The ceremony accompanying Latin icon Selena Quintanilla’s posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame drew a record crowd Friday, with roughly 4,500 fans attending.
Born in Texas in 1971 and known professionally as simply “Selena,” the Tejano singer broke barriers in the music industry for Latina women and paved the way for a new generation of musicians. She was killed in 1995 at the age of 23 after being shot by a business colleague. She received the 2,622nd star on the Walk of Fame.
Selena’s 4,500 number broke a record of 4,000 previously set by Mexican mariachi singer Vincente Fernández in 1998.
“Selena was an angel,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, generating cheers. “And we thank the family for all they gave and have given this country, and it’s a message we need now more than ever. Because we aren’t strangers to this land, this is our home.”
“Selena’s voice was a key that unlocked the hearts and minds of millions,” said actress Eva Longoria, who attended the ceremony. “She was a small town girl with a big heart and a smile that radiated and captivated people everywhere. That small town was my hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. And she was the face I finally saw that looked like mine.”
Selena’s sister Suzette wrapped the ceremony with Selena’s own words:
“‘The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will.'”
