On February 17, 2025, Francisca Viveros Barradas, better known as Paquita la del Barrio, passed away at the age of 77. Her departure leaves a great void in Mexican popular music, where her powerful lyrics and voice became anthems for various generations.
In recent years, Paquita la del Barrio faced health problems, especially related to her sciatic nerve, which affected her mobility. Despite this, the singer continued performing with the same passion that characterized her. Her last performance on a big stage took place in May 2023 at the Arena Monterrey, where she took the stage in a wheelchair, stating at that time: "It's nothing serious."
Born on April 2, 1947, in Alto Lucero, Veracruz, Paquita la del Barrio was an icon of the ranchera and popular genre thanks to her unique musical style. With her distinctive voice and her defiant attitude toward machismo, her songs became a means of expression and empowerment for many women. She recorded more than 30 albums throughout her career and left an indelible legacy that will live on in each of her songs.
In August 2023, she appeared in Morelia in a wheelchair, highlighting her delicate health condition. Meanwhile, her last public intervention took place on January 26, 2025, through social media, where she announced the rescheduling of a concert for March of that year, a meeting that unfortunately did not take place. The world of ranchera music mourns the loss of one of its great figures.
