It's impossible to overstate Selena's popularity in Texas and Mexico. Sis sold out the Astrodome. Thrice!

Selena was American, English was her first language. She had to learn Spanish to communicate with fans and journalists. She's had two biopics about her. Jennifer Lopez played her in 1997, and a Netflix miniseries came out a couple years ago. I've seen them both. My wife is a huge Selena fan, and tbh Selena gets my respect because she's immensely talented.

She had moderate success in the U.S. on English/non-Spanish charts. Her first album was released in 1984.

She would not be the first in the RRHOF to record in another language. Ritchie Valens, Brenda Lee, Roy Orbison, Santana, ABBA, and Kraftwerk recorded in other languages, including Spanish. Maybe more, idk.

Her most influential song in Spanish: Como La Flor

Also, check out Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, performed live at the Astrodome. It was pretty popular too.

Her last hit, in English: I Could Fall In Love

She covered the Pretenders with the melody if not lyrics of Back on the Chain Gang: Fotos y Recuerdos

And she recorded a beautifully stylized duet with David Byrne of Talking Heads: God's Child (Baila Conmigo)

Does she belong? Why or why not?

P.S. for the cynics: you want the museum to get an attendance boost? Selena, holy shit.

This hypothetical International Exellence Award category would honor acts that while they weren’t really huge, well known or that influential in the United States but still made a massive impact and were influential outside the United States

Acts that probably very well be voted in through this route would be

Fela Kuti

Soda Stereo

Mana

X Japan

Manfred Mann

The Guess Who or Randy Bachman

Oasis (If they don’t get in through the main Performers category after 1 or 2 more tries)

Blur

Plup

Suede

The Stone Roses

Can

Neu!

Tragically Hip

Johnny Hallyday

Kylie Minogue

Cliff Richard (With or without The Shadows)

Men At Work

Johnny Kidd & the Pirates

Lonnie Donegan

Alex Harvey

Prince Buster

The Buzzcocks

Talk Talk

Split Enz or Neil Finn

Madness

Midnight Oil

And there is still many more names I could add here that could be considered

This is my predictions on how this year's ceremony might turn out.

Foreigner

Inducted by: Mark Ronson

Set list: Feels Like the First Time & Juke Box Hero

Suzanne De Passe

Inducted by: Diana Ross

Peter Frampton

Inducted by: Joe Bonamassa

Set list: Show Me the Way & Baby I Love Your Way

Dionne Warwick

Inducted by: Stevie Wonder

Set list: That's What Friends Are For featuring Wonder, Gladys Knight & Elton John

Norman Whitfield - Video tribute

John Mayall

Inducted by: Billy Gibbons

Set list: N/A

Cher

Inducted by: RuPaul

No performance

Kool & The Gang

Inducted by: Lionel Richie

Set list: Celebration, Jungle Boogie & Get Down on It featuring Bruno Mars

Jimmy Buffett

Inducted by: Luke Bryan

Tribute performances by Eagles & Alan Jackson

Big Mama Thornton - Video tribute

Ozzy Osbourne

Inducted by: Tony Iommi

Tribute performances by Post Malone, Rob Halford, Slash & Zakk Wylde

MC5

Inducted by: Henry Rollins

Tribute performances by Tom Morello, Iggy Pop & members of Fugazi, Soundgarden & Zen Guerilla

Alexis Korner - Video tribute

Mary J. Blige

Inducted by: Taraji P. Henson

Set list: Real Love, Family Affair & Just Fine

A Tribe Called Quest

Inducted by: ?uestlove

Tribute performances by: Busta Rhymes, Tyler, the Creator & Eminem

Dave Matthews Band

Inducted by: John Mayer

Set list: Ants Marching, Crash into Me & What Would You Say

All Star Jam: N/A