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Arts & Entertainment

Video: J.Lo Performs An Emotional Selena Tribute

selena-jennifer-lopez.jpg
Jennifer Lopez performs a Selena medley with Los Dinos. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images)

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At the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami last night, J.Lo reprised the role that made her famous. She sang a medley of hits from the late, great Tejano superstar Selena, who we are still mourning 20 years after her death. J.Lo gave it her all wearing bright red lipstick, a beaded bustier, high-waisted pants and plenty of ruffles that we think would make Selena proud. Selena's family band Los Dinos played back-up.

Lopez played the Queen of Tejano in the 1997 biopic classic. Lopez told the TODAY show that she still gets really emotional (you could say, se emociona) performing her songs: "When I'm out there dancing and I see her on the screen, I'm thinking, 'If she were here she'd be doing what I'm doing now.'"

She added, "It was a great thing for her to be my mentor. And it was a great thing to have her teach me so much about how to navigate this business, but also how to navigate through life."

Selena's brother AB Quintanilla gave his stamp of approval: "The electricity was there and even though she was singing Selena’s songs, she made them her own tonight. She did a beautiful job."

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