Get the latest gossip

Selena's Enduring Legacy as a Music Icon is Evident in Her Posthumous Medal of Arts

Although the White House ceremony honored other posthumous recipients, Selena's inclusion was notable because it came almost three decades after 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. “Everyone seems to have a stake in remembering (Selena), whether it was young girls who were Latina and from other communities who were dressing like her and singing her songs, or whether it was corporate sponsors who were tapping into Latino-based marketing,” Paredez previously told NBC News. “People en Español launched as a result of the success of the sales from the magazine announcing her passing; gay Latino and trans communities still honor and remember her.”

Get the Android app