Jennifer Pena performs at Arena Mobil in Monterrey, Mexico, on Dec. 13. 2025. | Credit: DesveladosTelevision/Facebook

Following the passing of Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Latin superstar Jennifer Peña took a powerful moment onstage to reflect on the profound role he played at the very beginning of her career—sharing a message filled with gratitude, nostalgia, and deep respect for one of Tejano music’s most influential figures.

While performing in Monterrey, Mexico, on December 13, Peña paused her concert to address the audience and honor Quintanilla, whose guidance and belief in her helped shape her path in the music industry.

Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father of the late Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and a towering presence in Texas and Latin music history, passed away on December 13, 2025. A cause of death was not disclosed. The news was first shared Saturday morning by his son, A.B. Quintanilla III, in a social media post that sent shockwaves through the Tejano and Latin music communities.

During her emotional tribute in Monterrey, Peña spoke candidly in Spanish about Selena’s influence on her life and the pivotal role Abraham Quintanilla played in shaping her early career.

“As everyone knows, Selena was an inspiration to me since I was a child,” Peña shared. “I began singing in Spanish because of her, because I loved her songs, her music, her way of being. And her father, Abraham Quintanilla, was my first manager. He guided me in this industry, directed me, protected me. I will always cherish those beautiful memories with that family. It was an honor for me to be part of the Q Productions family.”

Peña went on to dedicate a song during the concert in honor of both Selena and her father, underscoring the personal bond she shared with the Quintanilla family.

“And today I want to take a moment to sing a song dedicated to Selena, the queen of Tejano music. And to her father, a very dear friend of mine. Mr. Quintanilla. RIP.”

Credit: Team Jennifer Peña

Jennifer Peña’s journey in Tejano music is deeply intertwined with Abraham Quintanilla and Q-Productions. At just 11 years old, Peña sent a tape of herself singing Selena’s songs to Quintanilla as a condolence gift following Selena’s tragic passing—an act that would unknowingly change the course of her life.

Her first major public performance came at the 1995 Selena tribute concert at the Astrodome, where her voice and stage presence captivated audiences. Quintanilla soon brought her into the Q-Productions family, recognizing both her talent and her deep connection to Selena’s music. Her debut album, Dulzura, produced by Q-Productions, launched a successful Tejano career that would later expand into broader Latin markets.

From its Corpus Christi roots, Q-Productions continued to develop and nurture Latin artists, with Abraham Quintanilla serving as a mentor, producer, and protector of young talent—roles he fulfilled with Jennifer Peña during some of her most formative years.

As the Tejano and Latin music worlds mourn the loss of Abraham Quintanilla Jr., moments like Peña’s tribute in Monterrey serve as a reminder of the enduring legacy he leaves behind—not only through his family, but through the artists whose lives and careers he helped shape.

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