Selena’s Dreams Cut Short — Sister Suzette Speaks Out
Subscribe to Tejano Nation on YouTube
Suzette Quintanilla, sister of the late Tejano music icon Selena, offered a rare and emotional reflection on her sister’s legacy during a recent episode of On That Note, the music podcast hosted by Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman. In the intimate conversation, Suzette opened up about Selena’s dreams, her humble outlook on fame, and the difficult decisions the family had to make after her tragic death.
Speaking candidly, Suzette recalled the momentous career plans that were in place just before Selena’s life was cut short in March 1995. While Selena had already become a legend in Tejano music, her ambition to cross over into English-language pop was on the horizon with the groundbreaking Dreaming of You album. Suzette emphasized that despite the upcoming transition, Selena had no plans to leave Tejano behind.
“The plan was never to leave our music, Tejano music. Never,” Suzette said. “She never realized how big she was… She just thought, ‘Okay, we’re going to do this and this is cool, but I’m still going to be with y’all.’ We all knew our roles would change, but we were prepared for that.
Suzette fondly remembered her sister’s humility and passion, describing her as “a badass” who had the talent and heart to carry both genres with grace. She also expressed gratitude for the limited English recordings that were completed for Dreaming of You, which she believes give a glimpse of what Selena’s international stardom could have become.
But perhaps the most surprising revelation of the interview came when Suzette discussed the making of the 1997 biopic Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez. She disclosed that the Quintanilla family felt “forced” into fast-tracking the movie to avoid losing control of Selena’s story.
Jennifer Lopez in 1995 Selena film.
“We were forced to make the movie,” she admitted. “Literally months after she died, our lawyers got word that Hollywood was already going to start making a movie… if you don’t have control over your own, it’s going to be whatever they want to put in it.”
She continued, “That’s the only reason my father had to make the decision to move forward. It wasn’t something that was on our radar at all; it was way too soon, to be honest. It came out literally two years after she died, and there was criticism over that — like we were all about money.”
Despite the emotional toll and public scrutiny, Suzette said she stands by the decisions made to preserve and protect Selena’s legacy.
Now, nearly three decades after her sister’s passing, Suzette is honoring Selena’s memory by promoting the 30th anniversary of Dreaming of You. The commemorative release includes a remastered and remixed edition of the beloved album available on vinyl, cassette, and CD — giving longtime fans a chance to revisit Selena’s timeless sound in a fresh way.
Dreaming of You Album to celebrate 30th anniversary
“The little bit she left behind… I’m forever grateful for,” Suzette said.
The anniversary release not only celebrates Selena’s impact on music but also serves as a poignant reminder of what could have been — and the family’s ongoing mission to honor her legacy with authenticity and love.
Watch the full interview with Suzette Quintanilla on Shawn Stockman’s On That Note podcast here.
Follow Tejano Nation on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our Spotify playlists and iHeartRadio podcast.