Exactly 30 years ago today, more than 61,000 fans flocked to the Astrodome to get a glimpse of the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If you close your eyes, you can probably remember the iconic, sparkly purple jumpsuit she wore.

Selena was on the rise to stardom. She had her whole life ahead of her. But a month later, at the age of 23, that came to a halt. She was shot dead on March 31, 1995, by someone who was supposedly her biggest fan, Yolanda Saldívar.

To honor Selena’s legacy, we’re taking a look back at her iconic rodeo show. The concert, performed on February 26, 1995, marked her third year in a row at the Houston Rodeo. James Davidson, who recently retired as the rodeo’s the director of broadcast and audio visual, says it was evident that her popularity was growing immensely after the first two shows, and there was a lot of excitement about having her back. He could already feel that the performance would be a special one.

“Back then, and it still is now, mostly country western–focused, so bringing Selena was a pretty big deal,” he says. “We kind of knew from those first two shows that we were onto something, and it was sort of a win-win. It was good for her career, and it was certainly good for our audience.”

Selena rode out in a white carriage—she smiled, she waved, and as cliché as the saying is, the crowd went wild. Then, with her larger-than-life personality, she took to the stage for what would be the last time.

“How are you doing Houston, Texas?” she yelled to the crowd, then broke into a cover of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Selena was ready to show the world that she could do more than her typical Tejano-style singing. As she danced from one end of the stage to the other, interacting with her band along the way, Selena continued to bless the crowd with a disco medley of various fun covers, including “Funkytown,” “On the Radio,” “The Hustle,” and “Last Dance.”

The star then got rid of her long-sleeved bolero and unveiled her jumpsuit’s gorgeous halter top, signaling a switch to the songs that made her famous. With a sway of her hips, Selena belted “Amor Prohibido,” then transitioned to “Baila Esta Cumbia” and took off on an extended dance break. The energy was incredible and contagious throughout her whole hour-long set, which also included songs like “Techno Cumbia,” “La Carcacha,” “No Me Queda Más,” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”

“Her stage presence—she [had] the ‘it’ factor,” Davidson says. “The sky’s the limit, really, and she was right at the pinnacle.”

By the time Selena closed out with “Como la Flor,” it was clear that she was born to be on stage. Little did her fans know it'd be her last live performance.

“The rodeo has given so many memories to me and my family—one of my favorites was going to the Selena concert in the Astrodome,” says Juan Garcia, now a member of the HLSR executive committee. “Her impact on the Hispanic and rodeo community is profound. Getting to witness her performance is something I remember clear as day and will always treasure.”

Thankfully, the production crew recorded the whole thing, which is available on YouTube. Davidson realizes that the show, and the role he played in it, is a part of something way bigger.

“That’s the interesting sort of phenomenon about this whole thing with her death—instead of dying out, she’s sort of taken on a new life of her own,” Davidson says.

Since her death, the Houston Rodeo has taken measures to make sure that she’s remembered, too. In 2020, they inducted Selena into the Star Trail of Fame, making her the first Latina to receive this recognition. Davidson says it was a whole spectacle: When they did the unveiling, dignitaries spoke as well as her siblings, who accepted the award on her behalf. Her brother Abraham Isaac Quintanilla III, better known as A.B., said it was only right that her star is next to Elvis Presley’s—the Queen of Tejano and King of Rock and Roll together.

That same year, before COVID-19 shut everything down, Becky G performed a four-song Selena medley in her honor during her rodeo concert, singing “Como la Flor,” “La Carcacha,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and “Baila Esta Cumbia.” Kacey Musgraves held her own tribute when she performed at the rodeo on February 25, 2019, wowing the crowd with a cover of “Como la Flor.” Stars like Camila Cabello, Prince Royce, and Cardi B have also honored the Tejano queen during the rodeo.

But Selena’s recognition goes beyond our local rodeo. In 2021, she received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. Her widower, Chris Pérez, who was also her lead guitarist, accepted the award on her behalf.

Today, 30 years later, Selena’s full potential remains an enduring ‘what if,’ but her impact continues to resonate.