A Limited-Time Selena Exhibit Graces the Grammy Museum

The most recent exhibit I attended had nothing to do with Halloween or horror but was special for me to experience—Selena: From Texas to the World. Selena was a Tejana singer who made major strides in the music industry as a Latina and Mexican American artist. For a limited time, the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles is hosting a pop-up exhibition showcasing personal items from the icon’s collection. Let me take you inside.

I’ve been a huge fan of Selena since I was a kid. I was 10 years old when I saw a cassette tape my mom had bought with the singer’s face on it. I was taken in by the cover and thought she was beautiful. It was the Dreaming of You LP, Selena’s last album. Sadly, I learned about her posthumously. She had been murdered a few months prior in 1995 by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar. She was only 23 years old when she died but had accomplished so much with her band, Los Dinos. More than 30 years later, her legacy lives on strong and even younger generations know her name and music.

For those who aren’t familiar with the musician, I’ll provide a brief bio. Selena Quintanilla was born and raised in Texas. Her father, Abraham, was in a band in his youth and had dreams of making it big. He had to quit music when he got married and started a family. However, he was able to return to his musical pursuits through his kids. He wanted to see if they could find some success as a band. Selena was the vocalist, her brother A.B. played guitar, and her sister Suzette was on drums. Abraham called them Los Dinos, after the group he was in. They started their journey in the 1980s and over the years, gained fame and popularity.

As a Mexican American girl, I identified with Selena. Growing up in the 90s, there weren’t many successful Latinas highlighted in the media, so she made me feel seen and gave me something to aspire to. She had earned the title of “Queen of Tejano Music,” a male-dominated scene, and was proud of her Mexican roots. Although I grew up surrounded by Spanish, I was never fluent, but I picked up on words and phrases through her songs. After discovering her, I immediately became a huge fan. I collected several of her cassettes, t-shirts, and other memorabilia. My mom took me to see the 1997 Selena movie starring Jennifer Lopez as soon as it hit theaters.

She made me want to become a singer. My parents realized this and got me a karaoke machine one Christmas. I would lock myself in my room and have concerts, playing her tapes, singing along to the lyrics, and pretending I was performing in front of millions. I joined the choir in high school and performed in recitals. My parents let me take private singing lessons for a few years at a music school in East LA. In all transparency, Selena was the main reason I majored and earned my B.A. in music (with an emphasis in voice) as an undergrad. While I realized as an adult that singing wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue, my devotion to Selena and her music never faded.

I was ecstatic when I heard that the Grammy Museum would be displaying some items from the Selena Museum, which is based in Corpus Christi, Texas, the city she called home. Her sister, Suzette, manages Selena’s estate and helped make the exhibit happen. A vibrant mural inspired by the Tejana singer and created by artist Mister Toledo currently adorns the exterior of the building. 

I attended the event with my sister and when we arrived, there was a long line just to get into the main museum. Most of the people were there specifically for the Selena retrospective. It’s evident how strong her fanbase still is today. Once we got in, we made our way to the fourth floor. There was another lengthy line to enter the area with the Selena artifacts. 

Once we got to our destination, I did my best to take it in. There were two big glass case displays. One contained the outfit the singer is wearing on the cover of her Amor Prohibido album, as well as the stunning gown she wore to the 1994 Grammy Awards. I also laid eyes on her actual Grammy Award trophies.

The other glass case had more of her iconic wardrobe pieces and bustiers, her fashion design sketches, and personal keepsakes, such as her cell phone and bejeweled, decorative eggs. Images of Selena performing on stage and some of the guitars her husband Chris Perez played were also available to view. There was a documentary on a sizable screen showing clips of the singer. Another wall had a huge image of her at a concert with a quote in her words above it that read, “The goal isn’t to live forever but to create something that will.” This same wall also contained a ton of notes left by visitors expressing their adoration.

The Grammy Museum is big and made up of multiple stories, but the Selena exhibit is housed in an intimate space and only occupies a small room. I mistakenly assumed there was another area with more artifacts, so I moved on, thinking I could circle back. That wasn’t the case and I couldn’t reenter the way I exited. I realized I’d have to get back in the long line if I wanted to view the displays again. 

My one regret is not taking more time to look at the collection and simply linger for a moment. I will say that because there were so many people, it was difficult to not feel rushed. The staff had to keep attendees moving so other guests could make their way in. And because the exhibition is in such a small space, there’s nowhere to really go or move to once you’ve been able to walk by everything. 

Admission to the Grammy Museum is $22.50 and includes access to all of the exhibits, including the Selena retrospective. To make the most of your time, I recommend exploring each of the levels. They’ve been experiencing high attendance due to the Selena event, so arrive when the museum opens, if you can, to ensure entry. This limited engagement will continue until March 16th. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the singer, there’s a new documentary on Netflix titled Selena y Los Dinos that offers insight into her family and the evolution of the band. There’s also a biographical drama that was released on Netflix a few years ago called Selena: The Series. Her dad, Abraham Quintanilla, recently died in December 2025. I was shocked when I heard the news, but it made me smile to think that after so many decades, he’s reunited with his daughter.

I’m grateful I was able to experience Selena: From Texas to the World, especially with two important dates nearing. March 31st will mark the 31st anniversary of her passing and this April 16th would have been her 55th birthday. Selena was more than an icon to me; she was a role model and significant inspiration. As a proud Latina and Mexican American woman, she’s given me the fearlessness to go after my dreams. She’s such an integral figure within the Latinx community and her memory will live on for generations to come.

Where to Stalk

Grammy Museum’s Selena: From Texas to the World

Selena official website

Instagram

Grammy Museum