February 17 has turned into a heartbreaking day for everyone who has ever danced or sung along to Rata de Dos Patas or any other hit by Paquita la del Barrio. The celebrated Mexican artist passed away this Monday at the age of 77 at her home in Veracruz due to health complications. Her passing has left a deep sense of sorrow in the music world and among her fans, who will remember her as La Reina del Pueblo (The Queen of the People) and La Guerrillera del Bolero (The Bolero Guerrilla).
The cause of her death was a heart attack, as revealed by her manager, Francisco Torres (Paquito), on the show Sale El Sol on Imagen Televisión. «Medically, I couldn’t explain it. We got a call around eight in the morning saying she hadn’t woken up, that she looked a little pale. So we told them to have the ambulance check on her. By the time the ambulance arrived, there was nothing more to be done—apparently, she had suffered a heart attack,» Torres stated.
Paquita had been dealing with various health issues for years. In 2021, she suffered from pneumonia and pulmonary thrombosis. Later, she developed a lung condition that required her to use oxygen continuously. Additionally, she faced mobility issues due to sciatic nerve pain, which led her to use a wheelchair and affected her emotional well-being, causing episodes of depression from late 2024 into 2025.
Despite Paquita’s delicate condition, her manager, Francisco Torres, admitted that her passing came as a surprise. He shared his thoughts on Sale El Sol, saying, «In her bed, in her home, sleeping… What else can I say?»
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