Selena receives posthumous Medal of the Arts; shows Queen of Tejano's enduring appeal

Selena's posthumous honor receiving the Medal of the Arts shows the Queen of Tejano's enduring legacy as a musical and cultural Latina icon 30 years after her death.

If the "Queen of Tejano" music 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! Siempre (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.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/selena-medal-arts-posthumous-queen-tejano-rcna176505

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