![[left] Aerial view of Jet Set nightclub after roof collapse. [right] Rubby Perez doing a live performance there. Thumbnail done on Canva.](https://dmhsherald.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HH-Thumnail-38-1200x777.png)
![Yolanda Saldívar [left], Selena Quintanilla [right]. | Thumbnail done on Canva.](https://dmhsherald.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HH-Thumnail-31-1200x777.png)
Parole Denied
Yolanda Saldívar, the founder of Selena Quintanilla’s fan club, fatally shot the then 23 year old Mexican-American singer and songwriter after a confrontation in a motel in Corpus Christi, on March 31, 1995. A jury agreed to convict her of first-degree murder. She was then sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Fast forward to March 27, 2025, a panel in Texas denied parole for her days before the 30th anniversary of Selena’s death.
The Quintanilla family alongside Selena’s husband Chris Pérez posted a statement to the artist’s pages following the announcement. It reads:
“Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar. While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon. We will continue to celebrate Selena’s life – not the tragedy that took her from us – and we ask that all who cherish her do the same.”
Who was Selena Quintanilla?
Born on April 16, 1971, Selena Quintanilla was a very famous and admired Mexican-American singer and songwriter, known as the “Queen of Tejano music.” She rose to fame in the 1990s with her hit songs like “Como La Flor“, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,”and “Amor Prohibido.” Her music, even three decades after her death, still makes a huge impact and influence. When asked to describe her music in an interview in 1994 with The San Jose Mercury News, she said the following:
“It’s got polka in it, a little bit of country, a little bit of jazz. Fuse all those types of music together. I think that’s where you get Tejano.” – Selena Quintanilla.
Three months after her death, her English-language album, “Dreaming of You,” that she was working on when she died rose to the top of the Billboard 200 and sold three million copies in the U.S. alone. In 2017, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, The Recording Academy gave her a lifetime achievement award during its Grammys telecast.
What’s Your Take?
After hearing about Yolanda Saldívar being denied parole, just days before the anniversary of the tragic death, what are your thoughts about the whole situation? Can you relate to Selena’s music or background at all? How do you think fans reacted to the denial of her parole? Thank you for following along, and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! Tune in for more articles.
“If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away.” – Selena Quintanilla.
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