Selena Quintanilla Awarded National Medal of Arts By the White House
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla.
The legacy of Selena Quintanilla was honored in a special way at the White House. Last night (Oct. 22), the late queen of Tejano music was one of the recipients of the National Medal of Arts, presented by President Joe Biden.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the U.S. government. The agency selects the National Medal of Arts honorees, which are highlighted as “individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.” At a private ceremony last night at the White House, the 2022 and 2023 honorees received the medals from President Biden. Selena was posthumously honored in the latter group.
“The arts enrich our lives, helping us to ask questions, imagine new possibilities, and create community,” Maria Rosario Jackson, the NEA chairperson, said in a statement. “The NEA is pleased to join President Biden in congratulating the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients whose curiosity, creativity, hard work, and dedication have inspired and touched so many in our country and around the globe.”
Selena’s sister and drummer, Suzette Quintanilla, was at the White House to accept the medal on her behalf. She sat near Queen Latifah and Steven Spielberg, who were also honored in the 2023 National Medal of Arts group. Suzette posted photos to her Instagram stories of her with the medal at the White House. “Extreme grateful for this honor given to sister today,” she wrote with a purple heart emoji.
The 2022 National Medal of Arts group included Eva Longoria, Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez, who is another legend of Tejano music, and Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. Along with Selena, Latifah, and Spielberg, Spike Lee and documentarian Ken Burns also joined the 2023 group.
Back in July, Selena’s 1994 album Amor Prohibido was released on vinyl for the first time.