Selena Quintanilla's Widower Grows Emotional Reading Letter She Wrote Asking Him If He Wanted to Marry Her

Mar. 15, 2025

Selena Quintanilla and Chris Pérez.Photo:Chris Perez Instagram

Chris Perez Instagram

A new detail has been revealed aboutSelena QuintanillaandChris Pérez’s love story.

InSelena y Los Dinos, which premiered at SXSW on Wednesday, March 12, Pérez recounts his love story with the late Mexican-American singer, who was known as Selena, and revealed the letter in which she wanted to “feel out” his thoughts on marriage.

“I never liked the whole secret thing from the beginning. I always wanted Abraham’s respect,” Pérez says in the documentary of Selena’s father, who didn’t approve of their relationship. “It was always a sticky situation until Abraham found out.”

When he did find out, Pérez — who was her guitar player — was kicked out of the band.

“I remember being really sad because we couldn’t be on the road together anymore,” he says. “It was going to be tough for Selena and I to see each other and be together. We kind of lived that life for a few months.”

Chris Pérez and Selena Quintanilla.Chris Perez Instagram

Over time, they would write letters to each other. In the documentary, Pérez reads one of those letters out loud.

“Gosh Chris, I’ve been so out of it lately it’s pathetic. I’m going crazy, I swear. I wish that everyone would leave me alone and can’t they see I love you. Maybe they think I’m playing games or something,” Pérez reads.

Chris Pérez in Park City, Utah in January 2025.Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic

Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic

Shortly after, Pérez takes a long pause and grows emotional as he stares down at the handwritten letter.

Then, discussing their relationship further, Pérez recalls there was a “knock on the door” one day and it was Selena. She said to him, “Let’s go get married.”

Pérez initially said “no, not like this” because he wanted her to get married with her parents' support. However, at that moment, his “love for her was enough,” and they eloped on April 2, 1992.

The later singer’s father says he was “hurt” that they went off and got married but over time realized that “Chris is a good guy.”

Selena y Los Dinos, which is named after her family band, celebrates the “Dreaming of You” singer’s life and legacy through never-before-seen footage from the family’s personal archive.

Selena Quintanilla in New York City in March 1994.Arlene Richie/Getty

Arlene Richie/Getty

PEOPLE Selena 30 Year Cover.

In 2021, Pérez appeared in a documentary episode ofTrue Hollywood Story: Death of Innocenceand he toldE! Entertainmentthat her death was the “hardest thing” he ever had to deal with, and the loss still affects him today.

“I miss her face, her laughter. She was just an amazing soul, an amazing spirit,” he told the outlet.

“She taught me a lot. I used to never tell people I love them … or I miss them, or just give them gifts just because,” Pérez added. “I learned those things and many, many other things from her.”

PEOPLE is celebrating Selena’s legacy in a reissue of a special edition dedicated to the singer, which is available for purchasehere.

source: people.com