she had on the Hispanic community. In recent years and in the age of social media, she has gained popularity within a whole new generation of fans from all around the world.

Selena was an artist that I had been aware of through the iconic 1997 film, but never truly got to know until later in life. If there’s anything to know about her, it’s that she was a person of great work ethic and admirable humility. Her music has always made me feel closer to my Mexican roots despite not knowing every word she is singing. It will always hurt to know that someone so young, talented, and humble didn’t get to live on and continue her passions. Though her time was short-lived, the impact of her legacy that she leaves behind is remarkable. Her music is timeless. To receive the Lifetime Achievement Award is an amazing acknowledgement of her career, but I personally feel that a couple of seconds is not enough time to properly honor such a trailblazing woman in music history.

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In celebration of Selena, comment your favorite Selena song down below!