Who is Chris Perez's Wife? A Deep Dive into Their Relationship

Chris Perez is a famous American guitar player. He played guitar in a band called Selena y Los Dinos. He got married to Selena Quintanilla, who was the main singer of the band, on April 2, 1992. 

Who is Chris Perez's Wife?

Chris Perez was just 22 years old when he and his wife Selena Quintanilla secretly got married. They fell in love after Chris joined Selena y Los Dinos around 1990. Despite Selena's father's disapproval, they continued their relationship, which led to Perez being kicked out of the band once their romance was discovered. 

However, after they tied the knot in April 1992, Perez was welcomed back into both the band and the family. Selena's tragic death, occurring just before their third anniversary, deeply devastated Chris. 

Chris was so distraught that he couldn't eat for two days. Coping with his grief, he turned to alcohol and drugs, withdrawing from the public eye and returning to his hometown of San Antonio to live with his father. 

Years later, in 2012, Perez wrote a book called "To Selena, With Love" to share his perspective on the beloved singer. 

Chris Perez continues to share memories of Selena Quintanilla and honor her legacy

Even though it's been more than 25 years since Selena Quintanilla passed away, Chris Perez remains devoted to keeping her memory alive. He frequently posts old photos of them together on his Instagram, showing his enduring affection for her. 

Amidst his activities with his hot sauce brand and music projects, Perez talks about the importance of preserving Selena's memory, especially with the upcoming docuseries about her. 

Chris expressed his admiration for Selena's impact on Latin culture and women, emphasizing her positivity both on and off the stage. Perez believes that Selena's fans have played a crucial role in keeping her legacy alive, noting that she is truly deserving of the admiration she receives.

Chris Perez Tied The Knot With Vanessa Villanueva in 2001

Chris Perez met his second wife, Vanessa Villanueva, through a mutual friend named John Garza. Garza had moved in with Chris to support him musically after Selena's passing. 

In 1998, while working on his new band, the Chris Perez Band, Perez and Villanueva began dating. They got married in 2001 and had two children together, Noah Perez and Cassie Perez.

Since their relationship happened before social media became popular, we don't know much about their time together. But in 2008, they decided to get divorced after being married for only seven years. 

After Selena's death, Chris started having problems with drinking and drugs. These issues were one of the reasons they got divorced. Now, we don't know much about their relationship, and Chris rarely talks about Vanessa on social media.

Chris Perez Was Romantically Involved With Melissa Jimenez

After his divorce from Vanessa Villanueva, Chris Perez stayed single until January 2018 when he appeared to be dating singer-songwriter Melissa Jimenez. There were rumors of an engagement, with Melissa even sporting an engagement ring reportedly from Chris. 

They were spotted doing adventurous activities like skydiving and there were talks of Perez visiting her in New York. However, Chris later revealed he had his place in the city for music recording.

Since 2019, Chris and Melissa haven't been seen together much, and Melissa hasn't been seen wearing the engagement ring for at least two years, suggesting they may no longer be together. They haven't had any children together, and Chris is currently co-parenting his two kids from his marriage with Vanessa. 

In a 2021 interview, Perez expressed a strong connection with his late wife Selena Quintanilla, believing he could still communicate with her. He sees Selena not as the 22-year-old he married but as she would be if she were alive today. 

Chris' enduring love for Selena resonates with her millions of fans worldwide, who continue to support him.

Chris Perez's Early Life

Chris Perez was born on August 14, 1969, in San Antonio, Texas. His parents, Gilbert Pérez and Carmen Medina got divorced when he was four years old in 1974. His mom remarried in 1978. 

In middle school, Perez learned to play the French horn and joined the school band, with his mom's encouragement. Even though his mom didn't like it, Chris taught himself to play the electric guitar, inspired by bands like Van Halen and Mötley Crüe. 

When Chris was seventeen, he wanted to go to Los Angeles to start a rock band. He lived with his dad and worked at a library. 

In 1986, Tony Lares asked Perez to join his cousin Shelly Lares' band. Even though Chris didn't like Tejano music, he joined because it paid better than his library job. Eventually, Chris became Shelly's music director and wrote songs for her album. Perez also formed a rock band with friends around the same time.

Get the latest celebrity articles exclusively with Glamour Path.