Late music legend, Selena Quintanilla-Prez, had tied the knot with Chris Prez, three years before she was shot in 1995. Here's everything to know about him.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr. 's demise has brought the memories and life of the late Tejano music legend, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, into debate once again. His son, A.B Quintanilla, confirmed his father's death on December 13, 2025, at the age of 86. But the family has maintained silence on the cause of his death and has requested privacy. As the fans mourn the man who supported Selena's journey to success, managed her career, and protected her legacy, the internet is also curious to know more about her lesser-known husband, Chris Pérez. Here's what we know about him.
Chris Pérez is a guitarist and songwriter who first entered Selena's life in 1990 after he joined Selena's family band, Selena y Los Dinos. During his conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Chris revealed that he grew up in Texas. Chris aspired to be a rock musician and worked in various odd jobs to support his passion and buy his first electric guitar.
After his wife, Selena's, untimely, tragic death in 1995, Chris Pérez struggled deeply with grief. However, he has continued to pursue a career in music and later formed the Chris Pérez Band, which won a Grammy Award in 2000 for its album, Resurrection. One of the best tracks on the album, "Best I Can" was written as an ode to his late wife, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Over the years, Chris has also collaborated with other artists and remained active in the music industry.
In 2001, Chris Pérez married Vanessa Villanueva, and the couple has two children. But the couple later got a Divorce in 2008. Despite building a new life. Chris has consistently acknowledged that Selena remains a central part of his heart and history. He frequently honors her memory through social media posts and public reflections.
Chris Quintanilla-Pérez opened up about his love with Selena and her memories in his 2012 memoir, To Selena, with Love, wherein he explained how their relationship changed him emotionally. During a conversation with People in 2025, he stated that he still thinks about Selena "every day",” even after nearly 30 years of her passing, describing it as both meaningful and painful.
Additionally, he was featured in Netflix's 2025 documentary Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy, which premiered on November 17, offering an intimate look at Selena's rise to fame through the voices of her family and bandmates, including Pérez. However, he admitted that certain aspects of their marriage will always remain private, out of respect for their bond. Sharing her impact on his life, Chris once told E! News:
"She taught me a lot. I used to never tell people I love them, or that I miss them, or just give them gifts for no reason. I learned those things and many, many other things from her."
Selena Quintanilla and Chris Pérez fell in love after working together. But they kept their relationship hidden because they feared Abraham Quintanilla would not approve of it. Later, Chris revealed that Abraham was just protective of his daughter and worried that a romantic relationship within the band could distract her from her career.
When Abraham found out about their relationship, he removed Chris from the band despite Selena's disapproval. According to Chris, the decision had a profound impact on both of them. Eventually, in April 1992, they decided to elope and tied the knot quietly at a courthouse in Texas. After their marriage, Pérez was eventually allowed to rejoin the band, but tensions with Abraham lingered. Recalling her at their 25th Anniversary in a heartfelt Facebook post, Chris had penned
"It's hard to believe that today marks 25 years since Selena and I decided that the only way to be together...was to run away and get married (at 20 and 22 years old) in secret. What a rollercoaster ride that day was."
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, also known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," broke barriers by making her mark in a male-dominated industry. However, before she could attain more milestones, her life was tragically cut short on March 31, 1995. On that day, Selena went to meet the former president of her fan club to retrieve her financial documents after Yolanda's financial misconduct. But the latter in turn shot Selena, who died due to severe blood loss at 23. Yolanda Saldívar was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Rest in peace, Abraham Quintanilla Jr.
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